If-I-could-Hear-my-Mother-Pray-Again

Paul and Chitter have been learning the old song “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again”. They finally decided they had it good enough to video one day last week. Paul said he first heard the song done by the Whitstein Brothers. I’m not sure who I heard sing the song first. Mahalia Jackson and Loretta Lynn both recorded the song, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard either one them do the song.

According to Wikipedia the song was written by John Whitfield Vaughan in honor of his mother. The words in the song are actually based on James Rowe’s writings. Thomas Dorsey’s 1934 recording of the song has been added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress.

As you might have guessed from the title, the song is a tear-jerker. There’s a lonesomeness in the song for anyone whose mother has gone on, but there’s also a reminder for those of us who still have a mother among the living to cherish the days we have left with her.

If you’re into harmony singing you might have noticed they switched keys and parts on the last verse. That switch makes me especially like the song. Changing parts mid song might be easy for an old pro like Paul, but it’s a real accomplishment for Chitter especially since she typically leaves the harmony singing to her sister.

Hope you enjoyed the song!

Tipper

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24 Comments

  1. I have heard this song at church
    They always would sing on Mothers Day. I loved it then but now that my Mother has went on to be with the Lord, It really makes you wish you could hear her pray again and just to look to see her beautiful smile.
    I had wonderful parents and miss them both.
    I thank GOD for great Christian parents who raised us up in church teaching us to always look to Jesus for all things and to always put him first in our lives.
    Deb

  2. Loved Paul and Chitter singing on this song. Had privilege of hearing it first sung by T. Texas Tyler! Sitting on a chair on a stage with just his guitar. Keep up the good posts.

  3. tipper I loved this song..and chitter sang beautiful harmony…..I loved hearing them sing such soulful music….hoping all are well…sending love and ladybug hugs to you

  4. My mama said the most beautiful blessings before meals. Unbeknownst to her, my sister recorded her on several occasions. Mama has been gone eight years in March, and I still can’t bring myself to listen to those recordings. Maybe after hearing Chitter and Paul I can work up the nerve…need to buy some extra Kleenex first!

  5. What a great job they did. How did the whole family get such voices????
    I’ve never heard this song before but am glad I finally got to here.

  6. I hope I have not posted this before but I credit my Mom’s prayers for my working lifetime. I wanted to be an archaeologist and set off to college to do it. My Mom wanted me to be a ‘Ranger’ with the US Forest Service. Well ….. I never made what the Forest Service calls a Ranger but I did become a forester and was with them for 30 years. I expect there is many a soul walking around whose steps were ordered in consequence of their Mom’s prayers. And I expect some of them will read this. You know who you are.

  7. Tipper,
    Paul and Chitter did a great job on that song. I remember when two of my uncles (Mama’s brothers) came to our house. Wade and Hazel, John and Pearly could really sing. They hadn’t been there very long until Hazel or Pearly would be on our old Ward Piano and they could play that thing. They’d play and all would sing “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again.” That’s the only time in my lifetime I could see Happy Tears in my daddy’s eyes.

    My brother John could play that song too. The first time I looked it up, I listened to “Nexus” play it, and it sounded just like John was playing. Later he became a Preacher and was Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Savannah. He was the first brother to go and meet The Master. …Ken

  8. I have been watching and listening to Chitter and Paul sing this song on YouTube for a couple of days now. I left my comment there. If you want to read it, hop on over and read it. And while you are there, subscribe, leave a thumbs and leave a comment there, too.

    Ima tellin Paul you called him old. But ain’t you his older sister? Maybe I’m confused?

  9. Tipper,
    I loved the harmony and the key switch …Great job to both Paul and Chitter…They are just good, what can I say except I loved this song on this Sunday morning.
    Thanks Tipper
    PS…The sun is shinning here…hope it is shinning on your side of the mountain before the day is done! Looking forward to this weeks extreme warm-up…So thinking it will cause our trees to pop a bit early though. Watch for the Sarvis…

  10. It takes a lot of work to learn and do these songs for us out here. I just want you to know they are so appreciated. I especially look forward to Sunday mornings.

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