Elizabeth Cook “Mama’s Funeral”

MAMA’S FUNERAL
By Elizabeth Cook

At mama’s funeral, organs didn’t play
But you could hear the lonesome sway
Of the local guitar man
He played Hank Williams songs
We all did “Farther Along”
The boys drank beer out by the barn
At mama’s funeral
Oh the birds showed up to sing
As we gathered round the ole porch swing
Where her feet had worn the paint off the boards
And her pillow sat all faded and torn
Her children all took turns
Trying to find the words
Just wantin’ to say something right
Bout the best friend they’d found in life
And explain it to the nurses that came from the hospital
To mama’s funeral
It was surprising to me, thought it’d be as hard as it could be
But everybody took a little piece of pain
And they spread it round like summer rain
And it helped to ease the load
More than I could’ve known
At mama’s funeral
And my family made me proud
Cause when the cryin’ got loud
The laughter followed close behind
Daddy’d say, “Now don’t all remember the time…”
Tables set up all over the place
Covered with pictures, candles and lace
The Quik Sack stayed open late
Sold out of all their cups and paper plates
To the strangers that gathered up on the hill
For mama’s funeral
All the pretty flowers planted by her hands
Her guitar in a corner sittin’ on a stand

Written by Elizabeth Cook