- [Announcer] Produced in Athens, at the Ohio University Telecommunication Center.

- [Announcer] The following program was produced in part through a grant from the Ohio Educational Broadcasting Network Commission, and through a grant from the Ohio Arts Council.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - [Announcer] From Athens, Ohio, "Ramblin'," with singer, songwriter, Bob Gibson.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - I had a couple a good years in the early 60s.

Matter of fact, I think I had a pretty good shot at the brass ring.

But it's also evident to me that I couldn't handle it, because by 1966, I left the business for three years, and I didn't sing for the next three years.

I was hidin' out in the country, thinkin' that stayin' out there and away from show business, why it would take care of all the problems that I was inflicting on myself.

It's a good place I'm in right now.

I think I'm in the place I oughta be.

I'm really a saloon singer.

I sing for small audiences well.

I get a little lost when they're larger.

And I'm real happy, able to do what I like to do right now.

I'm able to do it with good balance in my life.

I'm able to travel enough, but not too much.

I'm able to write a few songs, but I've never written (laughs) too many of those.

I'm in a good place.

I'm in a happy place right now.

(audience applauding) It's always hard to know exactly what to do, particularly to start off, you know.

(guitar tuning) And whether to do old songs or new songs.

Big decision, you know.

If I do all the new stuff, well then some people, who have been familiar with my work or my records, will come up and say, "Gee, Bob, how come you didn't sing any of the old songs?"

(audience laughing) And if I do all the old songs, then people walk out sayin', "He's doin' the same old songs."

(audience laughing) - [Man] Do 'em all!

- All right.

(laughs) (audience laughing) (audience applauding) ♪ Play us some of the old songs ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Like you used to play ♪ ♪ Go on, sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Roll the years away ♪ ♪ There's lots of old and friendly faces ♪ ♪ See 'em walkin' in ♪ ♪ Sayin', sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Make us young again ♪ ♪ Go on, sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ That make us young again ♪ ♪ Two hours late from Abilene ♪ ♪ He's climbin' on the stage ♪ ♪ Hail the conquerin' hero ♪ ♪ On the Tribune's second page ♪ ♪ He had brand new songs to sing 'em ♪ ♪ And some heavy things to say ♪ ♪ When a voice called from a table ♪ ♪ About 15 years away ♪ ♪ Play us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Like you used to play ♪ ♪ Go on, sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Roll the years away ♪ ♪ There's lots of old and friendly faces ♪ ♪ See 'em walkin' in ♪ ♪ Sayin' sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Make us young again ♪ ♪ Go on, sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ And make us young again ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Who's that a callin' ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Hold my hand ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ The night is a fallin' ♪ ♪ Spirit is a movin' all over this land ♪ ♪ God told Noah to build him an ark ♪ ♪ And the rains started fallin', and the skies got dark ♪ ♪ The old ark a movin' ♪ ♪ Water startin' to climb ♪ ♪ God said a fire not a flood next time ♪ Sing it.

♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Who's that a callin' ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Hold my hand ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ The night is a fallin' ♪ ♪ Spirit is a movin' all over this land ♪ ♪ God said fire comin' Judgment Day ♪ ♪ All mankind gonna pass away ♪ ♪ He said, brothers and sisters ♪ ♪ Don't you know ♪ ♪ You're gonna reap just what you sow ♪ Sing it.

♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Who's that a callin' ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Hold my hand ♪ ♪ Well, well ♪ Night is a fallin'.

♪ Night is a fallin' ♪ ♪ Spirit is a movin' all over this land ♪ ♪ The world's not waitin' for the Lord's command ♪ ♪ We're buildin' a fire ♪ ♪ That'll sweep the land ♪ ♪ With thunder out a heaven ♪ ♪ Comin' Gabriel's call ♪ ♪ The sea's gonna boil, and the sky's gonna fall ♪ ♪ Well, well ♪ Who's that a callin'.

♪ Who's that a callin' ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ Hold my hand.

♪ Hold my hand ♪ ♪ Well ♪ Night is a fallin'.

♪ Night is a fallin' ♪ ♪ Spirit is a movin' ♪ Let's sing it again.

