The All-Girl-Gospel Quartet

(Don Reid)



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.



--- Instrumental ---



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

And I can still hear them yet

Alma and Flora, Bonnie Mae and little Louise

The all-girl-all-gospel quartet.



--- Instrumental ---



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 Mae and Louise

The all-girl-all-gospel quartet.

(In the sweet bye and bye...)