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

Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor
And me and little brother would join right in there
All singin' seems to help a troubled soul
One of these days and it won't be long
I'll rejoin them in a song
I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne

No the circle won't be broken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
Daddy'll sing bass, mama'll sing tenor
Me and little brother will join right in there
In the sky Lord, in the sky

I remember after work, mama would call in all of us
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 little while

Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor
And me and little brother would join right in there
All singin' seems to help a troubled soul
One of these days and it won't be long
I'll rejoin them in a song
I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne

No the circle won't be broken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
Daddy'll sing bass, mama'll sing tenor
And me and little brother would join right in there
In the sky Lord, in the sky
In the sky Lord, in the sky