♪ Ah, well, well, well ♪ ♪ Who's that a callin' ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Hold my hand ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ The night is a fallin' ♪ ♪ Spirit is a movin' all over this land ♪ ♪ Play us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Like you used to play ♪ ♪ Go on, sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Roll the years away ♪ ♪ They call me Daddy ♪ ♪ Daddy, roll 'em ♪ ♪ They call me Daddy, roll 'em down ♪ ♪ And when I roll 'em ♪ ♪ Oh Daddy, roll 'em ♪ ♪ Oh Daddy, really roll 'em down, down ♪ ♪ They call me Daddy ♪ ♪ Daddy, drive 'em ♪ ♪ They call me Daddy, drive 'em down ♪ ♪ Ah, play us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Like you used to play ♪ ♪ Go on, sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Roll the years away ♪ (gentle music) ♪ 3 am at The Earl of Old Town ♪ ♪ Jimmy stackin' chairs ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ Gus is countin' up the take ♪ ♪ I'm stumblin' up the stairs ♪ ♪ With a slightly over-30 waitress ♪ ♪ Some of the fellas knew ♪ ♪ I said, let me tell ya darlin' ♪ ♪ About the changes I've been through ♪ ♪ She said, play me some of the old songs ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ Like you used to play ♪ ♪ Go on, sing me some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Roll the years away ♪ ♪ There's lots of old and friendly faces ♪ ♪ See 'em walkin' in ♪ ♪ Sayin', sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ The way it was back then ♪ ♪ Go on, sing us some of the old songs ♪ ♪ Make us young again ♪ (audience applauding) (gentle music) ♪ Yes, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ Livin' in sin with your daughter ♪ ♪ No, Mr Rogers, we don't have separate rooms ♪ ♪ Mr. Rogers, I see you could use one more ♪ ♪ Scotch and water ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ Gee, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ Do you have to be leavin' so soon ♪ ♪ No.

Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ Ain't found a job, but I'm lookin' ♪ ♪ I thought, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ That you'd know times are tight ♪ ♪ Yes, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ She works, and I do the cookin' ♪ ♪ No, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ I won't step outside and fight ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ I hope that Mrs. Rogers' cold gets better ♪ ♪ And maybe she could phone sometime ♪ ♪ Or write her daughter a letter ♪ ♪ No, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ Thank you a lot for your offer ♪ ♪ If she wanted a ring ♪ ♪ I think I could buy one myself ♪ ♪ But you see that she's pleased ♪ ♪ With a plain string a beads that I bought her ♪ ♪ Oh no, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ Your daughter ain't goin' to hell ♪ ♪ Oh yes, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ I'm livin' in sin with your daughter ♪ ♪ No, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ We don't have separate rooms ♪ ♪ Mr. Rogers, I see you could use one more ♪ ♪ Scotch and water ♪ ♪ Ah, gee, Mr. Rogers ♪ ♪ Do you have to be leavin' so soon ♪ (gentle music) (audience applauding) I think that's your basic, modern love song.

(audience laughing) See, I don't think that June, moon and spoon is what's happenin' right now.

(laughs) I'm havin' a hard time writing love songs these days, because I don't know what rhymes with meaningful relationship.

(laughs) (audience laughing) I don't even know what the hell a meaningful relationship really is.

