Ricky Skaggs - Little Bessie Lyrics

(Bill Emerson - Doyle Lawson - Charlie Waller)

Hug me closer mother closer
Put your arms around me tight
For I'm cold and tired dear mother
And I feel so strong tonight.

Something hurts me here dear mother
Like a stone upon my breast
Oh, I wonder mother wonder what I did
As I cannot rest.

All the day while you were working
As I lay upon my bed
I was trying to be patient
And to think of what you'd said.

How the king dear blessed Jesus
Loves his lambs to watch and keep
Oh, I wish he'd come and take me
In his arms that I might sleep.

Just before the lamps were lighted
Just before the children came
While the room was very quiet
I heard someone call my name.

All at once a window opened
On a field of lambs and sheep
Some far out in a brook were drinking
Some were lyin' fast asleep.

In a moment I was looking
On a world so bright and fair
Which was filled with little children
And they seemed so happy there.

They were singing, oh, so sweetly
Sweetest songs I ever heard
They were singing sweeter mother
Than our darling little birds.

But I could not see the Saviour
Though I strained my eyes to see
Oh, I wonder if he saw me
Would he speak to such as me.

All at once a window opened
One so bright upon me smiled
And I knew it must be Jesus
When he said come here my child.

Come up here my little Bessie
Come up here and live with me
Where little children never suffer
Suffer through eternity.

Then I thought of all you told me
Of that bright and happy land
I was going when you called me
When you came and kissed my hand.

And at first I felt so sorry
You had called I would go
Oh, to sleep and never suffer mother
Don't be crying so.

Hug me closer mother closer
Put your arms around me tight
Oh, how much I love you mother
And how strong I feel tonight.

And her mother pressed her closer
To her own dear burdened breast
On the heart so near it's breaking
Lay the heart so near it's rest.

At the solemn hour of midnight
In the darkness calm and deep
Lying on her mother's bosom
Little Bessie fell asleep...