Verse 1 The light of a clear blue morning Shines across my window frame, But today my cup is empty of ambition, And I'm not ready to face the pain. Somewhere high above the holler, Where the dogwoods touch the sky, I swear I hear a joyful voice singing A sweet old mountain lullaby. Verse 2 Raised where dreams were precious, And there wasn't too much to spare, She wore her heart like diamonds And scattered her kindness everywhere. From a coat sewn out of memories To a butterfly taking wing, A poor Appalachian was treasured More than the riches of all the kings. Chorus And I will always love you For the way you lit the world, The joy you gave and the hope you spread To every boy and girl. Now rest your head on finest satin, Where the mountain laurels lean, Close your eyes, your work is over, Sleep in peace, my Smoky Mountain Queen. Verse 3 There were islands in the stream and There were heartaches dressed in rhyme, Nine-to-five days full of dreaming, And a thousand borrowed times. She built doorways out of stories, Put books in little hands, And showed that there was room for kindness In a world of bigger plans. Verse 4 She sparkled like a rhinestone, Made us laugh though all the tears, Turned heartbreak into music That will echo through the years. And beneath the paint and glitter Her mountain heart stayed true, Never forgot the place she came from, Treasured memories she never outgrew. Chorus And I will always love you For the way you lit the world, The joy you gave and the hope you spread To every boy and girl. Now rest your head on finest satin, Where the mountain laurels lean, Close your eyes, your work is over, Sleep in peace, my Smoky Mountain Queen. Bridge Maybe heaven needed laughter, Maybe heaven needed song, Maybe somewhere there's a front porch Where the ones we've lost belong. And when morning breaks tomorrow, Though today our hearts still grieve, There'll be butterflies among the flowers And a little more love to leave. Final Chorus And I will always love you For the way you lit the world, The joy you gave and the hope you spread To every boy and girl. Now rest your head on finest satin, Let the old mountains turn green, You gave us more than songs to remember— You taught us how to dream. So rest your head on finest satin, While the stars like rhinestones glean, Close your eyes, your work is over, Sleep in peace, Sleep in peace, My Smoky Mountain Queen. Outro The light of a clear blue morning Still shines across my window frame, And somewhere beyond those mountains, I swear I can hear her sing.
