The Gospel According to Luke

He was an old hand at living, making his way He smelled like old whiskey and he needed a shave His home was an alley on faith avenue But if you had a minute or an hour or two He'd tell you the gospel according to Luke Luke carried his bible in a crown royal bag He wiped off his brow with an old dirty rag He'd tell you straight out just the way he believed That faith in the Good Lord is all that you need I remember the morning he first preached to me He said, "Give to your brother if he is in need Offer up thanks for the gifts you receive There's treasure in Heaven for the generous few" And that was the Gospel according to Luke So I bought him breakfast at the Daylight Cafe Biscuits and gravy, hot coffee and eggs He was hungry and ragged, hadn't eaten in days But I was the one there who felt out of place When he folded his hands, bowed his head, said grace A week ago Wednesday I saw him again Downtown at the mission surrounded by friends Handing out all the change he'd collected that week Saying, "You boys might need this a lot more than me And I try hard to practice the words that I preach" Give to your brother when he is in need Offer up thanks for the gifts you receive There's treasure in Heaven for the generous few And that was the gospel according to Luke He was an old hand at living making his way He smelled like old whiskey and he needed a shave His home was an alley on faith avenue And if you had a minute or an hour or two He'd tell you the gospel according to Luke