A man from Gleason

I swear you could taste the chicken and tomatoes

The noodles and the marrow bone,

But it really wasn't nothing but some water and potatoes

And the wonderful wonderful soup stone.

.. Hanging from a string in my momma's kitchen

Back in the hard time days,

Was a little old stone 'bout the size of an apple.

It was smooth and worn and grey.

There wasn't much food in my momma's kitchen,

So whenever things got tight,

Momma'd boil up some water, put in the stone

Say, "Let's have some soup tonight."

And I swear you could taste the chicken and tomatoes

And the noodles and the marrow bone.

But it really wasn't nothing but some water and potatoes,

And the wonderful wonderful soup stone.

It'd been in the family for a whole lot of years,

So we knew it was a nourishing thing.

And I remember momma as she stirred it in the water,

And we could all hear her sing.

"It's a magical stone and as long as we got it

We'll never have a hungry night.

Just add a little love to the wonderful soup stone,

And everything will be alright."

And I swear we could taste the chicken and tomatoes

And the noodles and the marrow bone.

But it really wasn't nothing but some water and potatoes,

And the wonderful wonderful soup stone.

So it carried us all through the darkening days

'Till finally the sunshine came.

And the soup stone started a'gathering dust,

But it hung there just the same.

Ever since then, Lord, the food's been plenty

But every now and then I find

That momma in the kitchen and the wonderful soup stone

Drifts across my mind.

And again I taste the chicken and tomatoes

And the noodles and the marrow bone.

But it really wasn't nothing but some water and potatoes

And the wonderful wonderful soup stone.

We were nourished by the wonderful soup stone.