Lyrics for an OLD Narration "song"

Leigh Howell · From: Edinburgh, Scotland * R.I.P.

That was an old Hank Williams(Aka Luke the drifter song) I dont have the lyrics in my head, but i'm sure someone on the forum probably knows them.If not I have them on tape somewhere, and will find them for you.
Leigh

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

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[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:39 PM.]

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Leigh,
You are right. It was "Luke The Drifter",(a/k/a Hank Williams). The recitation is called,"The Funeral". I have it,on a "78". (sorry Gene.I'm,also,a Foley fan,but I don't remember it by him.)

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  ©¿©          ars longa,


  mm         vita brevis 


-=sr€=-

[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 28 May 2001 at 09:34 AM.]

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

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[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:40 PM.]

Mike Weirauch · From: Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe

Don Helms has this song "The Funeral" on his latest album featuring the Drifting Cowboys. I just listened to it.

Graham · From: Marmora, Ontario, Canada

THE FUNERAL
Writen by Fred Rose

I was walking in Savannah past a church, decayed and dim
When slowly through the window came a plaintive funeral hymn
And my sympathy awakened and a wonder quickly grew
'Til I found myself envired in a little colored pew.

Out front a colored couple sat in sorrow, nearly wild
On the altar was a casket and in the casket was a child
I could picture him while livin', curly hair, protuding lips
I'd seen perhaps a thousand in my hurried southern trips.

Rose a sad, old colored preacher from his little wooden desk
With a manner sorta awkward, and countenance grotesque
The simplicity and shrewdness in his Eithopian face
Showed the wisdom and ignorance of a crushed, undying race.

And he said, "Now don't be weepin' for this pretty bit of clay
For the little boy who lived there has done gone and run away
He was doin' very finely and he appreciates your love
But his shore 'nuff Father wanted him in the big house up above.

The Lord didn't give you that baby, by no hundred thousand miles
He just thought you need some sunshine, and He lent it for awhile
And He let you keep and love it 'til your hearts were bigger grown
And these silver tears you're sheddin' now is just interest on the loan.

Just think, my poor dear mourners, creepin' 'long on sorrows life's way
What a blessed picnic this here baby got today
Your good fathers and good mothers crowd the little fellow 'round
In the Angel's tender garden of the big plantation ground.

And his eyes they brightly sparkle at the pretty things he viewed
But a tear came, and he whispered, 'I want my parents , too'
But then the Angel's chief musicians teach that little boy a song
Says if only they be faithful they'll soon be comin' 'long.

So, my poor detached mourners, let your hearts with Jesus rest
And don't go to criticizin' the One what knows the best
He has give us many comforts, He's got the right to take away
To the Lord be praised in glory, forever, let us pray."

Frank · Posted 28 May 2001 8:37 pm

Hey guys, back when ole Porter W. was going strong on Black Draught TV, he done his rendition of that piece several times.
Thanks Much, FGB

Tim Rowley · From: Pinconning, MI, USA

Bobby Bare also recorded a version of "The Funeral" on his early 1960's sacred album "This I Believe" on RCA Victor. It's impressive.

Tim R.

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

Graham: I wanted to thank you for having and then posting those lyrics. I still had a lot of Bits & Pieces in my head but you tied them all togeather for me. One time on the waterfront in Old Savannah, I was talking to an elderly black B-24 player and the conversation came around to HWs version of this song. As we each mentioned different lines, I noticed that both of us had small tears in our eyes. Fred Rose and Hank Williams ! What else could one say ?

Regards Paul

Graham · From: Marmora, Ontario, Canada

Paul:
You're welcome. They made a great team, for sure.

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Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

For a fleeting moment, I also thought of a friend of
mine would want to read this. Then I realized 50 years have passed and the times they have really changed. Takes something like this to make you realize just how fast the time is going. Why it seems like only yesterday.....

Regards, Paul (Jeff is playing Amazing Grace
on my media player even as I write this.)

[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 30 May 2001 at 01:55 PM.]

Jack Shults · From: Canadian, Oklahoma U.S.A.

Red Foley did this on an album that may have been entitled "Beyond The Sunset" at least that song was on the album.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

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[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:41 PM.]

John P. Phillips · From: Folkston, Ga. U.S.A., R.I.P.

Hey guys,
I remember Red Foley doing that song and if I remember correctly it was called "Steal Away" on his L.P.

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"LET'S GO STEEL SOMETHING" If it feels good, DO IT, if it feels "COUNTRY", do it TWICE
JPP

Tim Rowley · From: Pinconning, MI, USA

Come to think of it, the Wilburn Brothers had a cut of "The Funeral" also, Doyle doing the narration. And I saw them do it on their TV show years ago.

I like narrations, I used to do a couple of them myself, such as "Trouble in The Amen Corner" and the narrations on "Green Green Grass of Home" and "Mama Hated Diesels". I still do the talkin' parts on "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today". One I always wanted to learn but never did is "There Won't Be Any Tree This Christmas" by Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright. Alas though, it seems that narration songs have become a thing of the past. You won't hear them on your local hot rockin' country station, I guarantee.

Tim R.

[This message was edited by Tim Rowley on 30 May 2001 at 10:38 PM.]

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

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[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:41 PM.]

MALCOLM KIRBY · From: Crofton, KY USA

Harland Powell also recorded this recitation. It is on his mostly instrumental tape "Steal Away".

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