Preacher gave it to him when he was 8 That sunday morning he got saved in that little church Granddaddy toted it to bible school I bet back then it looked brand new, not a faded word Now the cover's torn, and the leather's worn On that old King James He took it with him overseas England, france and germany Right there in the middle of hell Said he read it every night He swore that it saved his life His only hope when there was no hope left Was in that old King James He passed it down to mama on the day he died Sat there for the longest time Just gathering the dust But when life would take a sharp turn every now and then And she would just start missing him, I'd see her pick it up Now the cover's torn, and the leather's worn On that old King James You'll find on every other page yellow lines or tear drop stains Every chapter of that good book Been through cancer war, and crazy kids All the stupid things I did I may never know the toll I took On her and that old King James Yeah I'm the one who's got it now She said read it when you're feeling down And I said yes ma'am Now the cover's torn and the leather's worn On that old King James