(upbeat music) ♪ Alice Adams lived in Provo, Utah ♪ ♪ With three kids and a husband, name a Joe ♪ ♪ They'd been married five years, come October ♪ ♪ Ah, but life in Provo, Utah's kind a slow ♪ ♪ Alice A was quite a girl in college ♪ ♪ She edited the paper and the mag ♪ ♪ Ah, but after she got married, that was over ♪ ♪ Her typewriter became a cleaning rag ♪ ♪ Oh, steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Tomorrow you'll be long gone on that far away, far away ♪ ♪ Don't look back now, keep on movin' ♪ ♪ You'll be in New York by Monday ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away, steal away ♪ ♪ Joey owned a hardware store in Provo ♪ ♪ He liked his meals at 7, and on time ♪ ♪ Pipe and slippers waiting by his rocker ♪ ♪ Wife and TV, both turned on by 9 ♪ ♪ Well, the walls began to close in on poor Alice ♪ ♪ The house she once loved had become a tomb ♪ ♪ Though she loved her kids ♪ ♪ She felt more like their keeper ♪ ♪ So she made her mind up one gray afternoon ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Tomorrow you'll be long gone on that far away, far away ♪ ♪ Don't look back now, keep on movin' ♪ ♪ You'll be in New York by Monday ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away, steal away ♪ ♪ You whispered fare-thee-well, and hit the high road ♪ ♪ Suitcase ends and books was all she owned ♪ ♪ Tryin' to find a new life in some city ♪ ♪ Find out can a woman stand alone ♪ ♪ Oh-oh, steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Tomorrow you'll be long gone on that far away, far away ♪ ♪ Don't look back now, keep on movin' ♪ ♪ You'll be in New York by Monday ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away, steal away ♪ ♪ Don't look back now, keep on movin' ♪ ♪ You'll be in New York by Monday ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away ♪ ♪ Steal away, steal away ♪ (audience applauding) (easy music) ♪ Never got to know her very well ♪ ♪ All we did was spend a little time ♪ ♪ If you're waitin' for a story ♪ ♪ Ah, there's really none to tell ♪ ♪ She's just a passin' shadow on my mind ♪ ♪ But I remember her ♪ ♪ On the streets of New York City ♪ ♪ As I walked along ♪ ♪ Lookin' for some place to go ♪ ♪ As she passed I said, hey ♪ ♪ There's snowflakes on your lashes ♪ ♪ She laughed and said, that isn't snow ♪ ♪ She said it's feathers from a pillow ♪ ♪ God is shakin' in the sky ♪ ♪ And she opened smilin' lips ♪ ♪ To catch a snowflake passin' by ♪ ♪ Then we both began to laugh ♪ ♪ And then I looked into her eyes ♪ ♪ It was warmer then ♪ ♪ But I never got to know her very well ♪ ♪ All we did was spend a little time ♪ ♪ If you're waitin' for a story ♪ ♪ There's really none to tell ♪ ♪ She's just a passin' shadow on my mind ♪ ♪ But I remember her ♪ ♪ 'Cause we woke up warm together ♪ ♪ In her flowered room ♪ ♪ She said, I'll help you pack ♪ ♪ She sewed my shirt ♪ ♪ I said, I'll stay forever ♪ ♪ But she laughed, and put some cookies in my sack ♪ ♪ She said, leave a trail of cookie crumbs ♪ ♪ And she walked through the snow ♪ ♪ Someday I'll follow after ♪ ♪ And I'll find you where you go ♪ ♪ So I left her in her doorway ♪ ♪ Although why, I'll never know ♪ ♪ I was younger then ♪ ♪ So I never got to know her very well ♪ ♪ All we did was spend a little time ♪ ♪ If you're waitin' for a story ♪ ♪ There's really none to tell ♪ ♪ She's just a passin' shadow on my mind ♪ ♪ I never got to know her very well ♪ (audience applauding) (guitar tuning) I realized recently that in all the songs I've written, and in all the songs I've collaborated on, I've never written a song about, I'll love you forever.

I guess I don't know much about that.

I've written a lot of goodbye songs.

And when I, when I noticed that, it...

I thought it was somethin' I oughta probably take a look at.

I suppose that's one of the benefits of writing songs.

(laughs) Sort of confrontation with yourself sometimes.

