We could hear the gospel all around
My dad and me leanin' 'gainst a tree with leaves falling down
Now, daddy, he's no holy man, he never taught us how to pray
But he saw the questions on my face
He looked at me and I turned away

And he said, 'Believe what you want to, believe what you can
'Cause all I ever really learned from this life of mine
Love's the only thing worth a damn
So, take it or leave it, deny or receive it
'Cause maybe it was never really ours to understand'
And that right there's the gospel according to my ol' man

The neighbors just put up with us
Mrs. Jones always tried to save our souls
With a fiery look as she held her book
And read about him calling all his little lost lambs back to the fold
And Daddy'd say, 'Now, Elna May, with all due respect

Believe what you want to, believe what you can
'Cause all I ever really learned from this life of mine
Love's the only thing worth a damn
So, take it or leave it, deny or receive it
'Cause maybe it was never really ours to understand'
And that right there's the gospel according to my ol' man