The Sweetest Gift

Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt

Written by James B. Coats

Key of C · Chords: I IV V

Verse 1

C
One day a mother came to a prison
          G7                  C
To see an erring but precious son
She told the warden how much she loved him
           G7                 C
It did not matter what he had done

Verse 2

She did not bring (bring to him) a parole or pardon (pardon plea)
               G7                                  C
She brought no silver (brought no gold) no pomp or style (none to see)
                                           F
It was a halo (halo bright) sent down from heaven (heaven's light)
             C      G7       C
The sweetest gift a mother's smile

Verse 3

She left a smile you can remember
              G7                      C
She's gone to heaven from heartache's grief
Those walls around you will never change her
             G7                 C
You were her baby and ever will be

Verse 2

She did not bring (bring to him) a parole or pardon (pardon plea)
               G7                                  C
She brought no silver (brought no gold) no pomp or style (none to see)
                                           F
It was a halo (halo bright) sent down from heaven (heaven's light)
             C      G7       C
The sweetest gift a mother's smile

Verse 2

She did not bring (bring to him) a parole or pardon (pardon plea)
               G7                                  C
She brought no silver (brought no gold) no pomp or style (none to see)
                                           F
It was a halo (halo bright) sent down from heaven (heaven's light)
             C      G7       C
The sweetest gift a mother's smile