Maybe the first time I saw them I was nine going on ten years old
I fell in love with their music and with the stories their music told
I had all of their long playing records and memorized songs I still can't forget
My room was papered with pictures of the all-girl-all-gospel quartet
Flora was oldest and tallest she sang the high soprano
Alma played the piano and sang the sweetest alto
Bonnie Mae sang bass and sold records I bought every one I could get
And my favorite little Louise sang tenor in the all-girl-all-gospel quartet
And their harmony sounded like angels and I can still hear them yet
Alma and Flora Bonnie Mae and little Louise the all-girl-all-gospel quartet
[ piano ]
Somewhere just after my childhood I lost track and they lost some ground
Only in bargain store basements or flea markets could their records be found
I heard one lives in Akron Ohio one quit to take care of her dad
One's on TV in Atlanta and the one they called Louise went bad
And their harmony sounded like angels
[ piano ]
If any of the four of you hear me there's a song I never could find
It's the one where Alma played guitar and Bonnie Mae sang after time
And it's sad now how no one remembers though I find them hard to forget
And you would if you'd ever heard them the all-girl-all-gospel quartet
Alma and Flora Bonnie and Louise the all-girl-all-gospel quartet
(In the sweet bye and bye)