“Half A Mile A Day” Lyrics

Half a mile a day

Johnny Cash (from the album Personal File, disc 2)

(Spoken) One night after a concert I walked through the streets of the town and came upon a little church. The service was over but the testimonials had just begun. People caught up in the spirit of the night just didn’t want to leave. So I stepped inside the door and sat down by a little old lady in the back. A man stood up in front and said “I just want all of you to know that I’m going straight to heaven as fast as I can go like an arrow shot from a bow.” Then he sat down. Another man stood up and said “I’m sailing right straight into heaven like a giant clipper ship. Sailing on a sea of blue and nothins gonna deter me or keep me from that safe harbor.” He sat down and another man stood up and said, “I’m flyin into the portals of heaven on silver wings. Sailing over all the troubles and trials down below. Straight on in.” Then he sat down. The little lady beside me made it to her feet slowly and all got quiet as she raised her face not to the preacher or the congregation but toward heaven and prayerfully said:

I’m coming Lord for my heavenly reward

I’m on my way to you can you see me coming through?

Through clouds of persecution and stumbling on the way

But I expect I’m makin bout a half a mile a day.

CHORUS

The road to heaven doesn’t have a rapid transit plan

Its one way with no changes goin to the promised land

But I believe that if I heed the things He had to say

Even I might get to heaven at a half a mile a day

Lord when I let you lead

I don’t make any speed cuz I have to stop and touch

The one’s who need so much

And then sometimes others pull me off of your narrow way

And by my mistakes I barely make a half a mile a day

But (CHORUS)

Even I might get to heaven at a half a mile a day