Faded Rose

(album: First Lady - 1977)

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