(gentle music) ♪ Easy now ♪ ♪ Take it slow ♪ ♪ God be with you wherever you go ♪ ♪ There's just one more thing ♪ ♪ I want you to know ♪ ♪ That I love you ♪ ♪ Really love you ♪ ♪ Don't look for reasons ♪ ♪ Or for rhymes ♪ ♪ Why in all of forever ♪ ♪ This wasn't our time ♪ ♪ Maybe some other day, some other clime ♪ ♪ I could love you ♪ ♪ Really love you ♪ ♪ Lord, but it hurts me to send you away ♪ ♪ Voices inside me keep crying out, stay ♪ ♪ Don't know what's right ♪ ♪ And it's hard dues to pay ♪ ♪ But I hope we can smile ♪ ♪ If we meet up someday ♪ ♪ Please forgive me ♪ ♪ For using you so ♪ ♪ Took much more than you'll ever know ♪ ♪ But remember that teardrops ♪ ♪ Can make your flowers grow ♪ ♪ Ah, but my hands are empty ♪ ♪ With nothin' to give ♪ ♪ But the freedom to go ♪ ♪ And to love and to live ♪ ♪ Easy now ♪ ♪ Take it slow ♪ ♪ God be with you wherever you go ♪ ♪ There's just one more thing ♪ ♪ I want you to know ♪ ♪ That I loved you ♪ ♪ Really loved you ♪ (music intensifies) ♪ Ah, but my hands are empty ♪ ♪ I've nothin' to give ♪ ♪ But the freedom to go and to love and to live ♪ ♪ Easy now ♪ ♪ Take it slow ♪ ♪ God be with you wherever you go ♪ ♪ There's just one more thing I want you to know ♪ ♪ That I loved you ♪ ♪ Really loved you ♪ (audience applauding) (dramatic music) (dramatic music continues) ♪ Snowdrifts rise outside my window ♪ ♪ I sit and wonder, where did spring go ♪ ♪ I can tell from her face ♪ ♪ She needs a warmer place ♪ ♪ Busy people, they surround her ♪ ♪ Never smiling, they astound her ♪ ♪ Busy running their race ♪ ♪ She needs a slower pace ♪ ♪ Ah, Cindy dreams of California ♪ ♪ Rollin' hills and gentle skies ♪ ♪ Cindy dreams of windswept oceans ♪ ♪ Quiet places, other faces ♪ ♪ Rise from the depths of her memory ♪ ♪ Shine through her eyes ♪ ♪ Snowdrifts rise outside my window ♪ ♪ I sit and wonder, where did spring go ♪ ♪ Well, I can tell from her face ♪ ♪ She needs a warmer place ♪ (dramatic music) (dramatic music continues) ♪ Cindy dreams of California ♪ ♪ Rollin' hills and gentle skies ♪ ♪ Cindy dreams of windswept oceans ♪ ♪ Quiet places, other faces ♪ ♪ Rise from the depths of her memory ♪ ♪ Shine through her eyes ♪ ♪ Snowdrifts rise outside my window ♪ ♪ Sit and wonder, where did spring go ♪ ♪ I can tell from her face ♪ ♪ She needs a warmer place ♪ ♪ Busy people, they surround her ♪ ♪ Never smiling, they astound her ♪ ♪ Busy running their race ♪ ♪ She needs a slower pace ♪ (dramatic music) (audience applauding) (upbeat music) ♪ Boom, ba-ba boom, ba-ba boom ♪ ♪ Twelve riders in the gloom ♪ ♪ Seven show red, and the rest are dead ♪ ♪ But the first battalion's home ♪ ♪ Boom, ba-ba boom, ba-ba boom ♪ ♪ You can hear the hoofbeats boom ♪ ♪ The drums are low and the pace is slow ♪ ♪ But the first battalion's home ♪ ♪ Run to your homes, Virginia girls ♪ ♪ And fix your hair with pins ♪ ♪ Give 'em wine and kisses ♪ ♪ But don't ask 'em where they've been ♪ ♪ Boom, ba-ba boom, ba-ba boom ♪ ♪ Richmond was their tomb ♪ ♪ There's 100 still at Richmond ♪ ♪ 300 dead at Gettysburg ♪ ♪ And 100 more we never found ♪ ♪ Yes, 100 more we never found ♪ ♪ But the first battalion's home ♪ (music intensifies) ♪ There's a battle ♪ ♪ Ragin' somewhere ♪ ♪ And its thunder shakes the ground ♪ ♪ Terrible silence when it's over ♪ ♪ Only death makes such a sound ♪ ♪ And I see, yes I see ♪ ♪ On the last day of July ♪ ♪ And I see, yes, I see ♪ ♪ On the last day of July ♪ ♪ Something's movin' ♪ ♪ In the shadows ♪ ♪ What is this that's drawin' nigh ♪ ♪ It's the reaper, movin' silent ♪ ♪ Could be someone's time to die ♪ ♪ And I see, yes, I see ♪ ♪ On the last day of July ♪ ♪ And I see, yes, I see ♪ ♪ On the last day of July ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Two brothers on their way ♪ ♪ There were two brothers on their way ♪ ♪ Two brothers on their way ♪ ♪ One wore blue ♪ ♪ And one wore gray ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ One wore blue, and one wore gray ♪ ♪ As they marched along their way ♪ ♪ The fife and drum began to play ♪ ♪ It was all on a beautiful mornin' ♪ ♪ One was gentle, and one was kind ♪ ♪ One was gentle, and one was kind ♪ ♪ One came home, one stayed behind ♪ ♪ A cannonball don't pay no mind ♪ (music intensifies) ♪ Cannonball don't pay no mind ♪ ♪ Though you're gentle, or you're kind ♪ ♪ And don't think of the folks behind ♪ (gentle music) ♪ All on a beautiful mornin' ♪ ♪ Two girls waitin' by the railroad track ♪ ♪ There were two girls waitin' by the railroad track ♪ ♪ For their darlin's to come back ♪ ♪ One wore blue ♪ ♪ And one wore black ♪ ♪ One wore blue, and one wore black ♪ ♪ Waitin' by the railroad track ♪ ♪ For their darlin's to come back ♪ ♪ It was all on a beautiful mornin' ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ Boom, ba-ba boom, ba-ba boom ♪ ♪ Richmond was their tomb ♪ ♪ There's 100 still at Richmond ♪ ♪ 300 dead at Gettysburg ♪ (music intensifies) ♪ And 100 more we never found ♪ ♪ There's 100 more we never found ♪ ♪ But the first battalion's home ♪ (audience applauding) (dramatic music) (dramatic music continues) ♪ If you say ♪ ♪ That all the good times are gone ♪ ♪ If you say ♪ ♪ That this rain will keep rainin' on ♪ ♪ I'll walk along with my head held high ♪ ♪ I'll find that song, and I'll sing it to the sky ♪ ♪ I may be wrong, but I'll live until I die ♪ ♪ That's the way it's gonna be ♪ ♪ Wait and see ♪ ♪ Even though you say ♪ ♪ The devil knocks at my door ♪ ♪ Though you say ♪ ♪ That my ship will not reach the shore ♪ ♪ I've got a will and a thousand ways ♪ ♪ I've got a dream with a thousand better days ♪ ♪ I've got a smile that just stays and stays ♪ ♪ That's the way it's gonna be ♪ ♪ Wait and see ♪ ♪ Even though you say ♪ ♪ The tides are all running low ♪ ♪ Though you say ♪ ♪ That there's nowhere else we can go ♪ ♪ A detour is waitin' for me round the bend ♪ ♪ But I won't stay down on the count of ten ♪ ♪ I've said it before, and I'll say it again ♪ ♪ That's the way it's gonna be, wait and see ♪ ♪ Even though you say ♪ ♪ That all the good times are gone ♪ ♪ Though you say ♪ ♪ That this rain will keep rainin' on ♪ ♪ I'll walk along with my head held high ♪ ♪ I'll find that song, and I'll sing it to the sky ♪ ♪ I may be wrong, but I'll live until I die ♪ ♪ That's the way it's gonna be ♪ ♪ That's the way it's gonna be ♪ ♪ Wait and see ♪ ♪ Just you wait and see ♪ (audience applauding) (guitar tuning) Had the pleasure of writin' that song with Mr. Phil Ochs, in 1964.

