Tar, paper, shanty
On an old dirt road
Seeing my mother working made my blood run cold
People making fun
Made me wonder and doubt
Why the Lord chose our family to have to go without

I'd shout out in anger
A child stricken with fears
When my ma couldn't stand it more
She'd dry away my tears
I look back a woman
And it's fresh in my mind
A girl leaving home trying to find

The answer to a question that I ask every day
How can Mama cry so softly
And still look up and say
The Lord never makes a burden too heavy to carry
Never puts a challenge where it can't be won
Some people have to try
Just a little bit harder
Before their life's work is done

My strength built of rock
From what I thought was sand
Mother was rewarded
'Cause she earned that promised land
See, my reflection eyes of my little song
He spoke words that told me my life's work was done
When he said
Lord never makes a burden too heavy too carry
And he never puts a challenge where it can't be won

I said now
Some people have to try just a little bit harder
Before their life's work is done
I said, the good Lord never makes a burden too heavy to carry
He ain't gonna put a challenge where it can't be won...