Little Joe (feat. Andrew Marlin, Noam Pikelny, Chris Eldridge, Alex Hargreaves & Greg Garrison)

What will the birds do, Mother, in the spring Will they gather the crumbs around our door? Will they fly from the nest in the top of the trees And ask why Joe wanders out no more? And what will the kitten do, mother, all alone? Will he stray from his frolic for a day? Will he lay on the rug by beside my bed Like he did before I went away? And what will Thomas, the old gardener do When you ask him for flowers for me? Will he give you a rose he has tended with care Fairest of that lot 'round thе tree? Well, I saw the tears come to his honest eyes He said it was the wind that brought them there As he gazed on my cheeks growing paler each day His hands trembled over my hair Won't you keep Tag, Mother? My little dog So blind and helpless, it's true Treat him with kindness the older he grows Sleeping the whole summer through Won't you show him my coat, Mother, so he may know His master then will be dead? Talk to him kindly and often of Joe And pat him on his brown shaggy head And you, dearest Mother, shall miss me a while In Heaven I shall no larger grow And any a-kind angel you meet at the gate Gon' take you to your darling little Joe