JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback Lyric Feedback Forum 3 Happy Birthday, Mama

I hope this is not too mauldlin. Actually it was my mother's birthday the other day and I got to thinking about her and this came out.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA

I miss you, Mama—you’re always on my mind
When your birthday rolls around, it’s like marking time
How many years now since you went away
Tonight I’m thinking of you and I want to say

Happy Birthday, Mama
How do you celebrate
When you’re on the other side
Of those pearly gates
Does St. Peter play his trumpet
The angels bake a cake
Do God and Jesus grant you
All the wishes you can make

Life comes full circle—I know that it’s true
Some of your old friends are now there with you
I hope you’re merrymaking just like you all did here
And all your days are filled with the things your hearts hold dear

Happy Birthday, Mama
Is your birth date still the same
Or has the day you got there
Become your special day
And really, who needs birthdays
If you never have to age
And every day’s a party
In the presence of God’s grace

If you could only look down and see
Tonight I’m lighting candles in your memory

Happy Birthday, Mama
How do you celebrate
When you’re on the other side
Of those pearly gates
Does St. Peter play his trumpet
The angels bake a cake
May God and Jesus grant you
All the wishes you can make

Happy Birthday, Mama
Happy Birthday to you

© Betty Holt, September, 2007

Excellent. Also very novel in that it's a birthday greeting to someone in Heaven. In chorus line 6 should it read "Do the angels bake a cake"??? Like the slight change in last two lines of final chorus. Beautiful and bittersweet and original.

Best,
Lynn

Well crafted, sincere and touching... that's about as good as it gets.

Well done ! Betty

Hi Betty,

I really like this one a lot, good lines.

Chorus is cool and so is this...

Life comes full circle—I know that it’s true
Some of your old friends are now there with you

and this...

If you could only look down and see
Tonight I’m lighting candles in your memory


Good work.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Betty

I almost cried when I read this line "How many years now since you went away". My Dad passed away some 11 years ago and the pain is still there. I know he's in heaven and I know it's for the best but I still miss him. I can really identify with your lyric it touched me deep inside thank you!

Lynn, Pogodog, Calvin, and AJK...I appreciate your comments so much. There is music, too, although I don't sing. I guess I am going to have to get one of those sites to put my music on. Yes, ATK, it has been almost 24 years since my mother passed. And there are times, like her birthday and the anniversary of her death, that it all comes back. The last birthday (65th) was her last good day and then it was downhill with the cancer. Those were dark days for me. Life is better now, and I think when you reach the point you can write about these things, it is sort of a hallmark of healing.

Hey Betty,


Nice Write. you know i never thought about birthdays in heaven. but when you get a heium balloon and it gets away, i kind of like to think that is where they go.

cheers
steve

Hi Betty,

Beautiful sentimental writing. And I really like this verse how it starts out so conversationally.

I miss you, Mama—you’re always on my mind
When your birthday rolls around, it’s like marking time
How many years now since you went away
Tonight I’m thinking of you and I want to say

I'm sure there'll be a great celebration when you're reunited with her. And the image of the angels baking a cake would be the perfect description of that day, I'd say.

Big sister hug,
Vanessa

Dear Betty,

This is so beautiful and well-done. There's not a one of us that couldn't relate to that. I'm really glad that I read it, because yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have been 83.
He died on my parents 55th wedding anniversary. I was very close to him (only girl)and I was missing him alot. Thanks for writing such a poignant meaningful piece. I'll bet that your Mom
sees and hears it in her soul.

Sincerely,

Jan Hopkins

Steve, Vanessa, and Jan, you're all making me get real teary-eyed with your comments. It was a personal song. Do you think it has any commercial potential?

Hi Betty

This is just lovely ! jm

Betty,

I'm sure not the one to ask about a song being commercial. I've been back at this for such a short time and actually I probably will never be commercial judging from the comments on here. I write for the joy of it and to let go of what's in my heart and to exspound some on what I see in the world. All I know is what touches me, and your song surely does that. I think you've already won and doubly so, because of the Mom you had that inspired you to write such a lovely set of lyrics. I just posted a piece on here today that expresses how I feel about the relationship I was lucky enough to have had with my Dad. It's called One Step At A Time. Give it a read if you can. Your piece was beautiful, though.

Have a nice day,

Jan