Jesus Don't Like Killin' No Matter What The Reason For
The Colbert Report featured a fantastic performance by, and short interview with, John Prine today.  Prine is re-issuing his Grammy winning album The Missing Years.  My favorite Prine work is on his self-titled album, John Prine. 

Hard to say which song on that album I like best, with Hello In There, Angel From Montgomery, Illegal Smile and well all of them, but the one that always stands out for me (and is the only song I can really play on the guitar) is Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore.

While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A plastic flag, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
Well, I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel.

Chorus:
But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

Well, I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me,
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free."
Well, I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said.
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead.

Repeat Chorus:

Well, I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see.
So, I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree.
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...

"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."

 

Here is John Prine playing Your Flag Decal....  This song has been important to me for a long time, as has a lot of John Prine's work. 

I have one old friend to thank for introducing me to John Prine many years ago.  A friend from NYC whom I met repairing retired coal miners' roofs in West Virginia in the summer of 1978 as a Passionist Volunteer.  I have not seen him since that summer and all I can remember is his name was John, he taught me my first three chords, and introduced me to John Prine.  Thanks John.