Randy Travis – He Walked On Water

“He Walked On Water”, Song written by Allen Shamblin, was recorded by Randy Travis for the Warner Bros label, in May 1989, between the recording studios: Nightingale recording studio, Nashville, TN and Morningstar sound studio, Hendersonville, TN. At the recording session Randy was accompanied by: Jack Williams (bass guitar), Paul Leim (drums), Dennis Burnside (piano), Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar), Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar), Steve Gibson (electric guitar), Billy Joe Walker, Jr. (electric guitar), Doyle Grisham (steel guitar), Kirk “Jelly Roll” Johnson (harmonica), Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Tom Roady (percussion) and background vocals: Curtis Young, Louis Dean Nunley, Doug Clements and Hurshel Wiginton. The song was released on April 26, 1990, and produced by Kyle Lehning. The song reached # 2 on the Hot Country Songs charts on July 14, 1990, remaining on the charts for a total of 21 weeks, and on August 11, 1990, it reached # 1 on the Canada Country Tracks charts.

The song was included on Randy Travis ‘fourth studio album, No Holdin’ Back (Warner Bros 1989), the album was released on September 26, 1989, on November 4, 1989, it reached # 1 on the music charts. US Top Country Albums, and spent a total of 115 weeks on the charts.

The song was re-recorded by Randy Travis with Kenny Chesney, in 2010, for the album Anniversary Celebration (Warner 2011).

Randy Travis – He Walked On Water Lyrics
[Intro]
He wore starched white shirts buttoned at the neck
And he’d sit in the shade and watch the chickens peck
And his teeth were gone, but what the heck
I thought, that he walked, on water

[Verse 1]
He said he was a cowboy, when he was young
He could handle a rope, and he was good with a gun
And my mama’s daddy was his oldest son
And I thought, that he walked, on water

[Chorus]
And if the story was told, only heaven knows
But his hat seemed to me, like an old halo
And although his wings, they were never seen
I thought, that he walked, on water

[Verse 2]
Then he tied a cord, to the end of a mop
And said, «son, here’s a pony, keep her at a trot»
And I’d ride in circles while he laughed a lot
Then I’d flop down beside him

[Bridge]
And he was ninety years old in ’63
And I loved him and he loved me
And lord, I cried the day he died
‘Cause I thought, that he walked, on water
[Chorus]
And if the story was told, only heaven knows
But his hat seemed to me, like an old halo
And though his wings, they were never seen
I thought, that he walked, on water

[Outro]
Yeah, I thought that he walked, on water