Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

I was standing by my window,
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

I said to that undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this lady you are carrying
Lord, I hate to see here go

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

Oh, 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

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

I went back home, my home was lonesome
Missed my mother, she was gone
All of my brothers, sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

We sang the songs of childhood
Hymns of faith that made us strong
Ones that mother maybelle taught us
Hear the angels sing along

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky


This is a peculiarly American Christian song, it seems to me, because it asks a hard question, but is still hopeful about the answer. It doesn't deny the reality of death. Read that last stanza again, before the chorus is repeated again and again. That's the experience of grief truly realized, truly recorded. The hope is in the promise, in the reversal of death which, after all, is what the Resurrection is (I did say it's a Christian song). Death is real. Death breaks the circle. Maybe we want death to simply be a passage to a "better life," but few of us experience it that way. Will the circle be unbroken? Will we be healed?

I don't know why it didn't occur to me yesterday that this is the song for any remembrance of 9/11/01. Not "God Bless America" or "I'm Proud to be an American." This song. A song of grief. A song looking for hope; and just maybe, finding it. A song that reflects grief, and offers hope to life. A song that is stronger, and truer, than any appeal to patriotism or "honoring" of the dead.

UPDATE: The Mad Priest, being less technologically challenged than your geezer host, provides us with a soundtrack.

It is good to have friends in high places.