Nearer My God To Thee

You know I like the old songs

I like them because back in the country

My grandfather was my pastor and many days

When they were getting ready to have that old revival meeting

My grandfather would make his way up in the pulpit

Look out in that country church and he didn't have a real strong voice

But he was saying those old songs

They will be getting ready for the revival meeting

And it seemed like in my mind, I can hear him sometimes singing

Oh near, nearer, my God

To Thee, oh near

(Nearer) nearer (to Thee) to Thee

He will say nearer (oh near, nearer), my (my God)

(To thee) to Thee, oh near, I will be nearer (oh near)

Nearer (nearer) to (to Thee), to Thee

Can I sing a verse?

Listen

Sons, they have a feeling, you see

(Doo) there is a story and every song that (doo)

We sing sometimes when you listen at a song (doo)

Sons (doo-doo), sons they know, know (doo)

I'll have your burden when you stay

Nearer (oh, nearer) nearer (to Thee) to Thee (to Thee)

You see, in those days, my grandmother

Was the mother of the church, and I was the oldest grandchild

Many days I would go by her home to talk to her, she taught me a lot

And some days when I would get to that old wooden house

Tears would be running down those wrinkled cheeks

By me being the oldest boy, I always thought I could help

I used to ask her saying, "Why, why are you crying?"

She would look at me and say, "Son, you're too young now

You're too young to understand my tears"

She said, "But just keep on living," and friends today

I can understand her tears, I'm not ashamed to tell the world

Sometimes, I have to cry

And some days when I would get to that old house

She would be humming and moaning on songs

And she sometimes, she wouldn't come out and say the words

And I would say to her, "Why are you moaning like this?"

She would say, "Son, when I moan it confuses everybody

It confuses the devil, he doesn't know what I'm moaning about"

Now, I may not be able to moan like a lot of people

But I believe I can moan a little bit like my grandmother

If she was still with us today, she would sound something like this

In my mind, I can hear her sometimes

Working, washing and ironing in that old wooden house

Seems like when she would moan, it would make the work easier

And in my mind, friends, sometimes when I'm riding along in the bus

Or flying through the air

I can hear her humming

Sometime like this, listen

Hmm, hm-mm (doo)

Hmm, hmm (doo)

Hmm, hmm (doo)