Mama, You Played It by Ear

Up a holler in eastern Kentucky You raised the five of us there Mornings at the kitchen window Psalm one twenty-one, your prayer Lifting your eyes to the ridge Where your help came from still

Fifty-two years at the piano In our little Baptist church every Sunday morning

Never read a single note Still you always found the way to go Heaven's tune was always near Mama, you played it by ear

You called everybody "honey" Even the preacher, it's true You kept a pound cake in the deep freeze For any family missing someone too This week the church ladies brought one Mama, this time the cake was ours

Fifty-two years at the piano In our little Baptist church every Sunday morning

Never read a single note Still you always found the way to go Heaven's tune was always near Mama, you played it by ear

Eighty-eight years, then September You went home to the Lord Daddy's been waiting on you since two thousand nine Go on, honey, play him one more Your five are singing you home

Never read a single note Still you found the road back home Up past the ridge the singing's clear Mama, you played it by ear

Hazel, honey, you played it by ear Mama, you played it by ear

Never read a single note Still you found the road back home Up past the ridge the singing's clear Mama, you played it by ear

Hazel, honey, you played it by ear Mama, you played it by ear