For always when we'd step aside she'd call and we'd reply
And on party nights till we came home she often sat and read
That always when we got back home we'd find her waitin' there
And once she told me when you're grown to women and to men
I dreamed about mama last night
She smiled that old familiar smile and prayed to God to keep
But we were all too young back then to understand the reason why
Why sometimes when we'd stay away till one or two or three
Well she seemed to fear that the world might harm
My dream is a treasure that I'll always keep
It seemed to us that mama heard the turnin' of the key
She never close her eyes and sleep till we were all in bed
We only knew she never slept when we were out at night
That she waited just to know that we'd all come home alright
That told that she's just been waitin' to know we were alright
And in her eyes the gleam again that old time tender light
Her children safe from harm throughout the years
The children are all with you now the kindly doctor said
And then she went to sleep
Perhaps I'll sleep the whole night through I may be different then
Then came the night that we were called together round her bed
And so it seemed that night and day we knew a mother's care
The ones that she loved the best
Just how much mama worried when we children were away
Until the last one had returned she'd always keep a light
She had to know that we were safe before she went to rest
For mama couldn't sleep until she kissed us all goodnight
She read me the Bible like she used to do
We little thought about it then for we were young and gay
