Wells' success in the 1950s and 1960s was so enormous that she still ranks as the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of the Billboard country charts according to historian Joel Whitburn's book "The Top 40 Country Hits", behind Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Tammy Wynette, and Tanya Tucker. Wells was the third country music artist, behind Roy Acuff and Hank Williams, to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991 as well as being the seventh woman and first Caucasian woman to receive the honor. In 1976, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Dust on the Bible
Kitty Wells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of all the books and magazines, not a Bible could I find
I asked them for the Bible; when they brought it, what a shame
For the dust was covered o'er it, not a fingerprint was plain
Dust on the Bible, dust on the holy word
The words of all the prophets and the sayings of our Lord
Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds
You can read your magazines, read of love and tragic things
And not one word of bible verse, not a scripture do you know
When it is the very truth and its contents good for you
If dust is covered over it?s sure to doom your soul
Dust on the Bible, dust on the holy word
The words of all the prophets and the sayings of our Lord
Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds
Get that dust off the Bible and redeem your poor soul
Oh, if you have a friend you'd like to help along life's way
Just tell him that the Good Book shows a mortal how to pray
The best advice to give him that will make his burden light
Is to dust the family Bible, trade the wrong way for the right
Dust on the Bible, dust on the holy word
The words of all the prophets and the sayings of our Lord
Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds
Get that dust off the Bible and redeem your poor soul
In "Dust on the Bible," Kitty Wells draws attention to the neglect and disregard that people show towards the Bible. In the first stanza, she goes to visit some friends only to find that they have books and magazines but no Bible. When she finally gets a hold of one, she sees that it's covered in dust, indicating that it has not been touched or read. In the chorus, she sings about how the dust on the Bible represents the neglect of the Word of God. She emphasizes that of all the books in the world, the Bible is the only one that holds salvation, and if one wants to redeem their soul, they need to "get that dust off the Bible."
The second stanza is particularly poignant as she contrasts reading magazines with reading the Bible. She notes that magazines don't contain any Scripture, which is the very truth that is essential for one's spiritual wellbeing. She warns that if one neglects the Bible, their soul is sure to be doomed. The final stanza suggests that the Bible is a guide that provides the best advice for living a good life, and encourages readers to share this advice by helping others dust off their family Bibles.
Overall, "Dust on the Bible" is a call to action to recognize the importance of the Bible and to keep it from collecting dust. The song reminds listeners that the Bible is not just a book, but a source of spiritual guidance and salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
I went into a home one day to see some friends of mine
One day, I visited the home of my friends.
Of all the books and magazines, not a Bible could I find
I looked around the house and didn't see a single copy of the Bible among all the other books and magazines present.
I asked them for the Bible; when they brought it, what a shame
I had to ask my friends specifically for the Bible, but when they brought it to me, I was embarrassed because of its poor condition.
For the dust was covered o'er it, not a fingerprint was plain
The Bible was so covered in dust that not even a single fingerprint could be seen on its surface.
Dust on the Bible, dust on the holy word
The Bible was severely neglected and covered in dust.
The words of all the prophets and the sayings of our Lord
The Bible contains the words of many great prophets and teachings from our Lord.
Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds
While there are many other books and magazines, nothing else will provide salvation like the Bible does.
Get that dust off the Bible and redeem your poor soul
In order to gain redemption for our souls, we must dust off the Bible and start reading its holy words.
You can read your magazines, read of love and tragic things
While other books and magazines may contain stories of love and tragedy, they cannot provide the same spiritual guidance as the Bible can.
And not one word of bible verse, not a scripture do you know
If you don't read the Bible, you will miss out on all the valuable teachings and insights it has to offer.
When it is the very truth and its contents good for you
The Bible is a source of truth and contains valuable teachings that can benefit us greatly.
If dust is covered over it’s sure to doom your soul
If we neglect the reading of the Bible and let it gather dust, we are in danger of dooming our souls.
Oh, if you have a friend you'd like to help along life's way
If you have a friend who needs guidance in life.
Just tell him that the Good Book shows a mortal how to pray
Recommend to them that they read the Bible, which contains teaching on how to pray and live a fulfilling life.
The best advice to give him that will make his burden light
The best advice for your friend that will help them to lighten their burdens.
Is to dust the family Bible, trade the wrong way for the right
Encourage your friend to dust off their family Bible and seek guidance and redemption from its holy teachings.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN BAILES, WALTER BAILES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tinar8200
I remember singing this in church on Sundays the preacher would ask me and my 4 sisters to sing this. I'm 52 and this song is still one of my favorite ❤
@rosehathaway3490
Listened to this as a child.
@sondrasmith2691
So did I, and have never forgotten it.
@eternallife9786
I grew up with the Hank Williams version but yes classic song that definitely informed my life least my early life
@s.a.adams-ford1216
I'm 70 years old now. And of all my memories among my favorites is my mother singing this during family prayer and scripture reading time. Often it would begin with either this song or Family Bible.
@bobdal1946
Great song. Keep playing the classics.
@ervinvanhill6735
Love that song
@nancycombs766
For all to enjoy
@toddhepler991
Great
@dorisparton180
I love the deep accent.