This song, which relates the tale of a young American soldier arrested and charged with playing cards during a church service, first became a hit in the U.S. in 1948 by country musician T. Texas Tyler.
Though Tyler wrote the spoken-word piece, the earliest known reference is to be found in an account/common-place book belonging to Mary Bacon, a British farmer's wife, dated 20 April 1762.
The folk story was later recorded in a 19th-century British publication entitled The Soldier's Almanack, Bible And Prayer Book.
[1] The song is set during World War II, where a group of U.S. Army soldiers, on a long hike during the North African campaign, arrive and camp near the town of Bizerte.
While scripture is being read in church, one man who has only a deck of playing cards pulls them out and spreads them in front of him.
Red Sovine released a version in 1967 called "Viet Nam Deck of Cards" on his album, Phantom 309.
[5] Magician Justin Flom created a magic effect, also based on the song, titled "Soldier's Deck of Cards" which was seen by over five million people online.
[6] In 1990 Jan Vyčítal published parody version "Paklíček kartiček", where the story was told by Elizabeth T. Taxis Taylor.