I remember when I was a lad

Times were hard and things were bad

But there's a silver linin' behind ev'ry cloud

Just four people that 's all we were

Tryin' to make a livin' out of black-land dirt

But 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



Though the circle wont 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

But I'll rejoin him in a song

We'll be together again up yonder in a little while



Daddy sang bass (mama sang tenor)

Me and little brother would join right in there

'cause 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 wont 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