I am the elder Utah Smith I've got two wings to fly They may be made of paper They may never reach the sky But I believe in mercy I believe that man is good And if they want two wings like me There's a chance they could I am the elder Utah Smith I was born in Cedar Grove That's in Louisiana On a dirt-poor stretch of road I found the calling early Gave birth to righteous words And in a tent around the South I took my sonic church I was a light for the living And I spoke of peace and love With two wings and my old Gibson I bought blessings from above I was here and I was gone Just a heartbeat from the past But I went from paper wings To the real thing at last I am the elder Utah Smith I take all as they are I was the first man of the cloth To blacken a guitar Love was my redeemer I felt it from the start The Holy Ghost was channeled Through the sound of my guitar I was a light for the living And I spoke of peace and love With two wings and my old Gibson I bought blessings from above I was here and I was gone Just a heartbeat from the past But I went from paper wings To the real thing at last Been a long time in the ground Unmarked is my grave But I reside elsewhere these days Thanks to souls I've saved I traveled far, I traveled wide Three quarts for the Lord Till one day he called me home To claim his great reward I was a light for the living And I spoke of peace and love With two wings and my old Gibson I bought blessings from above I was here and I was gone Just a heartbeat from the past But I went from paper wings To the real thing at last