Great Speckled Bird

G                             C
What a beautiful thought I am thinking
C   D                        G
Concerning a great speckled bird
G                     C
Remember her name is recorded
C     D                   G
On the pages of God's Holy Word.

[Verse 2]
G                        C
All the other birds are flocking 'round her
C        D                 G
And she is despised by the squad
G                                   C
But the great speckled bird in the Bible
C     D                         G
Is one with the great church of God.


[Verse 3]
G                                  C
All the other churches are against her
C     D                 G
They envy her glory and fame
G                           C
They hate her because she is chosen
C       D                 G
And has not denied Jesus' name.


[Verse 4]
G                       C
Desiring to lower her standard
C          D                   G
They watch every move that she makes
G                                  C
They long to find fault with her teachings
C           D            G
But really they find no mistake.

[Verse 5]
G                                  C
She is spreading her wings for a journey
C            D               G
She's going to leave by and by
G                                  C
When the trumpet shall sound in the morning
C         D                    G
She'll rise and go up in the sky.

[Verse 6]
G                            C
In the presence of all her despisers
C           D               G
With a song never uttered before
G                                C
She will rise and be gone in a moment
C        D                     G
Till the great tribulation is o'er.

[Verse 7]
G                                C
I am glad I have learned of her meekness
C           D                     G
I am proud that my name is on her book
G                          C
For I want to be one never fearing
C           D             G
The face of my Savior to look.

[Verse 8}
G                              C
When He cometh descending from heaven
C       D                          G
On the cloud that He writes in His Word
G                                C
I'll be joyfully carried to meet Him
C            D                      G
On the wings of that great speckled bird.


Note.  Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys
       Capitol Records - J-LZC-11
       Verses 3, 5, and 6 not on original recording.