(audience applauding) Back when we thought that if we wrote a good enough song, that we could change some people's mind about somethin'.

It's all we had to do, if we could write a good enough song, they'd understand.

It was naive maybe, but it sure was sincerely naive.

A little while ago, I wrote this song with my friend, Irma Brown, and when we wrote it, we had Phil Ochs very much in mind.

We both knew him and loved him.

(dramatic music) ♪ There's an army of children ♪ ♪ Who gathered in the night ♪ ♪ And they are your sons and daughters ♪ ♪ Who've been wounded by the light ♪ ♪ They rise up angry singing this song ♪ ♪ Called, "How Long Can This Go On And On And On" ♪ ♪ It's the peaceful one inside us ♪ ♪ Whose time it is to die ♪ ♪ Words are words and guns are guns, the children cry ♪ ♪ Will you give us just one reason to survive ♪ ♪ Will you give us just one reason to survive ♪ ♪ Or are you just a little numb ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's gone on for so long ♪ ♪ Can you still feel the pain ♪ ♪ As they engrave your name again ♪ ♪ On the weapons that they choose ♪ ♪ What the hell is left to lose ♪ ♪ 'Cause when your back's against the wall ♪ ♪ You're gonna fall ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ You ask me why the river's runnin' ♪ ♪ Blood red to the sea ♪ ♪ It's because your sons and daughters ♪ ♪ Don't know anymore than me ♪ ♪ 'Bout why the bombs still come screamin' down and fall ♪ ♪ Why the bombs still come screamin' down at all ♪ ♪ And it's the peaceful one inside us ♪ ♪ Whose time it is to die ♪ ♪ Words are words and guns are guns ♪ ♪ The children cry ♪ ♪ Will you give us just one reason to survive ♪ ♪ Will you give us just one reason to survive ♪ ♪ Or are you just a little numb ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's gone on for so long ♪ ♪ Can you still feel the pain ♪ ♪ As they engrave your name again ♪ ♪ On the weapons that they make ♪ ♪ What the hell is left to take ♪ ♪ 'Cause when your back's against the wall ♪ ♪ You're gonna fall ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ There's an army of children ♪ ♪ Who've gathered in the night ♪ ♪ And they are your sons and daughters ♪ ♪ Who've been wounded by the light ♪ ♪ They rise up angry singing this song ♪ ♪ Called, "How Long Can This Go On And On And On" ♪ ♪ Called, "How long Can This Go On And On And On" ♪ (audience applauding) Sing a song with me, if you will.

