The good earth swallows up the seed and swallows life as well
From long before the day you´re born till heaven comes or hell
It binds your hands with chains of clay that are so hard to break

But when I left good earth behind I made a big mistake

I´ve traveled far and traveled wide
I´ve seen a lot of things
But looking back on all the years
I don´t know what they mean
Like steel I´m probably stronger
From going through the fire
I kept on climbing lower
Digging deeper to get higher

I turned around one evening when the sun was going down
I heard the Bible told a preacher who just pulled into town
At last I´m back on good earth where I should have always been

Lord forgive me if I ever try to leave good earth again
Well the good earth was my mama and my daddy too
Now I´m working my hands in soil trying to pay my due
And when I´ll breathe my last breath which may not be too long
Just shovel a little good earth over my head
Until everybody open up the hymn book and sing a happy song
Shall we gather at the river in the sweet by and by
Just as I am Jesus loves me one of these days I´ll fly
I´m standing on the promises Lord build the place for me
In the good earth over Jordan by the Sea of Galilee