I remember when I was a lad
Times were hard and things 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 singin' 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

Oh 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

--- Instrumental ---

I remember after work
Mama would call in all of us
You could hear us singing for a country mile
Now little brother has done gone on
But I'll rejoin him in a song
And 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

Oh 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...