The Refrain Of John Dillon James (Alabama)

Oh, John Dillon James was my good time country buddy Well, we hunted, talked and fished his last days away He was just a hired farm hand, worked old man Walker's land Retired on his 68th birthday Yeah, he wore a size sixteen shoe, had skin like alligator Lord, he could pick up a deer and walk right out of those woods Old Dillon had a million tales but he sung me one refrain And I recall that song by John Dillon James One July Monday morning I met him at the fishing hole But old Dillon wasn't toting his half pint of tin hide His roll your own tobacco string was a-hanging from his pocket His eyes were red as beets, looked like he cried And I know he sat on knees cause his overalls were muddy But my ten year old mind didn't understand He sat down on the bank and wrote this four line refrain And I recall that song by John Dillon James Well, I got my ticket for the ride in the sky I've been talking to the man, I'm gonna fly Paid the price down on my knees A voice from heaven promised me I got my ticket for the ride in the sky Well, it was one year to the day on a July Monday morning I waited at the fishing hole but old Dillon, he didn't show Daddy came down about noon, and said Son, I've got some news Lord's rested old Dillon's soul Yeah, and I walked up to his bedside Looked down at old big Dillon Lord knows that I saw a pair of wings That tables set but I felt good, for at last I understood That refrain sung by John Dillon James Well, I got my ticket for the ride in the sky, Lord, y'all I've been talking to the man, I'm gonna fly (I'm gonna fly) I paid the price down on my knees A voice from heaven promised me Well, I got my ticket for the ride in the sky Yeah, I got my ticket for the ride in the sky