MAMA'S HAND
Hazel Dickens

I said goodbye to that plain little mining town
With just a few old clothes that'd made the rounds.
I knew I was leavin' a lot o' things that were good,
But I thought I'd make a break while I still could.

As I looked back to wave once more
To mama cryin' in the door
For me and for what the world might have in store
For she knew I'd never be her little girl no more,

She was driftin' back to another time
When she was young and hoped to find
A better life than what her mama's had been,
And it was hard to let go of mama's hand, my mama's hand.

CHORUS: One old paper bag full of hand-me-downs,
Plain old country girl raised on gospel sounds,
With only the love she gave me, pride in what I am,
And it was hard to let go of mama's hand, my mama's hand.

I thought of all the years she slaved,
Thought of all the love she gave,
Tryin' to make this run-down shack a home,
A dream that really died 'fore it was born.

But she pulled us through the hardest times,
And made us hold our head up high,
A gift we'd carry with us all our lives,
For we were oh so special in mama's eyes.

As I looked back down the dusty road
To mama and her heavy load,
I knew what I was leavin' I'd never find again,
And it was hard to let go of mama's hand, my mama's hand.

CHORUS