Laura Milam Finley Lyon

BETTER DAYS

Silver gray hair neatly combed in place.

There were four generations of love on her face.

She was so wise, no surprise passed her eyes,

She'd seen it all.

I was a child, oh, about three or four.

All day I'd ask questions.

At night I'd ask more.

But whenever; she never, would ever, turn me away.

I'd say how can I be sure what is right or wrong ?

And why does what I want always take so long ?

Please tell me where does God live

And why won't He talk to me ?

I'd say, BIG MAMA what is love ?

Will I ever find out ?

Why are we so poor, what is life about ?

I wanna know the answers before I fall off to sleep.

She sort of smiled as she tucked me in.

Then she pulled up that old rockin' chair once again.

But tonight she was slightly, remarkably

Different somehow...

Slowly she rocked, lookin' half asleep.

BIG MAMA yawned as she stretched

Then she started to speak.

What she told me, would mold me, and hold me

Together inside.

She said, all the things you ask

You will know someday.

But you have got to live in a patient way.

God put us here by fate

And by fate that means better days.

She said, child we are all moons in the dark of night.

Ain't no morning gonna come 'til the time is right.

Can't get to better days lest you make it through the night.

You gotta make it through the night, yes you do.

You can't get to no better days

Unless you make it through the night.

Oh, you will see those better days

But you gotta be patient.

(Be patient) oh baby, be patient.

Later that year, at the turn of spring,

Heaven sent angels down and gave BIG MAMA her wings.

Now, she's flying, and sliding, and gliding

In better days!

And although I'm all grown up

I still get confused.

I stumble through the dark

Getting bumped and bruised.

When night gets in my way

I could still hear my BIG MAMA say

I can hear her say,

I can hear her say.

(Be patient) You can't get to no better days

Unless you make it through the night baby.

(Be patient) Oh, you will see those better days

But you gotta be patient.

Child, do you hear me, yeah.

(Be patient) You can't get to no better days

Unless you make it, you got to make it

you got to make it

You got to make it through the night

(Be patient) Oh BIG MAMA, oh BIG MAMA

Do you see me now, lady

Oh oh oh oh oh...

(Be patient) She used to sit me on her knee

She used to comb my hair

She used to tell me stories...

My BIG MAMA took me everywhere.

(so BLESSED to be her namesake... laurie)