The Precious Jewel

[Intro]
Now, I'll— I'll tell you all
A little secret of my policy in the studio
And I find it true, I— and I— I believe it is true with most anyone
Whenever you once decide that you're gonna record a number
Put everything you've got into it, because—
Don't say, "Oh, we'll take it over and do it again"
Because every time you go through it
You lose just a little something
Especially a man with voice
So let's do it the first time and to hell with the rest of 'em

[Verse 1]
Way back in the hills, when a boy, I once wandered
Buried deep in her grave lies a girl that I love
She was called from this Earth, a jewel for Heaven
More precious than diamonds, more precious than gold

[Chorus]
A jewel here on Earth, a jewel in Heaven
She'll brighten the kingdom around God's great throne
May the angels have peace, God bless her in Heaven
They've broken my heart and they left me to roam

[Verse 2]
When a girl of sixteen, we courted each other
She promised someday to become my sweet wife
I bought her the ring to wear on her finger
But the angels, they called her to Heaven one night

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
This world has it wealth, its trials and troubles
Mother Earth holds her treasures of diamonds and gold
But it can't hold the soul of one precious jewel
She's resting in peace with the heavenly fold

[Chorus]
A jewel here on Earth, a jewel in Heaven
She'll brighten the kingdom around God's great throne
May the angels have peace, God bless her in Heaven
They've broken my heart and they left me to roam