THE PRECIOUS JEWEL
Recorded by Roy Acuff
Words and music by Roy Acuff

[G] Way back in the hills, when a [C] boy, I once [G] wandered
Buried deep in her grave lies a [A] girl that I [D] love
She was [G] called from this earth, a [C] jewel for [G] heaven
More precious than diamonds more [D] precious than [G] gold.

[G] When a girl of sixteen, we [C] courted each [D] other
She promised someday to be-[A] come my sweet [D] wife
I bought [G] her the ring to [C] wear on her [G] finger
But the angels they called her to [D] heaven one [G] night.

A jewel here on earth, a jewel up in heaven
She'll brighten the kingdom around God's great throne
May the angels have peace, God bless her in heaven
They've broken my heart and they left me to roam.

This world has it wealth, its' trials and troubles
Mother earth holds her treasures of diamonds and gold
But it can't hold the soul of one precious jewel
She's resting in peace with the heavenly fold.

[G] May the angels have peace, [C] God bless her in [C] heaven
They've broken my heart and they [D] left me to [C] roam.

SOURCE: Roy Acuff-Songs of the Smoky Mountains/Capitol J-LZC-11