Mother, The Queen of My Heart

I had a home down in Texas

Back where the blue bonnet's grew

I had the kindest old mother

How happy we were, just we two

But one day the angels called her

This parting we all have to pay

She called me close to her bedside

And these are the words she did say

"Son, don't start drinking and gambling

Promise you'll always go straight"

Ten years have passed since our parting

That promise I broke, I must say

I started in gambling for pastime

At last, I was just like them all

I bet all my clothes and my money

Not dreaming that I'd ever fall

♪

One night I spent all my money

Nothing was left to be seen

And all that I had for to break them was one card

And that was a queen

The cards were dealt all 'round the table

Each man took a card on the draw

I drew the one that would break them

I turned it and here's what I saw

I saw my mother's picture

And somehow it seemed to say

"Son, you have broken your promise"

Then I threw the cards away

My winnings, I gave to a newsboy

I knew I was wrong from the start

But I'll never forget that promise

To my mother, the queen of my heart