In West Jefferson she grew up dirt poor
And in a mountain revival she turned to the Lord
She learned that He loved with no conditions
A love that she gave to her daughters and sons

She wore a gold cross on a rope chain
Said a little prayer in the father’s name
Watched over her whole flock
Called them all by their full names
Never stopped holding on to her only claim to fame
She wore a gold cross on a rope chain

Now out here in Nashville I’m drinking again
And everyone knows it, I can’t keep it hid
And when in my failure I cut the last thread
I reach for that cross on that chain by the bed

She wore a gold cross on a rope chain
Said a little prayer in the father’s name
I just drove off
I was 17 and a day
Left her holding on to her only claim to fame
She wore a gold cross on a rope chain

And when that old cancer had took the bloodstream
She called me up just to ask if I’d sing
And then she knelt down and gave everything
To God the father and Jesus the king

She wore a gold cross on a rope chain
Said a little prayer in the father’s name
Watched over her whole flock
Called them all by their full names
Never stopped holding on to her only claim to fame
She wore a gold cross on a rope chain