We could hear the gospel all around   My dad and me leanin' 'gainst a tree with leaves falling down   Now, daddy, he's no holy man, he never taught us how to pray   But he saw the questions on my face   He looked at me and I turned away      And he said, "Believe what you want to, believe what you can   'Cause all I ever really learned from this life of mine   Love's the only thing worth a damn   So, take it or leave it, deny or receive it   'Cause maybe it was never really ours to understand"   And that right there's the gospel according to my ol' man      The neighbors just put up with us   Mrs. Jones always tried to save our souls   With a fiery look as she held her book   And read about him calling all his little lost lambs back to the fold   And Daddy'd say, "Now, Elna May, with all due respect      Believe what you want to, believe what you can   'Cause all I ever really learned from this life of mine   Love's the only thing worth a damn   So, take it or leave it, deny or receive it   'Cause maybe it was never really ours to understand"   And that right there's the gospel according to my ol' man