I had a home down in Texas Down where the bluebonnets grew I had the kindest old mother How happy we were, just we two Then one day the angels called her Said they, we'd all have to pay She called me close to her bedside These last few words to say Son, don't start drinkin' and gamblin' Promise you'll always go straight Ten years have passed since that parting That promise I broke by mistake I started in gambling for pastime At last I was just like them all I bet my clothes and my money Not dreaming that I'd ever fall One night I bet all my money Nothing was left to be seen And all that I needed to beat them Was one card, and that was the queen The cards were dealt all round the table Each one took a card in the draw And I drew the one that would beat them I turned it and here's what I saw I saw my mother's picture And somehow she seemed to say "Son, you have broken your promise" So I tossed the cards all away The winnings I gave to the newsboy I knew I was wrong from the start And I'll never forget my promise To my mother, the queen of my heart