Hazel Dickens - Mama's Hand lyrics

I said goodbye to that poor little mining town With just a few old clothes that had made the rounds I knew I was leaving a lot of things that were good But I thought I'd make a break while I still could. As I looked back to wave once more To mama crying in the door For me and for what the world might have in store For she knew I'd never be her little girl no more She was drifting back to another time When she was young and hoped to find A better life than what her mama's had been And it was hard to let go of mama's hand My mama's hand Chorus One old paper bag full of hand-me-downs Plain old country girl raised on gospel sound With only the love she gave me – pride in what I am And it was hard to let go of mama's hand My mama's hand I thought of all the years she slaved Thought of all the love she gave 'Tried to make this run-down shack a home A dream that really died 'fore it was born. But she pulled us through the hardest times And made us hold our head up high A gift we carry with us all our lives For we were oh so special in mama's eyes As I looked back down that dusty road To mama and her heavy load I knew what I was leavin' – I'd never find again And it was hard to let go of mama's hand My mama's hand Chorus One old paper bag filled with hand-me-downs Plain old country girl raised on gospel sound With only the love she gave me – pride in what I am And it was hard to let go of mama's hand