They shut the door
Pulled the shade, told us the news
Now, it wasn’t long till the pastor came
Read a red line from Luke
Granddaddy said, “I’m probably damned
From the damn things I’ve done”
Then he grabbed Grandma’s hand
And in front of everyone
He told her
The closest to Heaven that I’ll ever be
Is somewhere with you under a big old oak tree
If it’s hell-fire or streets of gold
Don’t know where I’m gonna go
But if one thing I know, I believe
Honey, you’re the closest to Heaven
That I’ll ever be
Then he said, “I was noddin’ off
Whiskey on my breath
In a pinewood back pew
I only talked to God every now and then
To thank Him for you
Guess He knew what He was doin’
When He sent you my way
You were the only chance I ever had at ever bein’ saved”
Yeah, the closest to Heaven that I’ll ever be
Is somewhere with you under a big old oak tree
If it’s hell-fire or streets of gold
Don’t know where I’m gonna go
But if one thing I know, I believe
Honey, you’re the closest to Heaven
That I’ll ever be
Twenty-one guns, folded flag in her lap
One headstone blank
Next to one etched in black
And it reads
The closest to Heaven that I’ll ever be
Is somewhere with you
Under a big old oak tree
If it’s hell-fire or streets of gold
Don’t know where I’m gonna go
But if one thing I know, I believe
Honey, you’re the closest to Heaven
That I’ll ever be
Honey, you’re the closest to Heaven
That I’ll ever be