silver

look upon your mother and the sliver in her hair

consider it a crown the holiest may wear

it ain't easy raisin' babies when they grow like ragged weeds

it's a miracle she carried any shred of sanity

but she read her stories and forgot the glory of a multitude of saints

but her mother

look upon your mother and the silver in her hair

consider it a crown the holiest may wear

behold the mark of wisdom

make it your daily prayer

to look upon your mother and the silver in her hair

on the western side of the highway

near the feet of tennessee

a woman like a pistol and half my family tree

when the circle grew by more than two

the sawmill could not buy

everything you need with four mouths to feed

why

you're barely gettin' by

look upon your mother and the silver in her hair

consider it a crown the holiest may wear

behold the mark of wisdom

the sign of trouble fair

to look upon your mother and the silver in her hair

last night in my slumber came the matriarchs i miss

they said

do you wanna be anointed with age's lasting kiss?