text: 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
  Hed take me fishing after church, he taught me things I needed to know
  No Deacon didnt have a family, Lord knows he wished he did
  He told the whole congregation that I was his grandkid
  And today he joined up with Jesus wearin shiny pearl snaps
  We sang a few gospel hymns and then the soldier played Taps
  I bet hes walkin with Pete down a street paved with gold
  Showin off his brand spankin 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
  Singin I once was lost, but now Im found, was blind but now I see…
  And today he joined up with Jesus wearin shiny pearl snaps
  We sang a few gospel hymns and then the soldier played Taps
  I bet hes walkin with Pete down a street paved with gold
  Showin off his brand spankin new wings and his barbed wire halo
  Before he went, he made me promise him that I wouldnt cry
  And though I told him that I wouldnt, you know I couldnt help but lie
  Cause today he joined up with Jesus wearin shiny pearl snaps
  We sang a few gospel hymns and then the soldier played Taps
  I bet hes 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
  Hes showin off his brand spankin new wings and his barbed wire halo
  Sweet chariot comin forth to carry me home
  Swing low sweet chariot comin forth to carry me home