It Ain’t Easy to Get to Heaven (a demo)

     In preparation for my someday trip to New Orleans, I’m reading “Empire of Sin: A story of sex, jazz, murder and the battle of Modern New Orleans.”

    It covers the years 1890 to 1920.
    Fascinating.
    The Rev. J. Chandler Gregg, one of the leading black ministers of the day, is quoted as saying: “It is no easy matter to go to heaven by way of New Orleans.”
    I wish more songs would fall in my lap like this one. This song was written about as fast as I could put down the book and grab my guitar.

The above is just me and my guitar.

 
It Ain’t Easy to Get to Heaven

(Chorus):
It ain’t easy to get to heaven
if you got through New Orleans.
It ain’t easy to get to heaven
If you go through New Orleans
I may not get to heaven
Cause you know the flesh is weak

It ain’t easy to make a living
if you’re out on the street
It ain’t easy to make a living
if you’re out on the street
That’s why they built them fine houses
Down in New Orleans

They say those houses, in New Oreleans
are houses of ill repute
They say those houses, in New Oreleans
are houses of ill repute
I say that just depends
on your point of view

They say don’t drink, don’t do drugs
and whatever you do
stay way from them girls.
In other words don’t have no fun.
I say what they don’t know
won’t do ‘em no harm