Elijah came to Texas. To build his family a home. With his wife and new baby. And what little goods that they owned. Had a good yoke of oxen. And hand tools for clearing the land. And he built him a church. 'Cause he was a God fearin' man. All of his children when there. Worshiped here through the years. On down to my granddad. He's buried 'bout 40 yards from here. It's where I was baptized. And where I took me a wife. And if I have my say so. That's where I'll rest when it's time. chorus:. When I'm dead and I'm gone. Won't you carry me home. To that little white church. In my daddy's home town. 'Cause Lord knows I'm some kind of sinner. But I've done come this far. And it's too late for changin'. When this race has been run. Take me back where I came from. And let me return what I took from the ground. When this body won't carry me no further. Take me back. And lay me down. This east Texas red dirt. Won't grow much of nothin' they say. 'Cept tomatoes and peaches. They mostly drill for oil nowadays. And a hired hand named Regan. First made me understand. And he told me the red was the blood of my kin in the land. chorus