One night while the moon from heaven was shining My mother was praying for me to come home She asked her dear lord watch o'er me out yonder To send me back home to never more roam When I left my old home way back in the mountains I said I'd return with honor and fame But a young reckless heart turned wrong at the crossroads And now as I go home I bring mother shame When I got to the place where I spent my childhood The silvery moon was shining so bright When I asked my dear friends to tell me of mother They said she was called on to heaven last night She told them of how she was longing to see me How lonely her home since I went away Said darling repent and ask for forgiveness And meet mother there in heaven some day Mother has gone to live with the angels Her soul is at rest around the great throne Now I have no one left here to advise me For mother no longer awaits me at home