During the North African Campaign, a bunch of soldier boys had been on a long hike. They arrived in a little town called Casino. The next morning being Sunday, several of the boys went to church. A sergeant commanded the boys in church.
After the Chaplain read the prayer, the text was taken up next. Those of the boys that had a prayer book took them out. One boy had only a deck of cards, and he spread them out. The sergeant saw the cards and said, "Soldier, put away those cards." After the service was over, the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the Provost Marshal.
The Marshal said, "Sergeant, why have you brought this man here?"
"For playing cards in church, Sir," was the response.
The Marshal asked the soldier, "And what have you to say for yourself, son?"
"Much, Sir," replied the soldier.
The Marshal stated, "I hope so, for if not I will punish you more than any man was ever punished."
The soldier said, "Sir, I have been on the march for about six months. I have neither bible nor a prayer book, but I hope to satisfy you, sir, with the purity of my intentions." And with that, the boy started his story...
"You see, sir, when I look at the Ace, it reminds me that there is but one God.
And the deuce reminds me that the bible is divided into two parts: the Old and the New Testaments.
When I see the trey, I think of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
And when I see the four, I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel: there was Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
And when I see the five, it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps; there were ten of them: five were wise and were saved, five were foolish and were shut out.
When I see the six, it reminds me that in six days God made this heaven and earth.
And when I see the seven, it reminds me that on the seventh day, God rested from his great work.
And when I see the eight, I think of the eight righteous persons that God saved when he destroyed the earth: there was Noah, his wife, their sons and their wives.
And when I see the nine, I think of the lepers our saviour cleansed, and that nine of the ten didn't even thank him.
When I see the ten, I think of the ten commandments that God handed down to Moses on a tablet of stone.
When I see the King, it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven, God Almighty.
And when I see the Queen, I think of the blessed Virgin Mary who is the Queen of Heaven.
And the Jack or Knave is the Devil.
When I count the number of spots in a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year.
There are 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year.
There are four suits, the number of weeks in a month.
There are twelve picture cards, the number of months in a year.
There are thirteen tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter.
So you see, Sir, my deck of cards serves me as a bible, an almanac and a prayer book."
And friends, this story is true. I know... I was that soldier
Tex Ritter--The Deck Of Cards
Deck of Cards Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Tex Ritter's recording of "Deck of Cards" is a unique spoken-word piece that became a surprising hit, blending country music presentation with a powerful narrative message. Released originally in 1948, the song tells a story set during World War II's North African Campaign, specifically referencing the town of Casino. It centers on a young soldier, lacking traditional religious texts, who uses a deck of playing cards during a church service to explain his understanding of faith and the world around him when questioned by his superior and later the Provost Marshal. The song's enduring appeal lies in its simple yet profound message and its clever use of everyday items to represent deeper spiritual truths.
The core of the song unfolds as the soldier, brought before the Provost Marshal for having cards in church, defends his actions by revealing his unique system of using the deck as a substitute for a bible, prayer book, and even an almanac. He systematically goes through the cards, assigning religious significance to each one based on numbers and court figures. The Ace represents the singular nature of God. The Deuce signifies the two main divisions of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments. The Trey brings to mind the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The four reminds him of the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The five serves as a reminder of the five wise virgins from the parable.
Continuing his explanation, the soldier states that the six calls to mind the six days of creation. The seven represents the seventh day, when God rested. The eight reminds him of the eight people saved in Noah's Ark. The nine brings to mind the nine lepers who did not thank Jesus after being healed. The ten represents the Ten Commandments given to Moses. The King reminds him of God as the King of Heaven, and the Queen represents the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven. Finally, the Jack or Knave is seen as the Devil. Beyond the individual cards, the soldier points out that the entire deck holds further meaning: the 365 spots symbolize the days in a year, the 52 cards represent the weeks in a year, the four suits represent the weeks in a month, and the twelve picture cards symbolize the months in a year. The thirteen tricks possible in a game correspond to the thirteen weeks in a quarter of a year.
This intricate system, shared by the soldier, transforms a secular object into a personal tool for spiritual reflection and remembrance. The scripture references implicitly woven throughout his explanation include concepts found in Genesis (creation, Noah's Ark), Deuteronomy (oneness of God, Ten Commandments), the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, the healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17). While the identification of the King and Queen as God and the Virgin Mary is more theological or symbolic than direct scripture, it fits within the soldier's framework of religious representation. The inclusion of calendar measurements alongside these spiritual symbols reinforces the idea that his "deck of cards" serves a comprehensive function in his life on the march.
The song's inspirational quality stems from the soldier's deep faith and resourcefulness in a challenging environment. Lacking traditional religious texts, he finds a way to keep his faith alive and connected to fundamental biblical truths and religious concepts using an object commonly associated with leisure or even vice. The narrative highlights the idea that faith is not confined to specific objects or places but can reside within the heart and mind, manifesting even through unconventional means. It is a testament to the enduring power of belief and the ingenuity of the human spirit to find spiritual sustenance in difficult circumstances, making the familiar deck of cards a powerful symbol of faith adaptable to any situation. The final lines, claiming the story's truth and identifying the narrator as the soldier, add a layer of personal testimony that resonates deeply with listeners.
