The passing of a parent is a significant emotional event for everyone. But it took ten years for this tribute to my mother to come to me. There is so much that I could say about her, but these thoughts are closest to me.
lyrics
My Mother's Smile
Copyright 2004 Robert Lindsay Nathan
Intro:
C Em(7add C) Am7 Dm7 G
C Em7(add C) Am7 Dm7 G
C Em7(add C) Am7
I was just a child,
Dm7 G
When first I saw My Mother's Smile
C Em7(add C) Am7
When one time late at night,
Dm7 G
I woke up in a fitful fright
F G
From visions of that booger cow
C Em7 (add C) Am7
Or some scary dream that slips me now
F G C Em7(add C) Am7 Dm7 G C Em7(add C) Am7 Dm7 G
Yes I remember, My Mother's Smile
I barely remember, when I was a kid
The trouble I caused or mischief I did.
My mother was there to console me
When I stubbed my toe or I skinned my knee
Comfort came in a little while
From the warmth and the love of My Mother's Smile
Yes, I remember, My Mother's Smile
F G
She had charm and she had grace
C Am7
She had that sweet southern belle style
F G
She had warmth she had eclectic taste
C Am7
And I’d walk a million miles,
F G C
If once more I could see, My Mother’s Smile
One Halloween, I was in the third grade
A Flying Purple Eater suit she made
So I could trick or treat that night
I left home, a frightful sight
I look back after all this while
And I'm followed by My Mother's Smile
Yes I remember, My Mother's Smile
Four month’s after her youngest child wed
Before the air turned cool and the leaves turned red
She left us on a Friday morn
Our hearts bled, our souls were torn
It took a while to reconcile
It took the memory of My Mother's Smile
Yes I remember, My Mother's Smile
She had charm and she had grace
She had that sweet southern belle style
She had warmth she had eclectic taste
And I’d walk a million miles,
If once more I could see, My Mother’s Smile
A year went by and the couple's first born
Came into the world, cool waters turned warm
I held her namesake in my arms
Looked into the eyes of this tiny newborn
It took a little while
But I swear I saw My Mother's Smile
Yes once more I can see My Mother's Smile
She'll have charm and she'll have grace
She'll have that sweet southern belle style
She'll have warmth, she'll have eclectic taste
And I'll walk those million miles,
Cause once once more I can see My Mother's Smile
Outro:
Am
My Mother's Smile
F G C
Yes once more I can see, My Mother's Smile
credits
from The Long Road,
released April 15, 2016
Robert Lindsay Nathan - Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocal
Mark Hallman - Bass, Vibes, Harmonies
Andre Moran - Electric guitar
Brian Standefer - Cello
Warren Hood - Violin
Noelle Hampton-harmonies
Robert Lindsay (Bama) Nathan was born in New Orleans on September 24, 1952. He was raised in Muscle Shoals Alabama and formally educated in Texas (Gig 'em Aggies). He has been writing songs since the early 1970's and has circled the globe playing them.
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