Lyr/Chords Req: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's Smile

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SWEETEST GIFT A MOTHER'S SMILE (Coats
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Mar 24 - 01:52 PM

SecondHandSongs.com says the first recording of this song was by James Roberts and Martha Carson, who sometimes performed as “James and Martha” and sometimes as “James and Martha Carson.” You can hear their recording on YouTube.

The words in parentheses in the chorus are sung by James as a counterpoint to Mary’s singing. The words “brought” and “none” overlap Mary’s words. I have boldfaced the words that are different from the version posted by Genie above.


THE SWEETEST GIFT, A MOTHER'S SMILE
(James B. Coats)
As recorded by James and Martha on White Church 1120, 1946.

1. One day a mother came to the prison
To see an erring but precious son.
She told the warden how much she loved him;
It did not matter what he had done.

CHORUS: She did not bring (to him) parole or pardon (free);
She brought no silver (brought no gold) nor pomp or style (none to see).
It was a halo (bright) sent down from heaven('s light),
The sweetest gift, a mother's smile.

2. Her boy had drifted far from the fireside,
Though she had pleaded with him each night.
Yet not a word did she ever utter
That told her heartache; her smile was bright. CHORUS

3. She left a smile, son, you can remember.
She's gone to heaven, from heartaches free.
The bars around you could never change her.
You were her baby and e'er will be. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's Smile
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 26 Jun 18 - 07:28 PM

Sad to report:

Wynonna Judd's daughter, Grace Kelley,
failed her probation related to meth abuse,
and is on her way to the state penitentiary in Tennessee.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's Smile
From: Genie
Date: 11 May 11 - 12:34 AM

Thanks, Spaw.

This song is one of the wonderful hymns / Gospel Songs, etc. written by James B. Coats, who also wrote
Where Could I Go But To The Lord?
and
When Zephyrs Of Heaven Shall Fan Me To Sleep.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's Smile
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 May 11 - 06:40 PM

I love the version by Emmylou and Linda. Just superb. The other really great version on Youtube is by the late Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard.

Dickens/Gerrard

Emmylou and Linda with Dolly

The Judds


Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's Smile
From: GUEST,Jaze
Date: 10 May 11 - 06:15 PM

There's also a nice video on Youtube with Dolly Parton,Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris doing this song. It's from Dolly Parton's old TV show.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE SWEETEST GIFT A MOTHER'S SMILE
From: Genie
Date: 10 May 11 - 05:08 AM

As sung by The Judds:

THE SWEETEST GIFT (A Mother's Smile)
(James B. Coats)

                    
One day a mo(G)ther came to (C) a pris(G)on
To see an er(D7)ring but precious s(G)on.
She told the warden how much s(C)he lo(G)ved him;
It did not ma(d)tter what h(D7)e had do(G)ne.

Chorus:
She did not br(G)ing (to (C) hi(G)m)
Parole or pardon (free),
She brought no s(D)ilver (or gold)
Nor po(D7)mp nor st(G)yle (to see).
It was a hal(G7)o (bright)
Sent down from he(C)aven('s light):
The sweetest g(G)ift, a mo(D7)ther's sm)G)ile.

Her boy had wandered far from the fireside,
Tho' she had pleaded with him each night,
But not a word did she ever utter
About her heartache; her smile was bright.

(Cho.)

She left a smile he can remember.
She's gone to heaven, from heartaches free
No prison bars could never change him;
He was her baby and e'er will be.

(Cho.)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 12:45 PM

Here's a link to where I posted it on the Mudcat forum (with chords):

http://www.mudcat.org/Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=31859

This will eventually make its way to the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 12:41 PM

here

Subject: The Sweetest Gift a Mother's Smile
From: Dan Evergreen
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 11:34 AM

I think the chords are easy so just the lyrics will suffice, but I would like both. Also could you tell me a little about this pretty song--I just happened to hear it on a Judds album one time. Thanks a lot.