Forty Years In Heaven

( One of the most unimportant things Not to remember about this Song is that the word “ for “ is only used Two times and All of the others are ‘ brev ‘ations of the word “ Before “ )
I was watchin’ the picture-viewin’ box a fortnight or so ago, when I saw this here fellar named Greg’ry Peck givin’ some sort o’ speech or somethin’ ( I think ‘e’s some kinda famous mockin’ bird killer or somethin’ )
Anyhow, he ended ‘is little dis’ertation with one of them ol’ proverb’al Irish Sayin’s, wishin’ ev’rybody “ Forty years in Heaven before the devil knows you’re dead “ . . . Twern’t the first time I’d -a ever heard that ol’ Sayin’ , but just seemed to strike a chord at the time ; ended up writin’ this here song
Hope y’all see fit to ‘njoy it somewhat . . . Thank ya