I remember when I was a lad 
Times were hard and things were bad 
But there's a silver linin' behind every cloud 
Just poor people that's all we were 
Tryin' to make a livin' out of black land earth 
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 

No, the circle won't be broken 
By and by, Lord, by and by 
Daddy'll sing bass, Mama'll sing tenor 
Me and little brother will 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 
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 

No, the circle won't be broken 
By and by, Lord, by and by 
Daddy'll sing bass, Mama'll sing tenor 
Me and little brother will join right in there 
In the sky, Lord, in the sky 
In the sky, Lord, in the sky