Country parables David M Regen © 1995
Old-time country music, it stirs my heart and soul
It draws me in its circle, my name is on its roll
Its prophets are compelling, its parables profound
So won't you come and join me, in this church of rustic sound
Luke the drifter talked to us, of things we need to know
Think my friend consider well, before a stone you throw
Watch your tongue lift up your thoughts, and gossip don't repeat
For you may be indebted to, the bad girl down the street
Acuff told a story, of one who had succumbed
Life for her was bitter, and from the bridge she jumped
They pulled her from the river, but no one knew her name
This woman had no loved ones, her body was unclaimed
I won't forget Red Foley, my heart-strings he did tug
He told us of the love that is, between a boy and dog
Shep pulled him from the swimming hole, where he had nearly drowned
When Shep was old it broke his heart, to put his dear friend down
These words of Eddie Arnold, I heard them long ago
Do not neglect your mother, the one who loves you so
She nurtured you and guided you, so do not leave her there
All alone an angel in an, old rocking chair
And give my love to Dolly, the brightest of the lot
Her mother made a coat of rags, when she was just a tot
The children all made fun of her, they did not understand
That love went into every stitch, by her dear mother's hand
Yes country can enlighten, wake up your sleeping soul
Turn you from your selfish ways, make kindness your goal
This world would be a better place, a kinder place I know
With more old-time country music, on the radio
Click here for a page-ordered list of titles with YouTube links.
Indexed Titles Page
Bereavement of parent
Dear brother 26
Every bush and tree 34
I miss Mother since she's gone 58
If I could hear my mother pray again 59
Letter edged in black 68
Lightening Express 69
Mother queen of my heart 82
Memories of Mother 83
Mother’s Bible 84
Mother's only sleeping 85
Newmade grave upon the green hillside 90
Summer wind 133
Sweeter than the flower 134
Unfinished rug 148
Vision of Mother 151
White dove 158
Will the circle be unbroken 161
Bereavement of child
At the first fall of snow 5
Don't make me go to bed 28
I hear a sweet voice calling 56
Searching for a soldier’s grave 122
Strand of a yellow curl 132
Teardrops falling in the snow 137
The vacant chair 150
Bereavement of contemporary
Bathe me in lilac 7
Bluebird sings for me 15
The day they laid Mary away 25
Dear Uncle Sam 27
Flower blooming in the wildwood 39
Footprints in the snow 40
I haven’t seen Mary for years 55
In the baggage coach ahead 62
Listen to the mockingbird 70
Lonely mound of clay 71
Maple on the hill 74
Mighty dark to travel 78
Old Shep 97
On the evening train 99
Precious jewel 107
Roses in the snow 116
Silent empty chair 125
Weathered gray stone 154
Will the roses bloom where she lies slpn 162
You’ll find her name written there 166
Calamity
Amelia Earhart’s last flight 2
BJ the DJ 6
The blizzard 12
Daddy don’t go to the mine 23
Drowned in the deep blue sea 30
Engine 143 33
Five miles from home 38
Muddy water 87
Sign on the highway 124
Sinking of the Titanic 127
Train 1262 145
Wreck of old 97 164
Wreck on the highway 165
Cruelty / Neglect
Coat of many colors 19
Give me the roses 44
If Jack were only here 60
No children allowed 92
Nobody’s child 94
Orphan girl 101
Over the hill to the poorhouse 102
Rocking alone 115
Row us over the tide 119
Ruby don’t take your love to town 120
Thirty pieces of silver 141
Tramp on the street 146
Unloved and unclaimed 149
Walking my Lord up Calvary hill 152
Down & Out / Adversity
Hard times come again no more 47
Hard times have been here 48
Lost highway 73
Men with broken hearts 77
More to be pitied 81
Muddy water 87
Pictures from life's other side 105
Ruby don’t take your love to town 120
Dying
Bathe me in lilac 7
Beyond the sunset 9
Cowboy's lament 22
Darling little Joe 24
The dying soldier 31
Farside banks of Jordan 36
Green green grass of home 46
Just before the battle mother 64
Master's bouquet 76
My brother’s will 88
Nobody's darling but mine 95
Plant some flowers by my graveside 106
Put my little shoes away 110
Road trip 113
Rosewood casket 117
Soldier’s last letter 130
When God comes to gather his jewels 155
When I ride that last mile 156
Who will sing for me 159
Will my soul pass through the southland 160
Will you miss me 163
Loneliness
All smiles tonight 1
Blue eyes crying in the rain 13
Calling my children home 18
Golden ring 45
He stopped loving her today 49
Lonesome river 72
Missing in action 79
Rocking alone 115
Ruby don’t take your love to town 120
So lonesome I could cry 129
Tiny broken heart 142
Too late to cry 143
Tragic romance 144
Wandering boy 153
Nobility / Redemption / Innocence
Amen corner 3
Angels rejoiced 4
Be careful of stones you throw 8
Big bad John 10
The blind girl’s prayer 11
Coat of many colors 19
Darling little Joe 24
Eastbound train 32
Fallen leaves 35
The funeral 41
Give me the roses 44
Hickory holler’s tramp 51
His fields are ready for harvest 53
I heard my mother call my name in prayer 57
If Jack were only here 60
In the baggage coach ahead 62
Jimmy Brown 63
Legend of the robin’s red breast 67
Lightening express 69
Missing in action 79
Mother queen of my heart 82
