Story Behind The Song
I wrote this song after viewing a documentary about Southern Christian fundamentalists who handled poisonous serpents and ate poison to demonstrate their faith in God's protection. I made it from the perspective of a kid who has a crisis of faith, a lot of doubts.
Song Description
A child's religious doubts, expressed in a family of tent-meeting, snake-handling Pentacostals.
| Song Length |
3:04 |
Genre |
Country - Traditional, Folk - Country |
Lyrics
Songs around the campfire
Hotdogs on a stick
Playing ball and fishin'
Swimming in the creek
That's not what I remember
It's what I wish had been
Thinkin' back on childhood
Sunday meeting in the tent
Thinkin' back on childhood
Sunday meeting in the tent
WHEN GRANDMA READ THE BIBLE
GRANDPA HELD THE SNAKES
SISTER WALKED ON BURNING COALS
AND DADDY PASSED THE PLATE
MAMA SHRIEKED IN A HOLY TONGUE
THAT NO ONE UNDERSTOOD
I HUNG BACK IN THE SHADOWS
BEGGIN' GOD TO MAKE ME GOOD
The people moaned and trembled
They sweat and rolled their eyes
Cryin' to their Savior
To cast out the Prince of Lies
But I never saw the angels come
When Hattie Devlin die
When I gave testimony
My eyes and tongue were dry
When I gave testimony
My eyes and tongue were dry
I never dreamed of Jesus
The snakes, they made me scared
A sign, oh Lord, a sign for me
That I might know You're there
Staring up at Heaven
Seeing only clouds and air
Now I'm thinking back of Grandpa
Walking in the serpents' lair
Thinking back of Grandpa
Walking in the serpents' lair
CHORUS
Momma drowned one morning
Tryin' to walk across the lake
Daddy died of eating D-CON
Must have lost his faith
Sister rode a Harley
To the California sun
Ain't nobody left here
I guess I'm the only one
Who still remembers Grandpa
Back in 1951
LAST CHORUS
AND I STILL REMEMBER GRANDPA
BEGGIN' GOD TO MAKE ME GOOD