Maybe the first time I saw them I was nine going on ten years old

I fell in love with their music and with the stories their music told

I had all of their long playing records and memorized songs I still can't forget

My room was papered with pictures of the all-girl-all-gospel quartet



Flora was oldest and tallest she sang the high soprano

Alma played the piano and sang the sweetest alto

Bonnie Mae sang bass and sold records I bought every one I could get

And my favorite little Louise sang tenor in the all-girl-all-gospel quartet



And their harmony sounded like angels and I can still hear them yet

Alma and Flora Bonnie Mae and little Louise the all-girl-all-gospel quartet

[ piano ]

Somewhere just after my childhood I lost track and they lost some ground

Only in bargain store basements or flea markets could their records be found

I heard one lives in Akron Ohio one quit to take care of her dad

One's on TV in Atlanta and the one they called Louise went bad



And their harmony sounded like angels...

[ piano ]

If any of the four of you hear me there's a song I never could find

It's the one where Alma played guitar and Bonnie Mae sang after time

And it's sad now how no one remembers though I find them hard to forget

And you would if you'd ever heard them the all-girl-all-gospel quartet

Alma and Flora Bonnie and Louise the all-girl-all-gospel quartet

(In the sweet bye and bye)