One of the worst

"A Prayer on Your Lips" is a dismal song, one of those maudlin, pseudo-patriotic numbers that includes a dying soldier and, of course, a letter to his mama. This is by Lefty Frizzell on Columbia LE 10113, Puttin' On, which is really a specialty reissue of Columbia CS-9572. The album includes plenty of good stuff, but the lyrics of this dog always cry out for substitutes ("a spoon in the dish is like haircuts in the brain," or whatever). This includes good versions of Little Old Wine Drinker and Almost Persuaded. A favorite is You Don't Have to be Present to Win. A Prayer on Your Lips (is Like Freedom in Your Hand) was among those collected in a huge compendium (disc 8, track 199). Somebody must like it.