Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional
This was played by the Grateful Dead in a jam with the Allman Brothers
on 10 May 1970. There are also tapes of Garcia playing it with Nelson in 1962,
and with Taj Mahal and Maria Muldaur on 20 April 1974. It was played by Phil
Lesh & Friends in 2012. This is the Garcia version with Taj Mahal:
ChorusThis is the longer, more traditional version:
Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Well I went home, one day, I found my home was empty
Now my mother she had gone
And my brothers and sisters were crying
Oh you know their home was so all alone
[Chorus]
Undertaker, oh undertaker
Please drive slow, oh please drive slow
'Cause you know that body you are hauling
Oh I hate to see it go
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
Chorus
Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
I was standing by my window
One cold December day
When I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away
[Chorus]
Lord I told the undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this body you are taking
Lord I hate to see her go
[Chorus]
I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
[Chorus]
I went home, my home was empty
Now my mother she has gone
All my brothers, sisters sitting crying
What a home so sad and alone
[Chorus]