THE SQUIRE AND THE DEACON
(Kahal and Marston)

Let me sing a tale that’s old but true
A little song I learn to croon
I think that I forgot the words I knew
And I can’t remember the tune

It’s a tune my pappy sang
You all know how it goes
It’s a tale about two honest men
That everybody know(s)

The squire and the deacon are an argufying pair
Debating about religion on the old town square
Till the golden sunshine drops to deep blue sea
The squire and the deacon gonna disagree

The squire and the deacon are an argufying pair
The deacon swaps the pony for the squire’s mare
The squire sold his pony then he bought the deacon’s roan
They argued 'bout the bargain till the cows came home

The squire met the deacon at the county fair
Started in debatin(g) (a)bout religion there
The deacon kept a-tooting on the devil's horn
‘Cause the deacon likes his bible like the squire loves *corn*

The squire and the deacon kep' a growing old
The squire got the fever and the nasty cold
The squire kept a-slippin' to the devil's hold
The deacon came around and tried to save his soul

The deacon kept a praying but the squire went and died
That argufying deacon lay down by his side
He closed his tearful eyes and then he pray for death
Then and there the deacon drew his one last breath

The squire and the deacon are an argufying pair      
The deacon met the squire on the golden stairs
Now the squire and the deacon dressed in angels' guise
And debating ‘bout religion up in paradise


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Martin, you'd said English isn't your first language, but given the difficulties presented by this transliteration you did exceptionally well to get what you got. Just a few remarks: 1) The singer makes corn and horn sound like cone and hone 2) *corn* is a reference to corn liquor; booze made using corn 3) the missing four syllables identified with ____ are still in need of filling-in. I'll keep trying on that, but what's there is the best I can do for the moment. I'll shake the cobwebs out of my head and give it a try in an hour or so.

Transcribed from the recording by "Hobo" Jack Turner, Velvet Tone #1956-V, believed to be recorded in 1929.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrkw8ipqYu0