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