Well God bless Texas
And Deakon 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

Singin'
"Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound"

That saved a wrech like me
He carried candy for the kids in his Sunday dress coat
He'd take me fishin' after church

And taught me things I needed to know
No, Deakon 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 walkin' with Pete down the street paved with gold
Showin' 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 tatoo
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

Singin'
"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 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 the 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 his barbed wire halo
Sweet chariots coming forth to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariots coming forth to carry me home