A long time ago
They put me on a train to Selma, Alabama
And I rode that train all the way to Tala, Taladega
My papa said, "Son, you better educate your mind"
So he sent me away to a school for the blind
I guess there were good times, and I know there were bad
But I never blame the Lord for the trouble I had
Oh while they stayed on the gospel side
I stayed on the gospel side
♪
There was a teacher there
That soaked a rope in the water overnight
And I was bound to get a whippin'
If I did it wrong or if I did it right
I was lost sometime, and now I'm found
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
One night on the radio I heard the Golden Gate Quartet
I started singing for the Lord, and I ain't stopped singing yet
They stayed on the gospel side
I've stayed on the gospel side
I've seen the sinner and the sanctified
But I've stayed on the gospel side
♪
Well my work is done
And I'm finally goin' home to see my maker
Nothin' scares me in the world no more
Not the devil or the undertaker
I'll finally see my father's face
Hold my mother close and feel her grace
And I just stayed on the gospel side
I stayed on the gospel side
I've seen the sinner and the sanctified
Though I stayed on the gospel side (stayed on the gospel side)
I stayed on the gospel side (stayed on the gospel side)
I've seen the sinner and the sanctified