Lessons Learned At A Mother's Knee - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
Lessons Learned at a Mother's Knee. Copyright. 1880, by John Stapf. 
Around their mother's knee to-night, My little children cling. And in the slowly dying light, I hear her softly sing; The songs that best they love to hear, Those sweet and simple ways, They bear me back thro' many a year, To childhood's happy days. 
Chorus. But rest assured the years to come, What e'er be fates degree. Lessons that so taught are fairly learned. On heart and brain should be. Will bring to mind those wiser thought Learned at a mother's knee. 
What can she teach, that mother, dear. To children who some day May be our nation's guardian here. Or champions far away? Things that so taught are fairly burned. On heart and brain should be, Wisest and best, so easily learned, Beside a mother's knee.-Chorus. 
A taller structure may be made Than she has ever known. But all must spring from her who laid The firm foundation stone. In such a stone the builder places Records that others find; So here long hence mankind may brace A mother's gentle mind.-Chorus.