Philippians 3:12-14 (Reading By Billy Joe Shaver) Lyrics

God bless Texas and Deacon Shackleford
He read the bible seven times and he believed every word
That ol' beat up leather book had been through it all
He sat on the back pew so he could chew him a chaw singing

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me

He carried candy for the kids in his Sunday dress coat
He'd take me fishing after church, he taught me things I needed to know
No Deacon didn't have a family, Lord knows he wished he did
He told the whole congregation that I was his grandkid

CHORUS

And today he joined up with Jesus wearing shiny pearl snaps
We sang a few gospel hymns and then the soldier played taps
I bet he's walking with Pete down a street paved with gold
Showing off his brand spanking new wings and his barbed wire halo

He married sweet Emma Grace before the war was through
She held his right arm next to his anchor tattoo
He was on a ship off at sea, when she died in child birth He lost his whole world from the far side of the earth

He lost the will to love, he lost the will to live
Until he met a man who taught him to forgive
Yeah life took him to hell and back, to hell and back a time or two
But in the end he beat the devil until he was black and blue

Singing I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see…

CHORUS

Before he went he made me promise him that I wouldn't cry
And though I told him that I wouldn't you know I couldn't help but lie

Cause today he joined up with Jesus wearing shiny pearl snaps
We sang a few gospel hymns and then the soldier played taps
I bet he's walking with Pete down a street paved with gold
As sure as the old church bell still rings
He always said he had country in his soul
He's showing off his brand spanking new wings and barbed wire halo

Sweet chariot coming forth to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot coming forth to carry me home

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