Oh what a wonderful happy day up there on the golden strand

When I can hear Jesus my Saviour say shake hands with mother again

She never closed her eyes at night till we were all in bed

On partly nights till we came home she often sat and read

We little thought about it then when we were young and gay

How much mama worried when we children were away

We only knew she never slept when we were out at night

And that she waited just to know that we come home all right

Why sometimes we stayed out till one two or three

And it seemed to us that mama heard the turning of the key

For always when we stepped inside she'd call and we'd reply

But we were all too young back then to understand just why

Until the last one had reuturned she always kept the light

For mama couldn't sleep until she kissed us all goodnight

She had to know that we were safe before she went to rest

She seemed to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best

And once she said when you have grown to women and to men

Perhaps I'll sleep the whole night through I may be different then

And so it seemed that night or day we knew a mother's care

That always we got back home we'd find her waiting there

Then came the night when we were called together around her bed

The children all are with you now the kindly doctor said

And in her eyes there gleamed again the old time tender light

That told that she had been waiting just to know we were all right

She smiled the old familiar smile then prayed to God to keep

A safe from harm throughout the years and then she went to sleep

Shake hands with mother again