There was a gentleman I knew

A stroke held his wife fast asleep

And his whole life had come down to

The vigil he would daily keep

I asked would he rather be free ?

And this is how he answered me

That's the deal, that's the bargain that you make

That's the vow that two hearts take

That if better turns to worse you will abide

That's the deal, if it were not for God's grace

I might be there in her place and she'd be right by my side

That's the deal

In my mind I still hear him talk

I keep those words like souvenirs

Brought from a place where couples walk

Arm in arm through this veil of tears

I pray someday for my own sake

I find the heart I'll never break

That's the deal, that's the bargain that you make

That's the vow that two hearts take

That if better turns to worse you will abide

That's the deal, if it were not for God's grace

I might be there in her place and she'd be right by my side

That's the deal

That's the deal

That's the deal.