Faded Rose - Shirley Caesar

You know, all too soon seemingly our children grow up overnight

They get married, some of them go to college

They move away from home to New York and Chicago and other places

But the saddest thing about it is that they forget that they have a darling

mother back home

So it is I’m thinking about a young man who left and moved away to Germany

And while he was there, he was critically wounded so much so that the doctor

said, that he would never walk again

He had braces on his legs and another sad thing happen to that young man

He lost his mother.

And the family tried to get in touch with him but to no

avail

And finally we see that young man standing with braces on his legs before a

fresh grave with on faded rose in his hand

As he began to drop the petals from the rose on that grace, he began to talk to

his mother

These are some of the words that he was saying to his mother

Petals form this faded rose, Mama, is all I have to give

But Mama, I tried to give you flowers, every now and then, yes I did

If I had a million dollars, I’d line your grave with gold

But that wouldn’t wake you from your sleep, as eternal ages grow

So petals form this faded rose is all have to give

But Mama, I tried to make you happy, while you lived

You know while that young man stood there, dropping the petals on that fresh

grave

Two of his sisters drove up in a big fine car

They got out and they put their arms about his shoulder

One of the sisters said, brother don’t cry, you know we did all we could to get

in touch with you

But one thing I did, I knew that you would be pleased with

I took my diamond ring and placed it on Mama’s finger

And the other sister said, brother, so do you remember that fur coat that I had

I draped it about Mama’s shoulders

But the young man standing there crying, couldn’t think about diamonds and furs

All he could think of was the best thing he had was gone

And with the few more petals left on the rose

He continue to drop them on the grave and he said to his mother

Diamond rings and silver things, Mama, I never had, I never had to give

But, Mama, I try to give you a flower every now and then

If I had a million dollars, I’d line your grave with gold

But that wouldn’t wake you from your sleep as eternal ages grow.

So petals form this faded roses is all I have to give

But, Mama, I tried to make you happy while you lived