1 I love to think of other days,
Of years that come no more,
When I enjoy’d my childhood plays,
Beside my mother’s door;
And thro’ the cambers of my soul
Sweet echoes seem to ring;
Once more that old hymn seems to roll
That mother used to sing.

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the billows near me roll,
While the tempest still is high.

2 When winter made the earth seem bare,
And evenings then were long,
I used to stand beside her chair
To hear some sacred song;
When from her voice so rich and clear,
The sweetest music rang;
Methinks the angels hover’d near
To hear when mother sang.

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’en tho’ it be a cross,
That raiseth me!

3 My mother loved her family well,
But lov’d her Saviour more;
And she has gone with Him to dwell
On that celestial shore.
Oh, how her dear face used to shine,
Reminding one of spring,
As when in notes almost divine
My mother used to sing.

All hail the pow’r of Jesus name!
Let angels prostrate fall!
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.

4 Tho’ friends may gather round me here,
Friends who are true and kind;
Yet such a friend as mother dear
On earth I’ll never find.
But here the best of friends must part,
Tho’ closely we may cling,
I learn’d in childhood this in part
When mother used to sing.

My Christian friends in bonds of love,
Whose hearts in sweetest union join,
Your friendship’s like a drawing band,
Yet we must take the parting hand.
Your company’s sweet, your union dear,
Your words delightful to my ear,
Yet when I see that we must part,
You draw, like cords around my heart.

5 I’ve had my troubles on life’s road,
I’ve had my doubts and fears;
Thro’ sorrow I have borne my load
While hope has dried my tears;
For tears up there will never flow,
Sin there will leave no sting,
I learn’d of this long years ago
When mother used to sing.

There’ll be no sorrow there,
There’ll be no sorrow there,
In heav’n above where all is love,
There’ll be no sorrow there.