Will The Circle Be Unbroken

On the floor underneath the window I sat with Dolly and I played

All the adults there were gathered because grandma had passed away

Outside the doorway, they met a stranger and they spoke with voices low

Then my mamma called out to me saying that it was time to go

And we all loaded in the car and my daddy told me to behave

But my mamma put her arms around me and she told me to be brave

After the service we went back home but I'd lost Dolly, she was gone

All my aunts and uncles cried with me -- we all felt so alone

Then they gathered us children 'round them and they led us in a song

Words of joy that grandma taught them so that we could all be strong

Will the circle be unbroken by and by oh by and by

On the earth and in the ocean and in the sky oh in the sky

I was standing by the window on a cold and cloudy day
When I saw the hearse come rolling to carry my mamma away
So I said to the undertaker, undertaker please drive slow
For that body that you're hauling, oh I hate to see it go
Then I followed closed behind them tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow when we laid her in her grave
I went back home but home was lonesome I missed my mom but she was gone
All my brothers, sisters crying, what a home so sad and alone
Then we gathered the children round us and we led them in a song
Words of joy that mom had taught us so that we could all be strong

Will the circle be unbroken by and by oh by and by

On the earth and in the ocean and in the sky oh in the sky

Now I'm staring out the window at the end of a sunny day
But I can see the clouds are gathering and they look grey
I feel ill but am I in danger? will I die soon? I don't know
But if today is my last day then I'm prepared to go
It's hard to swallow the cold reality that my vitality can't be saved
What will the tally be on my humanity when they put me in my grave?
After the eulogies, after the pleasantries, when the sad goodbyes are done
Once my sons and daughters have cried for me then we can all go home
I hope they gather the children 'round them, and lead them in the song
Words of joy I passed down to them... to keep them strong

Will the circle be unbroken by and by oh by and by

On the earth and in the ocean and in the sky oh in the sky