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

Old Dillon had a million tales but he sung me one refrain

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

He sat down on the bank and wrote this four line refrain

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

That refrain sung by John Dillon James.



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...