Cat. #0882 (MFH #446) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on August 29, 1969
VERSE 1
I had a home down in Texas
Down where th blue violets grow
I had th kindest ole mother
How happy we were, just we two
Till one day the angels called her
A debt we all have to pay
She called me close to her bedside
These last few words to say
VERSE 2
Son, don't start drink'n' an' gamblin'
Promise you'll always go straight
Ten years has passed by since that promise
I broken th promises straight
I started to gamblin' for past-time
Soon I was just like them all
I spent all of my clothes an' my money
Not dreaming that I'd ever fall
VERSE 3
One night I spent all my money
Nothing was left to be seen
All I needed to beat them
Was one card an' it was a Queen
Th cards was dealt all 'round th table
Each man took a card on th draw
I drew th one that did beat them
I turned it an' here's what I saw
VERSE 4
I saw my Mother's picture
Somehow it seemed to say,
Son, you have broken your promise
I tossed th card away
My winins I give to th newsboy
For I knew I was wrong from th start
I'll never forget th promise
To th Mother, th Queen of my heart