Well I grew up the hard way
Without a helping hand
I tried to do the right thing
'Cause I’m an honest man
Never had much money
To give to the church
It may not make God happy
But I couldn’t find the work
When the rich and the famous
Get judged in the end
They'll play trumpets and harps
And a few violins
The best I can hope for
When my time here is spent
Is a dusty tired angel
And an old mandolin
The first time that I saw her
She was dressed all in white
The preacher’s daughter Mary
I would never be her type
I knew that I would love her
‘Til the very day I died
But I never ever told her
And she never was my bride
When the rich and the famous
Get judged in the end
They'll play trumpets and harps
And a few violins
The best I can hope for
When my time here is spent
Is a dusty tired angel
And an old mandolin
Over the years my hands got harder
And my skin has turned brown
And my sister’s son Jimmy
Says I always wear a frown
One day I got a letter
Mary’d found a wealthy man
She wondered why I stayed alone
She’d never understand
When the rich and the famous
Get judged in the end
They'll play trumpets and harps
And a few violins
The best I can hope for
When my time here is spent
Is a dusty tired angel
And an old mandolin
The best I can hope for
When my time here is spent
Is a dusty tired angel
And an old mandolin