One day a mother
Come to a prison
To see an 'erring
But precious son
She told the warden

How much she loved him
It did not matter
What he had done

She did not bring to him
(Bring to him)
Parole or pardon
(Pardon free)
She brought no silver
(Brought no gold)
No pomp nor style
(Him to see)
It was a halo
(Halo bright)
Sent down from heaven
(Heaven's light)
The sweetest gift
(A mother's smile)

Her boy had wandered
Far from the far side
Though she had pleaded
With him each night
But not a word did
She ever utter
That told her heartaches
Her smile was bright

(Repeat Chorus)

She left a smile
You can remember
She's gone to heaven
From heartache's free
Them bars around you
Will never change her
He was her baby
An error will be

(Repeat Chorus)

It was a halo bright
Sent down from heaven's light
The sweetest gift
A mother's smile