Today’s post was written by Paul.
Today I’m sharing a song in honor of Charlie Louvin’s birthday. I had about three different songs I was considering doing, but when I realized that this year, his birthday fell on a Sunday, I wanted to do a gospel song associated with Charlie (not with the Louvin Brothers per se).
That cut the field down considerably. In the nick of time, I remembered Charlie singing the song “Mama’s Angel’s” that he wrote about his mother.
I first heard the song in 1998. It was on a live album he recorded in Holland with Charles Whitstein of the Whitstein Brothers. If you’re not familiar with their music, you should definitely check them out, especially if you like brother harmony singing.
I also heard Charlie sing the song on the Opry a few times as a trio, with Terry Hampton and Jennifer O’brien in the early 2000’s. A few bluegrass acts have performed the song, including Rhonda Vincent. There’s a nice version by Brendan Quinn on YouTube.
Until today, I assumed that Charlie wrote this song in the late 90’s. I was surprised to find that he put it out on an album way back in 1973. It’s a sweet song to which many of us can relate.
Charlie told me that he took the melody from several songs in the public domain and mixed them together. Once you know that, you can kind of tell. I think one of them might be “America the Beautiful” and another might be “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
This song would have been a nice one to use for Mother’s Day, but it’s also good for Charlie’s birthday, considering that he wrote it, not Ira or another writer.
When I visited with Charlie back in 1998, I could tell that he was very close to his mother because he shared (without prompting) several stories about her and about things he had tried to do for her toward the end of her life.
He played for us another song he had recorded about his mother, called “I’ll Make it Home When I Can.” The song, which I couldn’t find online but may sing/upload one day, features a speaker who keeps putting off visits to his mother until she passes and he is left guilt ridden as a result.
Charlie played a cassette of his recording of the song, and when the song stopped playing, he had tears in his eyes. I didn’t know what to say. Pap was with me, and he wisely said to Charlie, “You’ll be keeping that promise, won’t you, Charlie!” Charlie nodded and we moved on to other subjects, after complimenting him on the recording/song.
Pap was referring to the last line in the song, which says, “If God’s will, I’ll make it home when I can.” Of course, the last line was referring to “home” in heaven, where mother and son would finally be together. In that way, that song is similar to Mama’s Angels, since both feature the idea of reunion in Heaven.
I was happy to find that “Mama” is spelled with two “a’s” in the title. It may be a regional thing, but I’ve always spelled it that way (rather than “moma”). My phone and computer always correct it by changing the first A to an O.
Lyrics:
In childhood when my mama prayed She often spoke my name And hoped one day I’d join her where There’d be no suffering.
But as I grew before I knew My mama someday soon Would visit friends and loved ones Where her mom and dad had gone.
A small band of angels came to visit mama And while they talked my mama walked Through heaven’s open door.
A place to live, a crown to wear Where joy will never end, A pair of wings while mama sings Eternal praise to Him…
But as I grew before I knew My mama someday soon Would visit friends and loved ones Where her mom and dad had gone.
A small band of angels came to visit mama And while they talked my mama walked Through heaven’s open door.
I hope you enjoyed this year’s birthday tribute to the great Charlie Louvin. You can find him singing the song on YouTube, as well as other singers/bands.
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
What a lovely song. Looking forward to seeing my mom again. Thank you Paul
Such a beautiful, touching performance! Thank you.
NOTHING BETTER ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH THAT HAVING A GOOD CHRISTIAN MOTHER.
THANKS FOR THIS TUNE.
Tipper and Paul,
I don’t know how that song could have been done any better! Best,
Rooney
Thank you.
Paul, omy! this one is a teary tune. Thanx for sharing with us.
Happy Birthday rememberance, Charlie
my Mother often asked my brother and myself to sing this song. My brother does amazing harmony. I didn’t realize Charlie had written it. Thankyou so much for sharing.
Oh Tipper, what a beautiful song! Thank you for sharing. Paul did a wonderful job singing it. Thank you!
I’ve never seen Moma spelled that way. It’s usually either Mama like you or Momma. In my case it’s unapologetically Mommy. Mommy seems childish I know but no matter how old I am or will be, she will always be Mommy. No matter that she’s been dead for close to 50 years, she’s still my Mommy and forever will be!
Papaw- I agree with you..my mommy is my mommy and always will be!
Paul, thank you for sharing such a beautiful song!!
Isn’t it a mystery how we sincerely speak of a place we have never seen as home? It is not our minds that agree so much as it is our spirit. The old expression “I know that I know that I know” sort of says it. Thanks, Paul, for the reminder this morning. I’m glad you have the memory of time with Charlie and together with Pap to. Which leads to another mystery, how much, if any, of ‘here’ will we remember when we are ‘there’? We can be confident that if there are memories they will not be harmful.
So incredibly beautifully played and sung blessed my heart on this Lord’s day
A beautiful tribute to any praying mama
Paul that was beautiful!!! You have a gift from God with your voice, ability to play that guitar, and your genuine stand firm in your faith!! Oh how I love my Mama and miss her so but I know I will get to be with her again! God Bless you and keep you and I pray you have a great week there in Wilson Holler.
Simply beautiful.
Oh, my, what a beautiful song, beautiful lyrics. I can just image Granny harmonizing. Many thanks for this one!
Such a beautiful song and performed so well!
I enjoyed this song very much although I thought it could be a song I’ve heard for ages called “Mama’s Teaching Angels How to Sing” and I like it very much. I haven’t heard this song before, but it’s beautiful and the way you sang it is lovely too, Paul, for you have an angelic voice I must say! Thank you for this birthday song! and Who really cares where you go when you’re patted in the face with a cold shovel EXCEPT your dear beloved mother and daddy. If people only had an inkling of the thousands of endless prayers mothers say and plead, maybe they’d appreciate their best friend this side of heaven MORE… May the Lord bless you all this fine Sunday!
Paul, that was a sweet birthday tribute to Charlie. I saw you singing it on YouTube and thought it was a lovely song and you sang it well. Thank you for sharing all this wonderful information and your memories of Charley.
As usual, Paul does a good job. I think more about the the message of the song and how important it is to not push your mother and I am adding other family members off to the side. Red Sovine did a song titled Roses For Mama that kinda has the same message. I was lucky in living beside of my mother and daddy and could see them everyday and my wife lived only 5 miles from her parents, she might not of seen them everyday but she would call them. My grandchildren lost their mother when one was 6 years old and the other one was 12. She was my daughter.
You sang that beautifully. Thank you for introducing me to many songs!
I love the lyrics to this song. I know my mama is down on her knees each night before bed… praying for all her children and grandchildren…that we will all join her in heaven someday after she goes home to be with Jesus. May God bless us all today and everyday