Lyr Req: You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till ...

Subject: Lyr Req: 'years ago when just a boy' or ........
From: Brakn
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 03:10 PM

Looking for this one...

"Years ago when just a boy,
Singing songs was mother's joy
When father dear would leave us all alone............"

Don't know the rest of it. It might be called "You'll never miss your mother till she's gone"

It's not "A mother's love's a blessing".

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'years ago when just a boy' or ........
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 03:57 PM

It seems that is the title, but I can't find any lyrics. Found CDs to buy, tho.

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU'LL NEVER MISS YOUR MOTHER TILL ...
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 04:17 AM

The earliest recording was by Fiddlin' John Carson (1923):


YOU'LL NEVER MISS YOUR MOTHER TILL SHE'S GONE

1. Years ago when [I was] but a boy
Singing songs was mother's joy
When our father dear would leave us all alone
I can hear her voice so sweet
As she sang, 'When shall we meet?'
You will never miss your mother until she's gone

CHORUS: My mother she was true
To her children and her home
She was kind and true and loved us all
[It] was her hand that touched my brow
I can almost feel it now
You will never miss your mother until she's gone.

2. Father he was good and kind
Told us we would never find
One who would cure our ills and all
I praise God for her sweet name
For she's always just the same
You will never miss your mother until she's gone. CHORUS

3. Now I'm so far away
From my home I've gone astray
My mother's often prayed for me at home
Troubles, trials to endure
[I] ought to live a life that's pure
And meet my mother in her home. CHORUS


Source: transcription in Gene Wiggins 'Fiddlin' Georgia Crazy' Uni of Illinois Press pp 261-262. Fiddlin' John Carson 'You Will Never Miss Your Mother Until She's Gone' recorded on 7 November 1923 in NYC and issued as Okeh 4994. Reissued on Fiddlin' John Carson 'Complete Recorded Works Vol I' Document DOCD-8014. Carson recorded the song 3 times - 1923, 1927 and 1934. The text is similar to recordings by Riley Puckett, G.B. Grayson and George Reneau. Wiggins noted that the 'second strophe may be considered a chorus or just a favourite stanza. In the 3 Carson recordings, it was repeated more than the others, but was not uniformly alternated with them.

--Stewie.

Subject: ADD: You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till She's Gone
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 04:20 AM

I found a song called "You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till she's gone" at the American Memory Collection of the Library of Congress. Apparently, it isn't the one that was a pretty big hit for a number of recording artists in the 1920's. Stewie posted that one in the message above.
-Joe Offer-

---

YOU'LL NEVER MISS YOUR MOTHER TILL SHE'S GONE
(words, George Cooper; music, Charles T. French)

Though life may seem with joys so bright
And flowers our pathway strew
There's one the heart should never slight
One whose love is gentle, enduring, and true
Cherish her with kindness
And cheer her when sad and lone
For your heart will learn with fond regret when too late
You'll never miss your mother till she's gone.

CHORUS:
Fondly smooth her silvery hair,
While here she wanders on
Oh, shield her loving heart from sorrow and care,
You'll never miss your mother till she's gone.

Her love the world can ne'er replace
No heart so dear, so pure
A refuge fond in her embrace
Never falling while love on earth shall endure
Dry her tears of sorrow
When anguish her heart has torn
Oh, not long her angel smile so sweet, here may bless
You'll never miss your mother till she's gone.

Then love her fondly while she's here
And shield her day by day
When life to her is sad and drear,
Soothe with words of kindness her sorrow away
Ne'er on earth forget her,
Sweet roses her pathway strew
For no love will bless the heart like hers, fond and true,
You'll never miss your mother till she's gone.

published in 1885

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: years ago when just a boy or Miss Your Mother
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 04:39 AM

Meade et alia note that the Carson piece (and the others under that title) was based on 'Mother and Home' w&m by W.J. Laney ca 1910 which was recorded several times by Vernon Dalhart in 1924 and 1925. They suggest the title line, 'You'll Never Miss Your Mother Until She's Gone', was probably from an 1885 composition, but refer to Harry Birch rather than Cooper/French that Joe has posted from American Memory - I don't know what the story is there.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: years ago when just a boy or Miss Your Mother
From: Brakn
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 05:31 AM

Brilliant Stewie! A guy asked me on Saturday night if I knew it. He said his mother sang it to him in Ireland when he was a boy in the 30's and he'd asked a million singers since coming to England if they knew it. Nobody ever did. At least I can send him the lyrics.

Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till ...
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 08 Aug 15 - 12:06 AM

The track you'll never miss your mother (till she's gone). Since this thread was started the song has now become available on numerous youtube and download sites. Most of the versions of it are virtually unlistenable due to being very archaic and scratchy. Irish singer Brendan Shine had an Irish hit with it in the 1970's, and his version is the most melodic with a decent production that still stands the test of time.