Album: The Definitive Collection (1968)

Charted: 42

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• I remember when I was a lad
  Times were hard and things were bad
  But there's a silver linin' behind every cloud
  Just poor people, that 's all we were
  Tryin' to make a living out of black-land dirt
  But we'd get together in a family circle singing loud
  
  Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor
  Me and little brother would join right in there
  Singing seems to help a troubled soul
  One of these days and it won't be long
  I'll rejoin them in a song
  I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne
  
  No, the circle won't be broken
  By and by, Lord, by and by
  Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor
  Me and little brother would join right in there
  In the sky, Lord, in the sky
  
  Now I remember after work, mama would call in all of us
  You could hear us singing for a country mile
  Now little brother has done gone on
  But I'll rejoin him in a song
  We'll be together again up yonder in a little while
  
  Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor
  Me and little brother would join right in there
  'Cause singing seems to help a troubled soul
  One of these days and it won't be long
  I'll rejoin them in a song
  I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne
  
  Oh no, the circle won't be broken
  By and by, Lord, by and by
  Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor
  Me and little brother would join right in there
  In the sky, Lord, in the sky
  In the sky, Lord, in the sky Writer/s: Carl Perkins
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Woowoo from MissouriOn the recording, Mama sang tenor was sung by Jan Howard not June Carter.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenCarl Perkins was a good man and I always loved this song, one of many treasures he left us.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaThank you Carl.
• Kelly from Staunton, VaYes, tenor is traditionally the high male voice, but many women in their lowest range can and do match the pitch. And that isn't Jimmy you hear up there, it's Lew DeWitt, the Statler's original tenor along with Don Reid on "Me and little brother...". Nothing better than Cash with my hometown boys!
• Briar from Hazard, KyMy family used to sing this on long car trips.
• Dave from Des Moines, IaI thought I heard the Statlers on this. Thanx! I saw this performed once on tv and I believe Jimmy Fortune did the tenor.
• Mark from Byrdstown, TnCarl Perkins wrote this great song.Perkins was a great songwriter.He also wrote "Blue Suede Shoes" and was poised to go on Ed Sullivan and become a national idol because his career was on fire but a severe car crash almost killed him and instead Presley went on the show and instead became the rock n roll king.Elvis didnt have a quarter of the sheer musical talent that Perkins did.
• Mel from Random, PaIn Sacred Harp (shape note) singing, men and women sing tenor, which is the melody part. Sacred Harp is very common in the rural South, where Cash and Carter are from.
• Dale from Wisconsin Rapids, WiActually June Carter Cash isn't the female tenor on this record, then tenor was provided by Grand Ole Opry artist Jan Howard.
• Annabelle from Eugene, Or"Daddy Sang Bass, Mama Sang Tenor". Isn't the tenor voice actually the highest range of a male singer?
• Jon from Oakridge, OrA great spiritual song. CASH RULES.
• Louis from Jacksonville, FlI have listen to country music all of my life and love it. keep up the good work. Thanks A lot.Louis

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