The mother seems to have been born in poverty, as the images reveal: “And boards torn up,/And places with no carpet on the floor.” This indicates that she experienced hazardous circumstances, which somehow she needed to step over to arrive where she stands now. Then, she goes on to say, “But all the time /I’se been a-climbin’ on” demonstrating that, despite her hardships and troubles, she kept moving on and climbing the staircase. She goes on to say that she did this “…sometimes goin’ in the dark,” by which she means the low moments of her life where there has “been no light.” The use of local vernacular she uses to give advice to her son— “So boy, don’t you turn back” —is a reflection of the love the mother has for her son. Finally, she motivates him to never feel dejected due to any failures in life. She encourages him to move on just like she did, despite all difficulties.