[Lyrics for Alabama – The Refrain Of John Dillon James]
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
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
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
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