I met her at the mission Living just this side of sin Her mouth was soft and when she spoke Lord, I fell right in She had a baby in a blanket A dollar and a half She looked a little leery She let out a little laugh Opened up my overcoat Invited them inside Two fragile little flowers With nowhere left to hide She said her old man left her Just before the baby came I could feel the tears well up inside Each time she spoke his name Swing low, swing low Sweet angel face Why would such a simple child Come to such a place? We talked until the wind died down Baby woke and stirred She made a little hushing sound Spoke some magic word The baby yawned and smiled at me But she said, "We can't stay" She thanked me for my kindness Turned and walked away Swing low, swing low Sweet angel face Why would such a simple child Come to such a place? I think about them all the time Hope they found their home Seems that it's my calling now To walk these streets alone Sometimes when the wind is right I can smell her sweet perfume I think about the warm embrace That ended all too soon Swing low, swing low Sweet angel face Why would such a simple child Come to such a place? Oh, oh, oh, why would such a simple child Come to such a place?