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.