From the recording How To Get To Heaven
Throughout the final weeks of my mother's life as she was passing through dementia , she had lost the ability to speak.
I often asked her questions to see if perhaps I could speak a thought or a memory.
For weeks there was only silence.
It was a question I often asked when sharing care duties with my sister.
On the last day we spent together I asked again .
"Hey Mom... What are you thinking about?"
Then she whispered her last words to me ...
"How To Get To Heaven".
She departed this world two days later.
This is her song.
Lyrics
We walked down to the wishing well
My mama said that it had stories to tell
About everything she'd ever wanted
A string of beads 'cross the palm of her hand
Looking in the sky for a star when she prayed
She had everything she'd ever need
Said it feels like I'm lost in a day dream
Under a total eclipse of the sun
But I see a light above and it just keeps on shining
I'll make a wish if my last one
How to get to heaven
I'm trying to find the way
With all those dreams I hold onto
Never let them fade away
So carry me back home
Through the California rain
How to get to heaven
It's time to fly away
Young and old so many friends so kind
She said it was a gift to be sharing the time
Making memories we'd always keep
She said child don't have such a heavy heart
With all the love we share nothing keeps us apart
We got everything we'll ever need
She stepped back into a daydream
Under a total eclipse of the sun
I see a light above and it just keeps on shining
I'll make a wish if my last one
How to get to heaven
I'm trying to find the way
With all those dreams we hold onto
Never let them fade away
So carry me back home
Through the California rain
How to get to heaven
It's time to fly away
How to get to heaven
Mama's on her way
Words and Music by J. Ramada
© 2025 - J. Ramada - www.jramada.com