Barbed Wire Halo

Well God bless Texas and Akin Shackleford
He read the bible seven times
And he believed every word
That old beat up leather book
Had been thorough it all
He sat on the back pew
So he could chew him a chaw

Singing
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved wretch like me

He carried candy for the kids
In his Sunday dress coat
He'd take me fishing after church
And taught me things I needed to know

Naw deacon didn't have a family
Lord knows he wished he did
He told the whole congregation
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 meet 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 & blue

Singing
I once was lost
But now I found
I was blind
But now I see

[Chorus: ]

Before he went
He made me promise him
That I wouldn't cry
And tho' 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 his barbed wire halo

Sweet chariot
Coming forth to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming forth to carry me home