A Picture of Mama

Copyright 2003.  David Alan Cates.  All Rights Reserved.

 

[VERSE 1]

Barely twenty-three, full of misery
Down to my last dime
No one to love, so far from home
On the verge of a life of crime
Fumbling through my suitcase for a cigarette
I saw the one thing I swore I'd never forget
It was a picture of mama, made me wonder back in time

[VERSE 2]

I was standing by my car when daddy came outside
He said your mama's heart is broke, she just can't stop crying
Son, times are hard, money's hard to spare
And it's a cold, cold, cold, world out there
I know this ain't much, but someday you'll see
Here'a a gift for you my daddy gave to me
If you save it for your rainy days, you can never go wrong

[CHORUS]

Here's a picture of your mama, son, keep it close to your heart
If you get lost, you can think of her
Don't let the years take you apart
Remember all she sacrificed, all the things she never had
Here's a picture of your mama, signed "With all my love, from Dad"

[VERSE 3]

Twenty years have passed
Since I turned my life around
Since I swore that morning through the tears in my eyes
I'd never let mama down
Married a girl from the First Baptist Church
Got a job in a factory
In 73 we had a baby boy, and he turned out just like me

[VERSE 4]

He was standing by his car, when I walked outside
I said your mama's heart is broke, she just can't stop crying
I told him times are hard, money's hard to spare
And it can be cold, cold, world out there
I know this ain't much, but someday you'll see
Here'a a gift for you my daddy gave to me
If you save it for your rainy days, you can never go wrong

[CHORUS]

[TAG]

Remember all she sacrificed, all the things she never had
Here's a picture of your mama, signed "With all my love, from Dad"