ISO cards in church song info
Jim L. Cher
Hi, I'm looking for info on a song about a guy that's caught playing
cards in church. He tells how each of the cards has a biblical meaning
to him....
Any / all info would be appreciated (Title, artist, lyrics)
Also, if there is somewhere more appropriate for this Q, I'd appreaciate
a lead on where.
Jim
J.D. Schechter
The song is "Deck of Cards", by (I believe) Tex Williams, also recorded by
Wink Martindale (among others)...about a soldier in the North African
campaign, WW II, but also recorded as "Vietnam Deck of Cards.
------------------------ Duke
Jim L. Cher wrote in message <6a8rqj$p...@newsops.execpc.com>...
>Hi, I'm looking for info on a song about a guy that's caught playing
>cards in church. He tells how each of the cards has a biblical meaning
>to him...
Jim Gillman
The song is called "A Deck of Cards." It was written by T. Texas
Tyler, and originally copyrighted in 1948. It was also performed by
Wink Martindale, later a "talk-show" host.
It goes like this:
"During the North Africa campaign a bunch of soldier boys had been on
a long hike. They arrived in a little town called Cassino and the
next day being Sunday, several of the boys went to church. After the
chaplain read the prayer the text was taken up. Those of the boys who
had prayerbooks took them out but one boy had only a deck of cards, so
he spread them out. The sergeant who commanded the boys saw the cards
and said, "Soldier, put away those cards." After the service was over
the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the provost marshal.
The marshal said, "Sergeant why have you brought this man here?" "For
playing cards in church, Sir." "And what do you have to say for
yourself, Son?" "Much, Sir" the soldier replied, The marshal said " I
hope so, for if not I shall punish you severely." The soldier said,
"You see, Sir, I have been on the march for six days and I had neither
Bible nor prayer book, But I hope to satisfy you, Sir with the purity
of my intentions."
"You see, Sir, when I look at the Ace, it reminds me there is one God,
And when I see the Deuce it reminds me that the Bible is divided into
two parts, the Old and the New Testaments, And when I see the Trey, I
think of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. And when I see the
Four, I think of the four evangelists who preached the gospel, There
were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And when I see the Five it
reminds me of the five Wise Virgins who trimmed their lamps. There
were ten of them, five were wise and were saved. Five were foolish and
were shut out. And when I see the Six it reminds me that in six days
God made this great Heaven and Earth, And when I see the Seven, it
reminds me that on the seventh day God rested. And when I see the
Eight, I think of the eight righteous persons God saved when He
destroyed this earth, There was Noah, his wife, their three sons, and
their wives."
"And when I see the Nine I think of the lepers our Savior cleansed and
nine of the ten didn't even thank Him. When I see the Ten, I think of
the Ten Commandments God handed to Moses on the table of stone, And
when I see the King it reminds me once again there is but one King of
Heaven, God Almighty, and when I see the Queen, I think of the blessed
Virgin Mary, who is Queen of Heav'n, And the Jack or Knave is the
Devil. And when I count the number of spots on a deck of cards I find
three hundred and sixty five, the number of days ina year. There are
fifty-two cards, the number of weeks in a year, There are thirteen
tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter. There are four suits, the
number of weeks in a ;month. There are twelve picture cards, the
number of months in a year, So you see, Sir, my deck of cards has
served me as a Bible, Almanac and prayer book."
And friends, this story is true. I know, because I was that soldierŠ
xx
xx
May God Richly Bless You All
Jim Gillman
Spring Hill, FL