Mama always got up early And she never went to bed 'til late Yet, I never heard her complainin' About her family of eight There were times she should have been sleepin' But, late in the midnight hour She'd get down on her knees And you could hear her say, "Lord fill them will your power" [chorus] Mama like to burn the midnight oil Down on her knees in prayer If you asked why she did it She said she did it care she cared Now Mama always talked to Jesus When she knelt by her rocking chair Oh, I'm glad my mama was willin' To burn the midnight oil in prayer Now Mama's gone to be with Jesus I've got a family of my own Yet, whenever the clock strikes midnight You will find me all alone That's when I start to call upon Jesus For His wisdom and His power Cause it seems that He loves To hear a Daddy's prayer Even in the midnight hour [chorus] Years from now, when my grown little boy Has a family of his own Will he kneel down and pray When the hour gets late And pass the legacy on [chorus] Cause now there's a Daddy who's willing To burn the midnight oil in prayer