The Funeral

<br>Recorded by hank williams, sr.<br><br>Writer: fred rose<br><br><br><br>I was walking in savannah past a church, decayed and dim<br><br>When slowly through the window came a plaintive funeral hymn<br><br>And my sympathy awakened and a wonder quickly grew<br><br>til I found myself envired in a little colored pew.<br><br><br><br>Out front a colored couple sat in sorrow, nearly wild<br><br>On the altar was a casket and in the casket was a child<br><br>I could picture him while livin, curly hair, protuding lips<br><br>Id seen perhaps a thousand in my hurried southern trips.<br><br><br><br>Rose a sad, old colored preacher from his little wooden desk<br><br>With a manner sorta awkward, and countenance grotesque<br><br>The simplicity and shrewdness in his eithopian face<br><br>Showed the wisdom and ignorance of a crushed, undying race.<br><br><br><br>And he said, &quot;now dont be weepin for this pretty bit of clay<br><br>For the little boy who lived there has done gone and run away<br><br>He was doin very finely and he appreciates your love<br><br>But his shore nuff father wanted him in the big house up above.<br><br><br><br>The lord didnt give you that baby, by no hundred thousand miles<br><br>He just thought you need some sunshine, and he lent it for awhile<br><br>And he let you keep and love it til your hearts were bigger grown<br><br>And these silver tears youre sheddin now is just interest on the loan.<br><br><br><br>Just think, my poor dear mourners, creepin long on sorrows lifes way<br><br>What a blessed picnic this here baby got today<br><br>Your good fathers and good mothers crowd the little fellow round<br><br>In the angels tender garden of the big plantation ground.<br><br><br><br>And his eyes they brightly sparkle at the pretty things he viewed<br><br>But a tear came, and he whispered, i want my parents , too<br><br>But then the angels chief musicians teach that little boy a song<br><br>Says if only they be faithful theyll soon be comin long.<br><br><br><br>So, my poor detached mourners, let your hearts with jesus rest<br><br>And dont go to criticizin the one what knows the best<br><br>He has give us many comforts, hes got the right to take away<br><br>To the lord be praised in glory, forever, let us pray.&quot;