(gentle music) ♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ ♪ It's the prettiest town I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ Come on, let me hear that out loud.

♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ ♪ Prettiest town that I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ That's about a six.

(audience laughing) That's no so bad, you know.

It's really hard, you run into a three or a four audience.

(audience laughing) Well, you don't have to remain a six, you know.

I mean, if we pull together by the end of this song, you could be a nine.

(audience laughing) There are no 10s.

(all laughing) Just rear back and sing it, come on now.

♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ ♪ Prettiest town that I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ Just one more, small correction.

When I wrote this song with my friend, Les Brown, in 1957, we wrote, "Abilene, Abilene, prettiest town I've ever seen.

The women there don't treat you mean."

(gentle music) It's not how we're gonna sing it.

(laughs) (audience laughing) I got my act together, let me tell you.

(laughs) (audience laughing) (audience applauding) Well see, I uh, attended meetings of NOW.

(audience laughing) It's the National Organization for Women.

Those meetings are open.

Men can go too.

Some of you fella probably oughta go.

(laughs) (audience laughing) You learn a lot.

Change a lot of your basic attitudes.

Meet some great broads there too.

(gentle music) (audience laughing) Ah, Bob!

Sing the song.

♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ ♪ Prettiest town that I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ ♪ I sit alone, most every night ♪ ♪ Watch those trains roll out of sight ♪ ♪ I wish to the Lord they'd carry me ♪ ♪ Back to Abilene, my Abilene ♪ ♪ Sing it again now ♪ ♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ ♪ Prettiest town that I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ ♪ It's a crowded city ♪ ♪ There ain't nothin' free ♪ ♪ Ain't nothin' in that crowd for me ♪ ♪ I wish to the Lord that I could be ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ ♪ Sing it again now ♪ ♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ ♪ Prettiest town that I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ ♪ I'm goin' down to the river ♪ ♪ Gonna get onboard my rockin' chair ♪ ♪ If the blues don't get me, gonna rock ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Gonna rock away from here ♪ ♪ Gonna lay my head down ♪ ♪ On some lonesome railroad line ♪ ♪ And let the 219 come along ♪ ♪ Pacify my mind ♪ ♪ Keep movin' on down that railroad line ♪ ♪ I gotta heavy load and a worried mind ♪ ♪ Tryin' to find a place that I can settle down ♪ ♪ There's just one thing I'd like to know ♪ ♪ And that's where in the world can a poor man go ♪ ♪ When he's tired of travelin' 'round from town to town ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Well they arrested me in a town down South ♪ ♪ I had empty pockets, I was down in the mouth ♪ ♪ They locked me up, threw away the key ♪ ♪ I had wormy food in a dirty cell ♪ ♪ And I whooped that guard, and I run like hell ♪ ♪ Sheriff, he's still askin' 'round about me ♪ ♪ Goin' down to the river, gonna get onboard ♪ ♪ In my rockin' chair ♪ ♪ If the blues don't get me, gonna rock ♪ ♪ Gonna rock away from here ♪ ♪ I'm gonna lay my weary head down ♪ ♪ On some lonesome railroad line ♪ ♪ And let the 219 come along and pacify my mind ♪ ♪ And let the 219 ♪ ♪ Come and take me back to ♪ ♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ (easy music) ♪ Prettiest town that I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ Sing it just one more time.

♪ Abilene, Abilene ♪ ♪ Prettiest town that I've ever seen ♪ ♪ People there don't treat you mean ♪ ♪ In Abilene, my Abilene ♪ (audience applauding) (guitar tuning) Teach you a song.

Here's all you have to learn.

♪ Part of the heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Where all of the poor, restless souls can be found ♪ ♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ Part of the heavenly choir.

♪ Part of the heavenly choir ♪ Where all of the poor, restless souls can be found.

♪ Where all of the poor, restless souls can be found ♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir.

♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Hold that note out just a little bit with some harmony ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ One more time, part of the heavenly.

♪ Part of the heavenly choir ♪ Where all of those poor.

♪ Where all of those poor, restless souls can be found ♪ Ain't that a heavenly.

♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ ♪ Last night I heard Josh White playin' ♪ ♪ From somewhere ♪ (gentle music) ♪ On the other side ♪ ♪ In an orchard full of strange fruit hangin' ♪ ♪ With his head throwed back ♪ ♪ He stood there singin' ♪ ♪ He snapped those strings ♪ ♪ 'Til his fingers bled ♪ ♪ He bent those notes ♪ ♪ 'Til his guitar wept ♪ ♪ Now he's part of the heavenly choir ♪ Where all of those poor.

