Jimmy Rogers was the first I heard.

Used to think he could sing like a bird.

He used to sing those old train songs;

Ones you enjoyed when you were all alone.

Hank Williams was the best back then.

He wore a white hat and was tall and thin.

He’d slump his shoulders and sing the blues.

He drank too much and paid his dues.

Blue Moon of Kentucky and The Great Speckled Bird.

They bring back memories of my Mama’s word.

Bill Monroe, there’ll never be another like him.

He sang bluegrass better than any of them.

Lefty Frizzell from Corsicana, Texas;

He sang a sad song of all his exes.

I’d walk for miles, cry or smile for mom and dad,

Was a pretty song but mighty sad.

Jimmy Dickens was a little squirt.

He liked to sing of the Tennessee dirt.

Take an Old Tater and Wait was his song.

He was a chubby boy and not very long.

Webb Pierce dressed in clothes that were nifty.

I saw him in Cheyenne in the nineteen fifties.

There Stands the Glass was his big hit.

Sad, sad song when we were half lit.

Carl Smith was one of the greats.

He played world-wide and in all of the states.

His love songs were something to behold.

Wonder if he really lived out the life he told.

Hank Thompson sang A Six-Pack to Go,

He sang Western swing soft and slow.

He sang his songs for the common man.

Lots of his songs were about the Texas sand.

Jim Reeves’ voice was as smooth as silk.

His songs were of love and hurt and guilt.

Four walls to hear me, four walls to see,

Four walls surround me, closing in on me.

Merle Haggard spent some time in the pen.

He wrote lots of songs about his kin.

Okie from Muskogee and Mama Knows.

He keeps singing and his popularity grows.

Tom T. Hall sang some songs that were funny.

Sings some kid songs about a dog and a bunny.

Common sense stuff that we could all live by.

We could make a better world if we would only try.

George Jones was the last of the great.

Ah, if I was fair, I’d mention George Strait.

What I like about Jones is he sings about us.

I always just wanted to drive his old bus.

The ones after these all sound alike.

They don’t sound like they did when I was a tyke.

Garth Books and others, I don’t want their names.

If they’re singing country, I’ve gone insane.

by Dwayne Garner