I know an old man on the mountain
His eyes are glazed from life
Said he'd seen some happier times
Back before he lost his wife
Well he sat me down and told me
Some things I never heard
I listened to that old man
And I took in every word

He said, "You get a paper 'n a promise on the day you are born
That's the first thing that you sign
A paper 'n a promise on the day you wed
When you take the vows that binds
And there a paper about a promise of a promised land
That's a place we all hope to find
But that paper 'n a promise on the day you died
Is the only paper that you never sign"

I know a young girl in the
Whose heart is full of love
She's got a husband and a baby
All the things you been dreamin' of
They're going to teach their young son
To be a fine and honest man
Gonna teach him about the power in his spoken word
And the strength in the shake of his hand

You get a paper 'n a promise on the day you are born
That's the first thing that you sign
A paper 'n a promise on the day you wed
When you take the vows that binds
And there a paper about a promise of a promised land
And that's a place we all hope to find
But that paper 'n a promise on the day you died
Is the only paper that you never sign

Now God don't care about the clothes you wear
To get forgiveness all you do is ask
But He keeps track of promises kept
From the first day to the last

You get a paper 'n a promise on the day you are born
That's the first thing that you sign
A paper 'n a promise on the day you wed
When you take the vows that binds
And there a paper about a promise of a promised land
That's a place we all hope to find
But that paper 'n a promise on the day you died
Is the only paper that you never sign

You get a paper 'n a promise on the day you are born
That's the first thing that you sign
A paper 'n a promise on the day you wed
When you take the vows that binds
And there a paper about a promise of a promised land
And that's a place we all hope to find
But that paper 'n a promise on the day you died
Is the only paper that you never sign

You get a paper 'n a promise

Yeah, yeah, a paper 'n a promise

Just a paper 'n a promise

You get a paper 'n a promise

Yeah, you get a paper 'n a promise