Time for a Country Music Thread

On her biggest hit, "Crazy", his is the signature intro.

BTW , it is the #1 most popular jukebox song

I know! And it's a true example of tickling the ivories, ain't it?

I love Marty Robbins and old country music (good link) I definitly enjoy Hank Williams too and most country in general actually...especially the old stuff.

Billy Wheeler, who died last week, had a number 1 hit with Charlie's Shoes, his only no. 1 hit in fact.

I had a hit with it myself. The song was popular when I was first learning to play the guitar. My dad (whose name was Charlie) learned the words to it and sang it while playing rythmn. Somehow, I learned the lead guitar part, the memorable take-off and turn-around riff that added to the song's popularity. At the Saturday night get-togethers, I'd say, "Hey pa, how about doing Charlie's Shoes" and we would take off on the song, me picking guitar with my tongue hanging out the side of my mouth in studious concentration and pa singing the song. I was playing just like those Nashville cats!

Well, it wasn't long before the neighborhood folks began asking, "Hey, how about doing that Charlie's Shoes song?" Like I said, we had a hit on our hands.


I'd like to be in Charlie's shoes
That's what I always said
'Cause he had you and everything
Tied with a golden thread.

Then Charlie left and went away
And when I got the news
It wasn't long till I was walking
Around in Charlie's shoes.

Now, I'm wearing out
The shoes that Charlie wore
Walking back and forth
Across the floor.

The troubles that drove him away
I've got for company
These nights in Charlie's shoes
Are killing me.

The greener grass that turned my head
So swiftly did turn brown
'Cause every little dream I build
She's always tearing down.

I never knew that Charlie's shoes
Could have so many tacks
Of disappointing sorrows
And I wish he had 'em back.

'Cause I'm wearing out...

great stuff

Jack Greene Statue
Of A Fool Lyrics

Somewhere there should be
for all the world to see
a statue of a fool made of stone
An image of a man
who let love slip through his hands
And then just let him stand there all alone
And there on his face
a gold tear should be placed
To honor the million tears he's cried
And the hurt in his eyes would show
so everyone would know
Concealed is a broken heart inside
So build a statue and oh build it high
so that all can see
Then inscribe the World's Greatest Fool
and name it after me

Farewell Party

When the last, breath of life
Is gone from, my body
And my lips, are as cold as the sea
When my friends gather 'round
For my farewell party
Won't you, pretend you love me

There will be flowers from those
Who cry, when I'm gone
And leave you in this, world alone
I know you'll have fun
At my farewell party
I know, you'll be glad, when I'm gone

Don't be mad at me, for wanting to keep you
Till my life on this old world is through
You'll be free at the end of my farewell party
But I'll go away loving you

There will be flowers from those
Who cry, when I'm gone
And leave you in this, world alone
I know you'll have fun
At my farewell party
I know, you'll be glad, when I'm gone

Oh, I know you'll be glad when I'm gone

I'll Sail My Ship Alone - Moon Mullican

We've been sweethearts for so long but now you say, We're through!
The love we shared is now a memory
I had built a ship of dreams and planned them all for you
And now I guess what is to be will be

I'll sail my ship alone with all the dreams I own
Drifting out across the ocean blue
I'll sail my ship alone though all the sails you've torn
And when it starts to sink then I'll blame you

I'm just like a ship at sea that's lost without a sail
The dark clouds hide the sun from up above
And even with these broken dreams my heart will never fail
For deep inside there's only one true love

I'll sail my ship alone with all the dreams I own
Drifting out across the ocean blue
I'll sail my ship alone though all the sails you've torn
And when it starts to sink then I'll blame you

I gave a message to the wind to take back home to you
Hoping you would hear my SOS
Maybe you would come back home my darling if you knew
How much my aching heart is in distress

I'll sail my ship alone with all the dreams I own
Drifting out across the ocean blue
I'll sail my ship alone though all the sails you've torn
And when it starts to sink, then I'll blame you

Any Time - Eddy Arnold

Anytime you're feelin' lonely
Anytime you're feelin' blue
Anytime you feel down hearted
That will prove your love for me is true

Anytime you're thinkin 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you

Anytime your world is lonely
And you'll find true friends are few
Anytime you see a rainbow
That will be a sign the storm is through

Anytime will be the right time
Anytime at all will do
Anytime you're sure you want only my love
That's the time I'll come back home to you

Anytime you're thinkin' 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you

Alabam - Cowboy Copas


Well, I went to a turkey roast down the street
The people down there eat like wild geese
I'm on my way, I'm goin' back to Alabam'
Talk about yer people have a whale of a time
Eatin' up chicken' and drinkin' their wine
I'm on my way, I'm goin' back to Alabam'

Now some folks say a tramp won't steal
But I caught three in my corn field
I'm on my way, I'm goin' back to Alabam'
One had a bushel and the other had a peck
One had a roast'n' ear tied round his neck
I'm on my way, I'm goin back to Alabam'

There comes Sal walkin' down the street
With run down shoes tied to her feet
Good Mornin', honey, stand over there, baby
Get over there, now
Hello Sal, I know you
With a run down slipper and a tore up shoe
I'm on my way, I'm goin' back to Alabam'

When I get ready to leave this earth
I'm gonna look on my money's worth
I'm on my way, I'm goin' back to Alabam'
I'm goin back to Alabam'

Hey Edgar, remember Eddie Arnold's song:

Just a little lovin' will go a long way
And you'll make me happy, the rest of my days
Put your arms around me, and I'll be your slave,
Cause just a little lovin' will go a long way

The bolded part, as the final refrain, is a remarkable gamble, musically-wise, by Arnold--an impossible falsetto followed by a solid basement note.