♪ Where all of those poor, restless souls can be found ♪ ♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Then I heard Hank Williams moanin' ♪ ♪ So lonesome ♪ ♪ He could cry ♪ ♪ Tellin' us ways that life can hurt ya ♪ ♪ And tellin' of women ♪ ♪ Who love and deserts ya ♪ ♪ Showin' us ways ♪ ♪ That a man can die ♪ ♪ Like a poor whippoorwill ♪ ♪ Who's too blue to fly ♪ ♪ Now he's part of the heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Where all of those poor, restless souls can be found ♪ ♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ ♪ Then I heard sweet Janice singin' ♪ ♪ Old Pearl, wailin' high, sailin' wide ♪ ♪ Singin' of trials that soon shall end ♪ ♪ Singin', Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz ♪ ♪ Sayin', this chorus had better start cookin' fast ♪ ♪ And if I can't sing lead ♪ ♪ You can all kiss my ass ♪ ♪ Now she's part of the heavenly choir ♪ Yes, she is.

♪ Where all of those poor, restless souls can be found ♪ ♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ ♪ Then I heard Bessie Smith singin' ♪ ♪ She was wearin' her spangles and beads ♪ ♪ She was shoutin' her blues ♪ ♪ So the whole world could hear ♪ ♪ Gimme a pig foot and a bottle of beer ♪ ♪ In a hospital waitin' room ♪ ♪ Waitin' so long ♪ ♪ Livin' the blues ♪ ♪ She died to her song ♪ ♪ Now she's part of the heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Where all of the poor, restless souls can be found ♪ ♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ Part of the heavenly choir.

♪ Part of the heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Where all of the poor, restless souls can be found ♪ ♪ Ain't that a heavenly choir ♪ ♪ Ain't a hell of a sound ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Yes it is ♪ ♪ Ain't that a hell of a sound ♪ (audience applauding) (guitar tuning) (gentle music) ♪ Ain't we a strange combination of dealers ♪ ♪ Hillbillies, hookers and nuns ♪ ♪ Old cattle rustlers and city street hustlers ♪ ♪ And all of us dead on the run ♪ ♪ All of us seekin' salvation ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ (light music) ♪ We're too old for savin' ♪ ♪ We're seekin' a haven ♪ ♪ And all of us dead on the run ♪ ♪ Dead on the run ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ ♪ All of seekin' a shelter ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ See the Mendocino mamas ♪ ♪ Workin' in their gardens ♪ ♪ They're bakin' bread and cannin' fruit ♪ ♪ Watch 'em toil and spin ♪ ♪ See 'em turnin' back the covers ♪ ♪ For their babies and their lovers ♪ ♪ Tryin' to make it through the month ♪ ♪ 'Til the welfare check comes in ♪ ♪ Ain't we a strange combination of dealers ♪ ♪ Hillbillies, hookers and nuns ♪ ♪ Old cattle rustlers and city street hustlers ♪ ♪ And all of us dead on the run ♪ ♪ Dead on the run ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ All of us seekin' salvation, dead on the run ♪ ♪ See the Mendocino papas ♪ ♪ Tryin' to get the summer crops in ♪ ♪ Drivin' beat up pick-up trucks ♪ ♪ They're wearin' worn out clothes ♪ ♪ See 'em stand against the sun there ♪ ♪ Like the early frontier fathers ♪ ♪ Wipin' sweat from off their brow ♪ ♪ And cocaine off their nose ♪ ♪ Ain't we a strange combination of dealers ♪ ♪ And hillbillies, hookers and nuns ♪ ♪ Old cattle rustlers and city street hustlers ♪ ♪ And all of us dead on the run ♪ ♪ Dead on the run ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ ♪ All of us seekin' a haven, dead on the run ♪ ♪ Hear them Mendocino children ♪ ♪ Playin' in the quiet streets ♪ ♪ The old dogs blinkin' in the sun ♪ ♪ The old man's in the shade ♪ ♪ Feel the flowin', dancin' motion ♪ ♪ Like the clouds from off the ocean ♪ ♪ Easy goin', windy blowin', Mendocino day ♪ ♪ Ain't we a strange combination of dealers ♪ ♪ Hillbillies, hookers and nuns ♪ ♪ And old cattle rustlers and city street hustlers ♪ ♪ And all of us dead on the run ♪ ♪ Dead on the run ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ ♪ Too old for savin' or seekin' a haven ♪ ♪ And all of us dead on the run ♪ ♪ Dead on the run ♪ ♪ We're dead on the run ♪ ♪ All of us seekin' a shelter ♪ ♪ And dead on the run ♪ (audience applauding) (gentle music) ♪ Ain't it great to be ♪ ♪ A livin' legend ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ Hey, Mister ♪ ♪ Can you use an old folk singer ♪ ♪ Would your patrons like some old-time soul ♪ ♪ Can they dig the "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" ♪ ♪ Sorry, I don't play no rock and roll ♪ ♪ And I can make 'em cry to "Molly Darlin'" ♪ ♪ Sing along to "Row Your Boat Ashore" ♪ ♪ I'll play until the dawn ♪ ♪ When the crowd is gone ♪ ♪ Mister, I'll be glad to sweep your floor ♪ ♪ You shoulda been in New York, back in '60 ♪ ♪ Hey, wasn't I a star there for awhile ♪ ♪ But New York messed up my head ♪ ♪ I got strung out on reds ♪ ♪ Bobby Dylan went and caught my style ♪ ♪ Oh but I could make 'em cry to "Molly Darlin'" ♪ ♪ Sing along to "Row Your Boat Ashore" ♪ ♪ Ah, the street life sure is fun ♪ ♪ When you're 21 ♪ ♪ But Mister ♪ ♪ I ain't 21 no more ♪ ♪ So I take the love of girls, still remembered ♪ ♪ And I take the help of them that care to give ♪ ♪ And I swap my songs for sandwiches and shelter ♪ ♪ Even livin' legends gotta live ♪ ♪ And I can make 'em cry to "Molly Darlin'" ♪ ♪ Sing along to "Row Your Boat Ashore" ♪ ♪ Michael, row your boat ashore ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Michael, row your boat ashore ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ Come on, sing it.

