One day a mother, come to a prison

To see an erring but precious son
She told the warden, how much she loved him
It did not matter what he had done


She did not bring to him
(Bring to him)

Parole or pardon
(Pardon free)
She brought no silver

(Brought no gold)
No pomp nor style
(Him to see)


It was a halo
(Halo bright)

Sent down from heaven
(Heaven's light)
The sweetest gift

(A mother's smile)

Her boy had wandered far from the far side

Though she had pleaded with him each night
But not a word did she ever utter
That told her heartaches her smile was bright


She did not bring to him
(Bring to him)

Parole or pardon
(Pardon free)
She brought no silver

(Brought no gold)
No pomp nor style
(Him to see)


It was a halo
(Halo bright)

Sent down from heaven
(Heaven's light)
The sweetest gift

(A mother's smile)

She left a smile you can remember

She's gone to heaven from heartache's free
Them bars around you will never change her
He was her baby an error will be


She did not bring to him
(Bring to him)

Parole or pardon
(Pardon free)
She brought no silver

(Brought no gold)
No pomp nor style
(Him to see)


It was a halo
(Halo bright)

Sent down from heaven
(Heaven's light)
The sweetest gift

(A mother's smile)

It was a halo bright

Sent down from heaven's light
The sweetest gift
A mother's smile


One day a mother, come to a prison
To see an erring but precious son

She told the warden, how much she loved him