I had a home out in Texas,
down where the blue bonnet's grew.
I had the kindest old mother;
how happy we were just we two.
Till one day the angels' called her,
that debt we all have to pay.
She called me close to hr bedside,
these last few words to say.

"Son, don't start drinking and gambling,
promise you'll always go straight. "
Ten years have passed since that parting,
that promise I've broke, I must say.
I started gambling for pastime,
at last I was just like them all.
I bet my clothes and my money,fall.

One night I bet all my money,
nothing was left to be seen.
All that I needed to break them was one card,
and that was a queen.
The cards were dealt all 'round the table,
each man took a card on the draw.
I drew the one that would beat them;
I turned it and here's wat I saw.

I saw my mother's picture,
and somehow she seemed to say.
"Son, you have broken your promise,"
so I tossed the cards away.
My winnings I gave to a newsboy,
I knew I was wrong from the start.
And I'll ne'er forget that promise,
to Mother, the queen of my heart.