Today has been a lonesome day
Today has been a lonesome day
Today has been a lonesome day
And tomorrow 's gonna be the same old way

Oh, they carried my mother to the burying ground
Oh, they carried my mother to the burying ground
Oh, they carried my mother to the burying ground
I watched as the bearers let her down

Did you ever hear a church bell tone
Did you ever hear a church bell tone
Did you ever hear a church bell tone
You may know by that she's dead and gone

Oh, dig my grave with a silver spade
Oh, dig my grave with a silver spade
Oh, dig my grave with a silver spade
And mark the place where I must lay

There's one kind favor I ask of you
There's one kind favor I ask of you
There's one kind favor I ask of you
See that my grave is kept green