Kudos to Eddie for that.

Brokenheartsville
Joe Nichols

He wore that cowboy hat to cover up his horns.
Sweet-talkin' forked tongue haf a temptin' charm.
Before I turned around, that girl was gone.
All I can say is: "Bartender, pour me somethin' strong."

Here's to the past, they can kiss my glass.
I hope she's happy with him.
Here's to the girl, who wrecked my world,
That angel who did me in.
I think the devil drives a Coupe de Ville.
I watched 'em drive away over the hill,
Not against her will, an' I've got time to kill,
Down in Brokenheartsville.

It was long on chrome, sittin' in the lot.
An' fire engine red, that thing was hot.
He revved it up, she waved goodbye.
Well, love's gone to hell and so have I.

Here's to the past, they can kiss my glass.
I hope she's happy with him.
Here's to the girl, who wrecked my world,
That angel who did me in.
I think the devil drives a Coupe de Ville.
I watched 'em drive away over the hill,
Not against her will, an' I've got time to kill,
Down in Brokenheartsville.

Here's to the past, they can kiss my glass.
I hope she's happy with him.
Here's to the girl, who wrecked my world,
That angel who did me in.
I think the devil drives a Coupe de Ville.
I watched 'em drive away over the hill,
Not against her will, an' I've got time to kill,
Down in Brokenheartsville.

tycoon
Eddy Arnold was a well rounded artist. I like everything he did.

I see what you guys have been up to while I've been playing elsewhere! What a great thread.

Here's my favorite John Anderson song:
Ever since the days of old,
Men would search for wealth untold.
They'd dig for silver and for gold,
And leave the empty holes.
And way down south in the Everglades,
Where the black water rolls and the saw grass sways.
The eagles fly and the otters play,
In the land of the Seminole.

So blow, blow Seminole wind,
Blow like you're never gonna blow again.
I'm calling to you like a long lost friend,
But I know who you are.
And blow, blow from the Okeechobee,
All the way up to Micanopy.
Blow across the home of the Seminole,
The alligators and the gar.

Progress came and took its toll,
And in the name of flood control,
They made their plans and they drained the land,
Now the glades are going dry.
And the last time I walked in the swamp,
I sat upon a Cypress stump,
I listened close and I heard the ghost,
Of Osceola cry.

So blow, blow Seminole wind,
Blow like you're never gonna blow again.
I'm calling to you like a long lost friend
But I know who you are.
And blow, blow from the Okeechobee,
All the way up to Micanopy.
Blow across the home of the Seminole,
The alligators and the gar.

BTW-that was Billy Walker who was killed last week in a car accident, not Billy Wheeler.

great song from a great artist. We opened for him last year and he was a humble kinda guy

One of a very few eco-protest songs in country music. The territory is my stomping grounds"the river of grass". Micanopy is very lovely

so sad about Billy Walker

Billy Walker
Cross the Brazos at Waco

On the Chisholm Trail it was midnight Carmela was strong on his mind
Because of the life he had chosen Carmela had left then behind
Too long he'd been a bandito Carmela had left him alone
But today someone brought a message she'd be seen in old San Antone
Cross the Brazos at Waco ride on and I make it by dawn
Cross the Brazos at Waco I'm safe when I reach San Antone

He glanced back over his shoulder the posee were nowhere in sight
He'd sent for Carmela to meet him at the banks of the Brazos tonight
She was waiting and he kept the promise he'd made such a long time ago
As he dropped the guns that she hated in the mighty Brazos willow
Cross the Brazos at Waco ride on and I make it by dawn
Cross the Brazos at Waco I'll walk straight in old San Antone
[ guitar ]
Then the night came alight with gun fire he knew that at last he'd been found
As the ranger's band shoot brightly and bandito laid on the ground
Carmela knew he was dying that all of her dreams were in vain
As she kissed his lips for the last time she heard him whisper again
Cross the Brazos at Waco ride on and I make it by dawn
Cross the Brazos at Waco I'm safe when I reach San Antone
[ guitar ]
I'm safe when I reach San Antone

Thanks for the correction about Billy Walker, Vicki G.

Do any of you know this old Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song?

The Old Upright Piano


For as long as I remember, when friday night came round
The family would gather out at grandpa's house.
With supper over and the dishes done
It was then the best time came
At an old upright piano that only grandma played.

She played beautiful dreamer, my wild irish rose;
She never played 'em perfect, but there was love in every note.
Grandpa sat beside her, in harmony they sang,
At the old upright piano that only grandma played.

Grandpa was a stubborn man, they said it was his style.
Grandma called him ornery, but she said it with a smile.
Even he could not disguise the love he felt so strong;
We all could see it in his eyes when she played his favorite song.

She played beautiful dreamer, my wild irish rose;
She never played 'em perfect, but there was love in every note.
Grandpa sat beside her, in harmony they sang,
At the old upright piano that only grandma played.

I was almost 17 when my grandma died;
I stayed all night with grandpa; the old man never cried.
He sat at her piano, there was nothing we could say
It was the first time in my life I ever heard my grandpa play.

It wasn't beautiful dreamer or my wild irish rose
It was a song he played from memory & he never missed a note
I sat right there beside him until the morning came
What a friend we have in jesus was the only song he played.

She played beautiful dreamer, my wild irish rose;
She never played 'em perfect, but there was love in every note.
Grandpa sat beside her, in harmony they sang,
At the old upright piano that only grandma played.