♪ Ah, sister helped to trim the sail ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Sister helped to trim the sail ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ One more time.

♪ Ah, Michael, row your boat ashore ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Michael, row your boat ashore ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ (audience applauding) (audience cheering) (breezy music) ♪ Won't you sing me some new song ♪ ♪ That I ain't heard before ♪ ♪ Your poor-boy-on-the-road songs ♪ ♪ Are such a bloody bore ♪ ♪ If it's so lonely at the top ♪ ♪ What'cha up there for (laughs) ♪ ♪ Won't you sing me some new song that I ain't heard before ♪ ♪ Won't you quit your bitchin' 'bout your bein' on the road ♪ ♪ Go tell it to the Eskimos ♪ ♪ 'Cause they love to be snowed ♪ ♪ I ain't really goin' for your terrible tale of woe ♪ ♪ I've traveled on that highway, just a few miles of my own ♪ ♪ If the weight's too great to carry ♪ ♪ Please put down the load ♪ ♪ Quit your bellyaching 'bout your bein' on the road ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Ah, you come in on your own Learjet to a waiting limousine ♪ ♪ Your liveried chauffeur holds the door ♪ ♪ Like you're some king or queen ♪ ♪ Then he whisks you down the boulevard ♪ ♪ To the best hotel in town ♪ ♪ Where fourteen prepubescent groupies ♪ ♪ Wait to show you around ♪ ♪ You have an interview with "Rolling Stone" ♪ ♪ You got some heavy stuff to say ♪ ♪ Then everyone adjourns to dinner ♪ ♪ To the famous Chez Gourmet ♪ ♪ Where the manager picks up the check ♪ ♪ And then it's time for you to go and play some music ♪ ♪ For a couple hours, for $5,000 bucks a day ♪ ♪ With ladies for your pleasure, and cocaine for your nose ♪ ♪ It's hard to be a music man, it's hell out the road ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Hey, won't you quit your bitchin' ♪ ♪ 'Bout your bein' on the road ♪ ♪ Go tell it to the Eskimos ♪ ♪ 'Cause they love to be snowed ♪ ♪ But I ain't really goin' for that terrible tale of woe ♪ ♪ I've traveled on that highway just a few miles of my own ♪ ♪ If the weight's too great to carry ♪ ♪ Please put down the load ♪ ♪ Quit your bellyaching 'bout your bein' on the road ♪ (audience applauding) (audience whistling) (audience continues applauding) - [Announcer] The preceding program was produced in part, through a grant from the Ohio Educational Broadcasting Network Commission, and through a grant from the Ohio Arts Council.