I remember when I was a lad times were hard and times 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 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
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
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

Now 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 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
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
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
In the sky, Lord, in the sky