Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will the Circle be Unbroken
Lyrics

I was standing by the window
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw the hearse come rolling
For to take my Mother away

Oh, will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Hey, Undertaker, hey, Undertaker
Undertaker, please drive slow
For that body you are holding
Lord, I hate, I hate to see her go

Oh, will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

I went back home
My home was lonesome
Missed my mother, she was gone
All my brothers, sister crying
In our home so sad and alone

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Well, I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave

Oh, will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Oh, will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

In the sky, Lord, in the sky


Trivia

This was part of a grand tour driven by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and related to their "Circle" albums. If you search and find more of the concerts from the tour, you will likely never find stages with more talent as far back or forward as you seek. The cross generational sentiment is palpable. And how about Jimmy Ibbotson's belt out to end the song? Nice.

Between the Live and Studio versions above, here are the many contirbutors.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 1989 (Jeff Hanna,Jimmie Fadden,Bob Carpenter,Jimmy Ibbotson), Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, Bruce Hornsby, Paulette Carlson, Michael M.Murphey, Earl Scruggs, Roy Huskey Jr., Randy Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Hillman, Jimmy Martin, Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Roger McGuinn, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Mark O'connor, Rosanne Cash, Jerry Douglas, Chet Atkins, Marty Stuart, Vassar Clements, the Carter Family


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