Porter Wagoner - Charley's Picture lyrics

A wino we called Charley had a picture that he wore around his neck upon a chain

But you couldn't see the face in Charley's picture

Just long brown hair and a poem in the frame

We tried and tried to see old Charley's picture

But we couldn't even tempt him with the wine

His shaking hands would tightly grip the picture

And he'd recite the poem one more time

You grace this frame the picture of affection

While I'm the perfect picture of disgrace

And upon your name I'll swear until I'm worthy

I forbid my eyes to look upon your face

Old Charley froze to death one Sunday morning

We found him and I guess you know the rest

Someone removed the poem from his picture

And the chilling truth lay framed upon his chest

As I knelt beside his body the picture lay there before my anxious eyes

And with trembling lips I whispered the words of Charley's poem

As I stared into the face of Jesus Christ

You grace this frame...