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or make 4 interest-free payments of $3.99 AUD fortnightly with In 1948, Tex Ritter released his cover of the recitation song “The Deck of Cards” that was popularized in the fields of both country and popular music. It then reached No. 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs. “The Deck of Cards” was actually first released by T. Texas Tyler, and it became a hit in the United States, reaching No. 2 on the same chart that same year. Written by T. Texas Tyler himself, “The Deck of Cards” relates the tale of a young American soldier who was arrested and charged with playing cards during a church service. The song is set during World War II, where a group of U.S. Army soldiers arrived and camped near the little town called Casino after a long hike during The North African war. When Sunday morning came, some soldiers went to the church. However, while those with prayer books took them out, one man has only a deck of playing cards. He pulled them out and spread them in front of him. He was immediately spotted by a sergeant, who believed the soldier was playing cards in church and ordered him to put them away. After the services, the soldier was then arrested and taken before the Provost Marshal to be judged. The Provost Marshal demanded an explanation, and the soldier said that he had been on a long march without a bible or a prayer book. He then explained the significance of each card. For instance, he said the ace in the deck cards reminds him there is but one God, while the deuce tells him that the Bible is divided into two parts: the old and new testament. When he sees the King, he knows there’s one King of heaven, and that’s God the Almighty, while the Queen made him think of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also described the other ten cards. The young soldier ended the explanation with the statement, “So you see, Sir, my pack of cards serve me as a Bible, almanac, and prayer book.” The narrator of the song, on the other hand, closes the story by saying. “Friends, I know this story is true because I knew that soldier.” Though Tyler wrote the spoken-word piece, the earliest known reference can be found in a book that belonged to Mary Bacon – a wife of a British farmer – dated April 20, 1762. The book was called Mary Bacon’s World, and it tells the story of the soldier in full. During the 19th-century, the folk story was later recorded in a British publication entitled “The Soldier’s Almanack, Bible and Prayer Book.” “The Deck of Cards” was also covered by several artists, including Red Sovine in his 1967 album Phantom 309. Country music singer Bill Anderson also released his version in 1991. Since the United States was involved in the Gulf War at the time, the lyrics in Anderson’s version were modified to have the soldier’s story take place there instead of the original World War II setting. Anyway, you can listen to Tex Ritter’s incredible cover of “The Deck of Cards” in the video below.
David Luke Myrick (June 20, 1916 – January 28, 1972), known professionally as T. Texas Tyler, was an American country music singer and songwriter primarily known for his 1948 hit, "The Deck of Cards". Tyler wrote and recorded "The Deck of Cards" in 1948. The spoken-word hit single, which was his biggest hit, tells the story of a World War II soldier who explains how a deck of playing cards serves him as a Bible, an almanac and a prayer book. The song is set during World War II, where a group of U.S. Army soldiers, on a long hike during a campaign in southern Italy, arrive and camp near the town of Casino. While scripture is being read in church, one man who has only a deck of playing cards pulls them out and spreads them in front of him. He is immediately spotted by a sergeant, who believes the soldier is playing cards in church and orders him to put them away. The soldier is then arrested and taken before the provost marshal to be judged. The provost marshal demands an explanation and the soldier says that he had been on a long march, without a bible or a prayer book. He then explains the significance of each card.
More Info: en.wikipedia.org This article needs additional citations for verification.(January 2022)
"The Deck of Cards" is a recitation song that was popularized in the fields of both country and popular music, first during the late 1940s. This song, which relates the tale of a young American soldier arrested and charged with playing cards during a church service, first became a hit in the U.S. in 1948 by country musician T. Texas Tyler.
Though Tyler wrote the spoken-word piece, the earliest known reference is to be found in an account/common-place book belonging to Mary Bacon, a British farmer's wife, dated 20 April 1762. The story of the soldier can be found in full in Mary Bacon's World. A farmer's wife in eighteenth-century Hampshire, published by Threshold Press (2010). The folk story was later recorded in a 19th-century British publication entitled The Soldier's Almanack, Bible And Prayer Book.[1] The song is set during World War II, where a group of U.S. Army soldiers, on a long hike during the North African campaign, arrive and camp near the town of Bizerte. While scripture is being read in church, one man who has only a deck of playing cards pulls them out and spreads them in front of him. He is immediately spotted by a sergeant, who believes the soldier is playing cards in church and orders him to put them away. The soldier is then arrested and taken before the provost marshal to be judged. The provost marshal demands an explanation and the soldier says that he had been on a long march, without a bible or a prayer book. He then explains the significance of each card:
He then ends his story by saying that "my pack of cards serves me as a Bible, an almanac, and a prayer book." The narrator then closes the story by stating that "this story is true," by claiming he was the soldier in question or that he knew/knows him.
The story as told contains an error in the number of days in a year. In a standard deck, there are 220 (4×(1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10)) spots on the pip cards and if it is assumed that the face cards have 11, 12 and 13 spots respectively, the total is 364. A single joker counting as one spot, however, would make 365. A version of the legend dating to 1865, cites the unreliability of existing almanacs as a justification for this apparent error.[3] T. Texas Tyler's rendition went to number 2 on the US country chart in 1948. A version by Tex Ritter later in the year reached number 10 on the same chart. Phil Harris also recorded a version in 1948 for RCA Victor.
The highest-charting version was recorded in 1959 by future game show host Wink Martindale, and was performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. Martindale's rendition (titled "Deck of Cards") went to No. 7 on the Billboard charts and number 11 on the country charts in 1959, attained multi-platinum recognition and reached No. 1 on many worldwide music charts.
Red Sovine released a version in 1967 called "Viet Nam Deck of Cards" on his album, Phantom 309. Because the United States was involved in the Vietnam War at the time, Sovine's version modified the lyrics to have the soldier's story take place there, instead of the original World War II setting. William York was credited for the updated lyrics on the album.
Bill Anderson released his version in January 1991 and it reached number 60 on the country chart. Because the United States was involved in the Gulf War at the time, Anderson's version modified the lyrics to have the soldier's story take place there, instead of World War II setting. George Morgan was credited for the updated lyrics.
The song was also a UK No. 13 hit in October 1973 for the entertainer Max Bygraves. The newly published edition of UK hit singles[which?] dating between 1940 and 1952, shows the song reaching number 2 for Phil Harris in January 1949. A Dutch translation, "Het spel kaarten", recited by Cowboy Gerard (real name Gerard de Vries), was a hit in the Netherlands in 1965.[4] Magician Justin Flom created a magic effect, also based on the song, titled "Soldier's Deck of Cards" which was seen by over five million people online.[citation needed] A Czech version of this song was recorded on 9 October 1969 in Studio Smečky by singer Miroslav Černý and the band Rangers (Plavci) under the Czech title "Balíček karet".[5] In 1974, there was a version in German by Bruce Low. A Finnish translation, "Korttipakka", by Tapio Rautavaara was published in 1976.[6]
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