When Naomi Judd found herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.
After Naomi Judd divorced, she moved from Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.
In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."
Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."
Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.
The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first two singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.
In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing Wynonna's single "Woman To Woman".
In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".
The sweetest gift
The Judds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come to a prison
To see an 'erring
But precious son
She told the warden
How much she loved him
It did not matter
What he had done
[Chorus]
She did not bring to him
(Bring to him)
Parole or pardon
(Pardon free)
She brought no silver
(Brought no gold)
No pomp nor style
(Him to see)
It was a halo
(Halo bright)
Sent down from heaven
(Heaven's light)
The sweetest gift
(A mother's smile)
Her boy had wandered
Far from the far side
Though she had pleaded
With him each night
But not a word did
She ever utter
That told her heartaches
Her smile was bright
[Chorus]
She left a smile
You can remember
She's gone to heaven
From heartache's free
Them bars around you
Will never change her
He was her baby
An error will be
[Chorus]
It was a halo bright
Sent down from heaven's light
The sweetest gift
A mother's smile
The Judds' song "The Sweetest Gift" tells a story of a mother who goes to prison to see her son who has committed a serious offense. Despite the gravity of his wrongdoing, the mother shows unconditional love and forgiveness to her son. She did not bring him any physical gifts, but only her smile that brings comfort and joy to her son. Her love and support remain unshaken through this difficult time.
The lyrics paint a picture of a strong and compassionate mother, who never lost faith in her son. She had pleaded with him and prayed for him, but never judged him. Instead, she chose to show him unconditional love and bring him the sweetest gift of all, her smile. Through her smile, she gave her son hope and a sense of belonging, even behind bars. The song is a tribute to all mothers who continue to love their children unconditionally, no matter what the circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
One day a mother
Once upon a day, a mother
Come to a prison
Arrived at a prison
To see an 'erring
To see her wayward, guilty son
But precious son
But still beloved to her heart son
She told the warden
She told the prison official
How much she loved him
How deeply she cared for him
It did not matter
No matter what
What he had done
The things he had done
She did not bring to him
She did not supply him with
(Bring to him)
Parole or pardon
A release from prison
(Pardon free)
She brought no silver
She brought no money or possessions
(Brought no gold)
No pomp nor style
No showiness or grandeur
(Him to see)
It was a halo
Instead, she brought a glow or aura
(Halo bright)
Sent down from heaven
Sent from a divine place
(Heaven's light)
The sweetest gift
The most loving and kind offering
(A mother's smile)
Her boy had wandered
Her son had drifted off course
Far from the far side
Far from where he should be
Though she had pleaded
Despite her begging and imploring
With him each night
Every night she asked him to do better
But not a word did
But she never said
She ever utter
The things that caused her pain
That told her heartaches
The things that broke her heart
Her smile was bright
Instead, she kept a cheerful and hopeful demeanor
She left a smile
When she left
You can remember
Something you can always hold onto
She's gone to heaven
She has passed away into a better place
From heartache's free
Free from the sorrow and pain of life
Them bars around you
The prison bars that confine him
Will never change her
Cannot alter her eternal love
He was her baby
The son she cared for as if he were still a little boy
An error will be
His mistake will pass
It was a halo bright
That glow she emanated
Sent down from heaven's light
A blessing sent from a higher place
The sweetest gift
The most loving offering
(A mother's smile)
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: James B. Coats
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind