This is Stanton, Virginia, a pretty little town nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah
Valley.
Folks here still act friendly, still go to church on Sunday, and still fly the flag on
the front porch.
Usually, the population here is about 25,000, but one day a year, three times that many
people flock to Stanton.
Independence Day is the kind of celebration that brings out the small town in all of us,
a time for unabashed pride in our freedom and our country.
But the biggest party of them all is a bash thrown by Stanton's hometown heroes, the Statler
Brothers.
God bless America, my home sweet home.
And hello there, I'm Laurie Ann Crutch.
And I'm Charlie Chase, and we're coming to you live from Gypsy Hill Park in beautiful
Stanton, Virginia, hometown of the Statler Brothers and their annual Fourth of July celebration.
And I tell you what, it has been raining on and off here in Stanton all day today.
I think it has stopped right now, but it really has not dampened the spirits of the thousands
of country music fans who have come to see the Statler Brothers.
Now they have packed up those armchairs, as you can see, and they're down on the field
behind us just waiting for the concert to begin.
You know, one writer said this is not only a Happy Birthday USA celebration, but also
the National Lounge Chair Convention as well.
It's all rolled into one.
That is true.
I think we have probably thousands of soggy bottoms down there, but everybody is so excited
about the arrival of the Statler Brothers.
And so are we, because we're going to show you part of their concert live tonight, and
we're going to show you some highlights with some of the festivities going on around here
today.
Yes, sir.
So stay tuned for the Statler Brothers' 20th annual Happy Birthday USA celebration.
Welcome back to the Statler Brothers Happy Birthday USA celebration from Stanton, Virginia.
Because back in 1970, the Statlers became the first group to organize and star in a
fundraising jamboree.
That's right.
They really were looking for a way to help out the local charities.
They also wanted to honor their fans, and they happened to be very patriotic guys.
So they came up with the Fourth of July bash.
It worked, and it's now in its 20th year.
Back looking back, the first year they had about 3,500 people there, and here are the
latest stats.
This year we have fans from 50 states, 17 foreign countries, and about 75,000 people
are on hand, according to the police.
Well, you know what, John Davis is out there amongst them right now.
Who do you have there, John?
Charlie, Laurie, and I have all sorts of people of all ages from all over the country, and
even Canada.
This guy right here, Tim, is from Canada.
Now, where are you from in Canada, Tim?
Western Canada, a province called Saskatchewan.
All right, now is this your first Statler Brothers Fourth of July picnic?
First time I've been to Happy Birthday USA, that's right.
Really?
Now, I hear you're a big Statler Brothers fan, right?
Well, I've been to a few shows before.
Interestingly, I was at four shows last weekend in the Pittsburgh area.
And you still made it down to Stanton.
Is it all you thought it would be?
Oh, and more.
It's terrific.
All right, thanks a lot.
Now, we have some people from Iowa over here.
Now, this is your 11th show?
Yes.
All right, this guy's shirt.
Take a look at this.
I married a Statler Brothers fan.
Now, I need to know, is it hard being married to a Statler fan?
It's pretty tough.
You have to put up with a lot of things to do that.
Are there pictures like all over the house and that?
Yes, they are.
They really are.
Up and down the walls and all around.
But you keep coming back.
Does it get better and better every year?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, we meet so many different friends and good friends out here.
It's really a lot of fun.
And the rain hasn't dampened your spirits, right?
No way.
All right, some people don't come from too far away.
They actually walk across the street.
These are Stantonians, I guess is what you're called, right?
What are your names?
Janet.
And Earl Downs.
Now, how many Statler Brothers 4th of July picnics have you been to?
This is our 20th.
20th.
What's it like for a person, for a Stantonian to have all these people come into town?
Is it fun or is it a bit of a hassle?
We thoroughly enjoy it.
We really have a good time.
We really have a lot of fun meeting a lot of new people every, every year.
So it's really been great.
Okay, were you afraid this one was going to get rained out?
We were afraid of it, but I think it's going to hold off and Miss Cobe will go.
Okay.
We have one last person here.
This young lady is 10 years old and you've been to every Statler picnic in the last 10
years, right?
Right.
All right, and you're having fun?
Okay.
Back to you, Charlie and Laurie Ann from the crowd.
Thanks, John.
Behave down there.
Well, the Happy Birthday USA celebration is held in Stanton because the Statlers love
it here and because they make it their home.
Renee Goodman tells us why.
Stanton, Virginia is one of the most historic cities in the USA.
It's been around since 1732, 257 years.
George Washington surveyed it and Thomas Jefferson was once county administrator.
Speaking of former presidents, Woodrow Wilson was born here.
The town is mighty proud to claim our country's 28th president as a native son.
His boyhood home on Coulter Street has been carefully restored and now it's one of the
top tourist attractions in the area.
Actually, the city's connection with national government goes way back.
For two days, Stanton was once the temporary capital of our country.
That was back during the Revolutionary War before America had a constitution.
This was the Capitol building.
It's now still in use as Trinity Episcopal Church.
It's one of many buildings in town that have been carefully preserved by folks around here
who are proud of Stanton's unique heritage.
Something new to see in Stanton depicts something very old, the Museum of American Frontier
Culture.
Visitors are able to slip into the 18th and 19th centuries through authentic working American
and Scotch-Irish farms.
Costumed interpreters demonstrate daily life the way it used to be.
This farm was brought to Virginia from Northern Ireland.
The walls are thick sandstone and the roofs are thatched and underlined with sod.
We have various outbuildings, which means that we have a separate building for our pig.
We have this whole building along here, which we can house our turf, which is our fuel source.
We can house our pony cart and our pony would be in this stall right here and our cows would
live in this stall at the far end.
That all allows the animals to live here and not in the house, which is kind of something
that tells us that these people were actually living probably a little bit higher in their
class structure than their average neighbor would have been.
This simplistic, traditional way of life is still valued by the folks who live in this
area.
In fact, four well-known guys find it so unique and laid back that they decided to keep this
their home.
John Davis has that story.
For years, the children of Stanton attended the Beverly Manor Elementary School, but in
1974 the school closed down and by 1980 it had fallen into a state of disrepair.
And it was during the Fourth of July celebration that year that the Statlers rode by in their
float, noticed the for sale sign and decided to do something about it.
After much renovation, it has now become their world headquarters and now this old school
house has become one of the most popular tourist attractions here in Stanton.
What used to be the library is now a conference room and classrooms have been turned into
offices.
But downstairs is where fans can see memorabilia from their favorite quartet.
Harold, Don, Phil and Jimmy gave us a tour of their old schoolhouse.
I don't guess I ever walked down here that I don't look at this old, the very first sound
system and it had two speakers.
It all went into those little cabinet there.
Thirty-two watt amp I believe.
And we used to take it out and set it up in churches and they still complained it was
too loud.
MR.
HURST It's quite a change from today's sound system.
MR.
HURST You betcha it is.
This is a wall of awards and citations, there's a speeding citation right there.
But these are just things that have been given to us from the state of Alabama, the state
of Kentucky, the state of Indiana.
See we're honorary highway patrolmen in Missouri right here, but they'll still give you a speed
indicative if you're going over the speed limit.
MR.
HURST Over on this wall we're talking more awards again.
MR.
HURST This is a glove of mine that, it was back in 84 when Michael Jackson I believe was
using a glove when he would come out and perform.
And so this is an old dirty work glove that I performed in one night on the Music City
News Awards.
And there it is, enshrined forever.
Of course all these things you see here are not possible without the fans.
And this is what we call our fan room.
Come on in here we want to show you.
This is the room where we honor our fans.
These are things in here that you see that they've made us and sent to us over the years.
Interesting things.
MR.
HURST This is a unique piece right here.
This is a bean guitar.
And what happened here really was the guy sent me to the store to buy a milk cow and
I came back with this bean guitar.
The Statlers also restored one of the classrooms back to its original condition.
MR.
HURST Classroom.
I always get to feel a little bit bad when I come in here because we redid this so well
that it still smells like a classroom.
We have pulled down maps.
We have problems on the board which you used to think how hard those problems were and
now they're real easy.
MR.
HURST I tell you work those problems while I tell
them about the desk.
MR.
HURST Okay go ahead.
I can handle it.
MR.
HURST We've found books from 1948 and 49.
We found grade books.
We found old McGuffey's readers.
This is back when you could still have a Bible on the teacher's desk.
The little bell, everybody remembers those?
There it goes.
Everything.
We found all these things in the school when we remodeled and we tried to make this exactly
as we remembered it.
See how Harold's doing with the problem.
What do you got so far?
Let me see.
MR.
HURST I can't read.
Is that add or subtract?
I can't read.
MR.
HURST It's been so long.
But I think those are right.
I can't read.
They're almost as hard now as they were then.
MR.
HURST It's multiplication terms that way.
MR.
HURST Oh okay.
All right we'll give it one of them.
We're all right.
But it's the school's gymnasium that holds the fondest memories for the brothers because
this is where they won their first talent contest.
MR.
HURST That's been about years ago and we knew about three songs at the time.
One of them was, now let us have a little talk with Jesus.
I don't think it sounded that good but in my memory it sounded even better.
MS.
HURST Folks here in Virginia are known for their
southern hospitality and there's a reason for that.
They really are quick to invite you to their home so you can pull out a chair and set a
spell and we did.
Yesterday morning the Statler brothers talked with us at Boxley Farms, the beautiful home
of Harold Reed.
MR.
HURST What is it about the Statler brothers fans?
It keeps bringing them back every year.
I mean you have such a loyal following.
MR.
HURST They're the best fans in the world to start with and I say that in all sincerity.
They really are very loyal.
They care.
When we hurt, they hurt.
When we're having a good time, they're having a good time and they're always right there.
MR.
HURST They actually get acquainted with each other and they just have a big time every
year when they come.
It's like a big family thing and then more people get to know others and it just kind
of snowballs.
MS.
HURST Most of your fans have known you for quite a long time but when you get new fans
and they come, what do they want to know about you all?
What do they ask about you?
MR.
HURST The same things that the fans of 20 years ago wanted to know.
How did you get your name and how many kids you got and all that kind of stuff.
Same things.
MS.
HURST Do you ever get tired of answering those questions?
MR.
HURST Not really, no.
MR.
HURST We give new answers every year.
It keeps it from being boring for us.
MR.
HURST What's the answer this year?
MR.
HURST We sit down in January each year and make up his whole new list.
MR.
HURST We did a song one time on an album called The Stoutler Brothers Quiz where we asked in
the verses all the most asked questions and in the chorus we gave the answers to it so
we covered that.
We covered a number of years ago on an album.
MR.
HURST What kind of citizens of Stanton are you guys?
Do you sort of hide away when you come home or are you just out?
MR.
HURST Not necessarily.
You go to the store with the wife and all that kind of stuff.
You go to the doctor's and wherever you've got to go you do what you've got to do.
MR.
HURST We're involved in civic things like a little league baseball or what have you.
We try to be as normal as we possibly can.
MS.
HURST Do you behave more here than you do on the road?
MR.
HURST What do you think we do on the road?
MS.
HURST My imagination is running wild.
MR.
HURST I think we're all around nice guys.
We're just really good guys.
What do you think?
MR.
HURST Solid.
Don't you think?
MS.
HURST Yeah.
I guess I do.
MR.
HURST Do you still think we're country music trash?
Is that what you're thinking?
MS.
HURST Something like that.
MR.
HURST How often do you get to enjoy your home here in Stanton?
I mean you're on the road quite a bit during the course of a year.
MS.
HURST We cut back a whole lot in the last few years.
We used to work a good deal more than we do and we consciously cut back and we work about
no more than ten days a month.
And we take off the month of July for vacation and we take off the month of December for
Christmas and we lay back.
We keep back.
MR.
HURST Is that why you have your kids working now?
MS.
HURST Yeah, exactly.
That's exactly right.
There's as many people here that I try to have as many people working here as possible
so that I don't have to.
It's a master plan what it is.
So far it's working.
MR.
HURST How often does the group take precedence over the individual families?
Does that happen often?
MS.
HURST At Christmas we take precedence over the individual families.
Always.
MS.
HURST Shame on you.
MS.
HURST I'm sorry.
It was so obvious I couldn't help it.
MR.
HURST But you really do have to be dedicated to each other to last as long as you have
and so there has to be quite a few times when the group is more important than the family.
MS.
HURST Yeah, I've heard those times.
We found years ago you have to plan your business schedule of course but then you also have
to plan your leisure schedule if you're going to get it in.
So you say, well for this week we're taking off and we're not going to the office and
we're not going to do anything.
We're going to do things, family, we're going on vacation, what have you, or just not do
anything.
And then we plan it that way and you make yourself adhere to those schedules and it
works.
MR.
HURST Plus the families, I think each and every individual family understands that we've
sent enough notes at the bank for each other that we have to depend on each other.
You can't afford to get mad and neglect the other guys because when the payment comes
due you're in trouble.
It's a good way to keep the group together.
MR.
HURST So you mentioned all your fans, the Stathler brothers fans.
If you had a chance to meet with each one of them individually, what would you want
to tell them?
MS.
HURST Oh boy.
MR.
HURST Tell them how much we appreciate sincerely their loyalty and stick them with us through
the years.
Apparently we're giving them something they enjoy and Lord knows they're giving us something
that we enjoy.
It's that loyalty and that keep coming backness that they give us.
MS.
HURST Now we have to tell you when we got to Harold's
house that day he wasn't quite ready.
He was wearing pants but no shirt.
So I thought I'd take a moment here to describe his chest for you.
MR.
HURST No, no, no, no, no, his dog's sable.
I'll tell you that much as a base mark, you know it's Harold's dog.
Hey don't go away because up next we have highlights of all the Fourth of July activities
here in Staten.
Well there are lots of reasons why the Stadler Brothers Happy Birthday USA celebration is
unique but I guess the biggest one is this is a free concert.
MS.
HURST It's a gift.
Let's call it a gift.
Well the Stadler Brothers of course provide the music and the local charities have booths
around the carnival area which is just over here and they get to keep the money they raise.
MR.
HURST And the end result is a Fourth of July festival
that makes everybody happy.
It all started on Monday afternoon.
MS.
HURST Mama, we're out here.
MR.
HURST The Stadler's Happy Birthday celebration is one of the few concerts in the country
where you bring your own seat, to sit on that is, and hundreds of people line up with their
loungers the day before so they can be first in line.
MS.
HURST This highly complicated and strategic maneuver is all carried out under the watchful
eye of Staten's finest.
But Police Chief Butch Wells says the thousands of fans who show up make his job a little
easier.
MR.
HURST It's a peaceful type crowd.
I think it has a lot to do with the Stadler Brothers, the kind of following that they
have.
It's very obvious it's a family-oriented type gathering out here.
We pray that you would guide us in all that we do and think and say.
Later in the day the chairs come onto the field for another event you don't usually
see at a concert, the Vespers service.
After Vespers comes the event the crowd has been waiting for.
At midnight the gates are open and the party begins.
And when all the chairs are in place the fans feel the wait was worth it.
And believe it or not, when the chairs are in place the fans go home with the confidence
that their chairs have the very best in police protection.
The celebration started in earnest today with an early morning fun run.
The rest of the day has been filled with music, laughter, great food and parades.
And the pride that comes with being an American on this very special holiday.
Get back to what we saw earlier.
I think you'll find that all those well-protected chairs are pretty much filled up right now.
I think so and Renee Goodman is in the crowd right now.
How are things Renee?
Hi, yes we've got some folks to talk with.
First I've got a lady that's actually from Stanton and her name is Punky and she's been
here through all 20 of these shows.
But Punky you've got a pretty good reason to be here all this time right?
Yes, I've known the boys and the family quite some time and they do so much for our whole
community here.
They're special individuals.
I guess I really am a really close friend of their sister Harold, Don, sister Faye.
And they're just super boys.
They just have done so much for our whole community.
Several years ago I opened up my house for about nine people just because they had no
place to stay over before.
So that's neat.
I just really feel like it's just a special thing and I'll continue to come in 20 more
years.
Alright and Mike here also has been here through all 20 of the shows.
Mike are you ready for this to get started?
Oh yeah, we've been waiting for all year long.
And you got here about midnight to set some chairs up right?
Yeah we came early yesterday morning and stayed all day until midnight last night when they
let us in.
I hope you have a great time and I guess the show's ready to start Lori Ann and Charlie.
Well you know the folks have raved a lot of things today including a lot of rainfall.
We were involved in that a little bit this morning during the parade.
And by the way we want to say hello to the Stanton Venture Club.
They met our float.
That's right.
They kept a drive for us as well.
Well I'll tell you what, the Stadler Brothers are backstage.
It has stopped raining.
They're very excited getting ready to come out.
The opening act is on right now and it's really neat.
The Stadler Brothers had the choice a long time ago of leaving Stanton and going to Nashville
where the country music business is.
They decided to remain where they were raised.
They love it here.
The crowd loves them as you can tell.
Oh I think they're going to love it.
They're going to love it.
That's what we're going to do.
We're going to sing it together.
I'm going to count to three and then we'll all say it together.
One.
Two.
Three.
Hi.
Oh, that'll wake him up in the backyard.
I would think so.
That sure we will.
Oh, I remember
They will join our hearts eternally
And this moment I'll always remember
All the words that mean so much to me
And you're my only love, my only love
And I just thank the Lord above for you each day
I can't believe the way I feel
You're so special, you're so real
And I know you'll always be my only love
Listen closely to the words I'm saying
I know I've never meant them more
For your love only I've been praying
You and I are what this love is for
And you're my only love, my only love
And I just thank the Lord above for you each day
I can't believe the way I feel
You're so special, you're so real
And I know you'll always be my only love
I know you'll always be my only love
I'm dreaming of you
And that makes me a little blue, blue, blue
Just a name I remember
Just someone I used to know
Someone I've never quite got over
A long, long time ago
I'm a little blue
Wishing I could be with you
Sometime in Georgia I'm dreaming of you
And that makes me a little blue, blue, blue
Don't wipe away my memories
By making all my dreams come true
The way it was always seems better
So let me keep on missing you
I'm a little blue
Wishing I could be with you
Sometime in Georgia I'm dreaming of you
And that makes me a little blue, blue, blue
Sing it, girls
I'm a little blue
Sing it, girls
I'm a little blue
Sing it, girls
I'm a little blue
Sing it, girls
I'm a little blue
Sing it, girls
it will do something to you.
This is a great salute to those who lost their lives.
This song is a small salute in our way
that we would like to remember them.
["I Saw Her From a Distance"]
I saw her from a distance
as she walked up to the wall.
In her hands she held some flower
as her tears began to fall.
And she took out pen and paper
as to trace her memories.
And she looked up to heaven
and the word she said were these.
She said, Lord, my boy was special
and he meant so much to me.
And oh, I'd love to see him
just one more time you see.
All I have are the memories
and the moments to recall.
Oh, Lord, could you tell him
he's more than a name on a wall?
She said he really missed the family
and being home on Christmas Day.
And he died, forgot the country
in a place so far away.
I remember just a little boy
playing war since he was three.
But Lord, this time I know
he's not coming home to me.
She said, Lord, my boy was special
and he meant so much to me.
And oh, I'd love to see him
just one more time you see.
All I have are the memories
and the moments to recall.
Oh, Lord, could you tell him
he's more than a name on a wall?
Oh, Lord, could you tell him
he's more than a name on a wall?
I knew where the night was going,
but I first saw her smile.
But this title, get to know your routine,
takes a little while.
We'll talk about fads and fashions,
that's a good place to start.
And I know we wind up talking about
our astrological chart.
So come on, let's get started
if we're gonna break my heart.
Let's begin with I don't know you that well.
And move on to I really better not.
By midnight we should be closing off soon.
And we could get started
if we're gonna break my heart.
Just a little more conversation,
cause we're playing by the rules.
We'll tell each other how some other
made us feel like fools.
Now here's where we gotta go easy,
so we won't upset the guards.
We'll talk about books and movies,
and Norman Rockwell art.
By then we should be ready
to start to break my heart.
Let's begin with I don't know you that well.
And move on to I really better not.
By midnight we should be closing off soon.
And we could get started
if we're gonna break my heart.
By midnight we should be closing off soon.
And we could get started
if we're gonna break my heart.
I keep hearing your concern about my heart,
and I'm having it.
All that box you're giving me is
boxes I guess.
If I were walking in your shoes
I wouldn't worry now.
When you and your friends are worried about me
I'm having lots of fun.
Count the flowers on the wall
that don't bother me at all.
Laying solitaire to dawn with potato 51.
Oh, the cigarettes at the box you kept today,
in the room, I don't tell me I've nothing to do.
It's good to see you, I must go,
I know I'm in the right.
Anyway, my eyes are not accustomed to this life,
and my shoes are not accustomed to the sun-dried grease.
I must go back to my room and paint my day complete.
Count the flowers on the wall
that don't bother me at all.
Laying solitaire to dawn with potato 51.
Oh, the cigarettes at the box you kept today,
in the room, I don't tell me I've nothing to do.
I don't tell me I've nothing to do.
We have been singing country music now for quite a few years,
and we're very proud of the fact of keeping it country,
the songs, the sounds, the instruments.
And so very often it is the instrument
that makes country music country,
that lends that final country flavor to a song that says country.
And tonight you're going to see this,
ultimately demonstrated here on this stage,
because tonight on this next song,
Harold is going to play the fiddle.
Wait just a minute, bud.
I might have pulled out the wrong thing.
That's happened to me before.
But you do still fiddle, don't you?
Yeah, but not while I got the dobro on, I don't.
Somebody could get hurt and it might be me.
But the last year, best I remember, you played the dobro.
Last year I fiddled a little too,
but I don't know how you found out about it.
Whatever it is you'd like to play now would be a great time to do it.
How about the only thing I know?
I love that one. Play that. All right.
Music.
Music lovers, what do you think?
I love you.
I got over Charlie Thompson, Goldie Johnson, Lord, they done me wrong.
I took it hard with Peggy Harper.
She hurt me bad, but not for long.
There's just one I remember makes me feel funny downside.
I'd trade them all for just an hour of Susan when she tried.
Oh, there's never been a woman who could make me weak inside.
And you can be what I needed like Susan when she tried.
It gets worse in the summer when the nights are hot and long.
And it's May and December when they play those Christmas songs.
So if you ask me, I don't tell you that you're a sweet bottomed daughter of mine.
Oh, there's never been one better than Susan when she tried.
Oh, there's never been a woman who could make me weak inside.
And you can be what I needed like Susan when she tried.
Oh, there's never been a woman who could make me weak inside.
And you can be what I needed like Susan when she tried.
Oh, there's never been one better than Susan when she tried.
If she's guilty so am I. If she's forgotten by the pride.
She's lonely, I don't know why, if she's guilty so am I.
If she's changed, I'll take the blame. If somehow she's not the same.
If there's a distant look in her eye, and she's lost the will to try.
If she saves her, although there days seems to have lost her back this way.
If the truth comes harder, they'll buy. If she's guilty, so am I.
If she's forgotten by the pride. If she's lonely, I don't know why.
If she's guilty, so am I. If she's guilty, so am I.
If she's forgotten by the pride. If she's lonely, I don't know why.
If she's guilty, so am I. If she's forgotten by the pride.
If she's lonely, I don't know why. If she's forgotten by the pride.
If she's lonely, I don't know why. If she's guilty, so am I.
If she's guilty, so am I.
If she's forgotten by the pride. So am I, so am I, so am I.
I
Applause
Music
Pretty man, bring my baby back to me
Shine your light in her eyes and make her remember
What I told her when I started to
Be real close company and when you see her
Looking up, shine her home
Two weeks ago at midnight she packed her bag to leave
She said she'd stayed in one love way too long, too long
I had to let her go but Lord I hope she knows
It's lonely here in the moonlight with her gone
But it's something new
Pretty man, bring my baby back to me
Shine your light in her eyes and make her remember
Just what I told her
Moon, starlight moon, keep her real close company
And when you see her looking up, shine her home
Okay boys, big now
Music
Don't they sound good?
Applause
Moon, pretty moon, bring my baby back to me
Shine your light in her eyes and make her remember
Just what I told her
Moon, starlight moon, keep her real close company
And when you see her looking up, shine her home
Moon, starlight moon, keep her real close company
And when you see her looking up, shine her home
Shine her home
Music
Sunday morning, studios, chapters one through fifteen
Five paper penny holders, lucky strike green
Laptops, stock tops, studio bank, or Pepsi please
Oh, do you remember these?
Cigar fans on your hands, your daddy's socks rolled out
Six old lugs, maybe eight cats and lops that flattened down
Boogie stars on dicks, got tops and kickers to your knees
Oh, do you remember these?
Do it a little now
Hip parade, grape charade, Sadie Hawkins dance
Petals, butt shoes, duck tail hair, beggin' your fans
Howdy doody, tooty, groody, to see but the microphone
Oh, do you remember those?
And old James Dean, he was beat, silly movies were taboo
The senior mom, Judy Small, rockin' the way
Dark as the stars in your eyes, that's daddy for the peace
Oh, do you remember these?
Boogie man, lemonade stand, take a new time for the sounds
Indian burn and wait your turn and four valve holes your house
Cigarette loads and secret codes, and save the luckiest stars
Can you remember them?
Taboan neck shirts and cleaners skirts and crinnell and petticoats
Mom's the word, a dirty bird in a double root beer float
Moonhub caps and loud heel taps, he's a real gone cat
Oh, do you remember that?
Dancing close to the Lorontotes and cooties in her hair
Captain Midnight, old routine, and the wind but you count it clear
Charles Atlas, course Roy, white resorts, and only to shut a nose
Oh, do you remember those?
And again, like the devil's charm, frog in your arm
Love mufflers, pitchers, woo, going steady
Veronica, Betty, white buns, and blue suede shoes
Knock, knock, Joe, who's there?
Dewey, Dewey, who?
Do we remember these? Yes, we do
Do we, do we remember these?
Oh, Elizabeth
I long to see your bright embrace
I long to touch your lips
I long to feel your warm embrace
Don't know if I could ever live my life without you
Oh, Elizabeth, I'm sure missing you
I remember when we shared a life together
You gave me strength and love and life that felt brand new
But you're so far away, I have to say
I'm feeling blue, and oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Oh, Elizabeth
I long to see your pretty face
I long to touch your lips
I long to feel your warm embrace
Don't know if I could ever live my life without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Well, it's been said before
That I've caused many heartaches
And I wonder if that heart's really true
But being right or wrong
It feels my heart will surely break
And oh, Elizabeth
I hope you understand
Oh, Elizabeth
I long to see your pretty face
I long to touch your lips
I long to feel your warm embrace
Don't know if I could ever live my life without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live my life without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
Oh, Elizabeth
I'm sure missing you
Don't know if I could ever live without you
When the roll is called up yonder
I'll be there
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun
Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care
Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done
And the roll is called up yonder
I'll be there
When the roll is called up yonder
I'll be there
When the roll is called up yonder
I'll be there
When the roll is called up yonder
When the road is called up yonder,
When the road is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Some day, Lordy, when this life is over, I'll fly away
To the home of God's celestial shore, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, oh, glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, have a loo-yip-bip-bap, I'll fly away.
When the shadows of this life have grown, I'll fly away.
Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, oh, glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, have a loo-yip-bip-bap, I'll fly away.
Just a few more weary days and then I'll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, oh, glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, have a loo-yip-bip-bap, I'll fly away.
Oh, glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, have a loo-yip-bip-bap, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, oh, glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, have a loo-yip-bip-bap, I'll fly away.
Oh, glory, I'll fly away. When I die, have a loo-yip-bip-bap, I'll fly away.
She was standing in the crowd, all alone and looking pretty,
Listening to the music that we played.
She walked up and whispered, I'd lean down and listen
To the request that she made.
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
She asked those sleeping to believe.
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
And would you do it one more time with me?
According to border and ocean to ocean,
I'd still look for her every place.
Chasing the sunshine, each and every night,
I'm searching every crowd for a place.
She was gone just as quick as the song that she had for
Taking my sunshine away.
But someday when I'll finally look down and see her,
I know just what I'm gonna say.
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
Do you know what your smile could mean?
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
And it looks like you're always gonna be.
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
Do you know what your smile could mean?
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
And would you do it one more time with me?
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
Shine!
Applause
We ain't even started yet.
Applause
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
Do you know what your smile could mean?
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
And it looks like you're always gonna be.
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
Do you know what your smile could mean?
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
And would you do it one more time with me?
Do you know, do you know you're my sunshine?
Applause
I'll go to my grave loving you, loving you, loving you.
I hear all I see loving you, loving you, loving you.
And sure I never get to leave the end, it won't end.
But I'll go to my grave loving you, loving you, loving you.
Oh, to take this place forever, there's nothing I wouldn't do.
I'd prove to you, tell me what a man really is.
And I'll go to my grave loving you, loving you, loving you.
I'd work day and night loving you, loving you, loving you.
And when my heart is full, I'll go to my grave loving you, loving you.
I'll go to my grave loving you, loving you.
Sing it in guitar.
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down.
Do it again.
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down.
When my heart is full, I'll go to my grave loving you, loving you.
Down, down, down, down, down.
I want to thank you, world, for what you've made me love.
I'm just one woman, one small room that sings your songs.
I know that there are others who have certain bigger ways.
All I can do is sing your music all my days.
It makes me grateful just to know the world that I can be.
You can compare my spot beside the other green.
I'm an outer place here in this world, I know that I'd be lost.
I thank you, world, for letting me contribute to the cause.
Everybody clap your hands. Now watch my brothers. Everybody.
You may not understand the likes of the world I've just stood. Standing on that stage to me is just as good.
I may never be a heavy hearted great. You've given me the strength to stand for my way.
For the part I sing is truly part of me. And it doesn't smart to lock me of their hearts and teeth.
And it doesn't fart to blow all that sweet applause. Now thank you, world, for letting me contribute to the cause.
Oh, you've given me a place that I call mine. Boy, I stepped out of it and I've gotten out of line.
Sometimes I sing your music slightly out of key. And I know I'm making order for the other green.
Oh, tonight I've done my part for the very best I could. And every one of you has made us feel so good.
And without a place here in this world, I know that I'd be lost. I thank you, world, for letting me contribute to the cause.
One more. Thank you. That's it.
It makes me grateful just to know that no one like to be unique and fill the spot beside the other green. And without a place here in this world, I know that I'd be lost.
Thank you, world, for letting me contribute to the cause. Without a place here in this world, I know that I'd be lost.
Thank you, world, for letting me contribute to the cause. Thank you, world, for letting me contribute to the cause.
Thank you so much. We appreciate it. We love every one of you.
Before we go tonight, we do want to say we've got so many people to thank. We have a committee sitting over here, the Happy Birthday USA, Inc.
These folks do the work. They let us shine one night a year, but they do the work. We thank them. We appreciate everything they do.
It started out as a handful. It's grown to this committee who works year-round.
So many people we can thank. The police department, we can thank everything. When this thing started 20 years ago, it was a dream.
And now here it is 20 years later, and we see all these people. You came, it rained, threatened us all day.
And they stun us for years, as a matter of fact. I think it's rained more times than it hasn't. But you've been here. We love you. We appreciate it.
This morning, it's grown also, as we said earlier tonight, the Nashville Network aired part of the show.
This morning, Good Morning America was here on this stage, and they covered Stanton, and they've covered the celebration. We appreciate that.
We started the day off with a song this morning that we'd like to end the day with.
This is our ending for tonight, and please stay then for the fireworks.
From the mountains, to the prairie, to the ocean, white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home.
America, America, God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
From the mountains, to the prairie, to the ocean, white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home.
God bless America, my home sweet home.
Applause
Music
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Music
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