I remember when I was a lad
Times were hard and things were bad
But there's a silver lining behind every cloud
Just poor people that's all we were
Tryin' to make a livin' out of black land dirt
We'd get together in a family circle and sing out loud

(Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
Singin' seems to help a troubled soul
Now one of these days and it won't be long
I'll rejoin them in a song
I'm gonna join that family circle at the throne

No, the circle won't be broken by
And by, Lord, by and by
(Daddy sang bass mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

I remember after work mama would call in all of us
And you could hear us singin' for a country mile
Now little brother has done gone on but I'll rejoin him in a song
We'll be together again up yonder in a while

(Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
Singin' seems to help a troubled soul
Now one of these days and it won't be long
I'll rejoin them in a song
I'm gonna join that family circle at the throne

No, the circle won't be broken by
And by, Lord, by and by
(Daddy sang bass mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
In the sky, Lord, in the sky