Original subtitles

I'M STANDING BY THE RIVER...

HI, I'M BILL GAITHER AND WELCOME TO

AN AMAZING JOURNEY INTO THE STORY AND MUSIC OF

MY GOOD FRIEND, GEORGE YOUNCE.

UP ABOVE MY HEAD, THERE'S A MUSIC IN THE AIR...

IN ANY GENRE OF MUSIC, THERE ARE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS

WHO EMERGE AS DOMINANT PERSONALITIES.

PEOPLE WHO MAKE AN IMPACT THAT FAR OUTLIVES

THEIR TIME ON EARTH.

COUNTLESS GOSPEL MUSIC LOVERS WILL REMEMBER GEORGE YOUNCE

AS THE GREATEST BASS SINGER OF ALL TIME.

BUT UPON A CLOSER LOOK AT GEORGE'S LIFE,

THERE'S A HAPPY RHYTHM KEEPS A ROCKIN' AND A ROLLIN'

I CAN FEEL IT MOVIN' WHEN I SING THIS SONG...

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT WAS FOR ME

TO ENJOY A FORTY YEAR FRIENDSHIP WITH THIS MAN.

THIS JOY GENERATOR WHOSE LIFE AND MUSIC

MADE A UNIQUE CONNECTION TO EVERYONE WHO MET HIM.

AND DID HE EVER KNOW HOW TO TELL A STORY.

DAD SAID, WILLY, I'VE HEARD SO MUCH OF PITCH SINGING

HE WAS LOVED BY CHILDREN, ADMIRED BY OLD PEOPLE

AND CHERISHED BY EVERYONE.

SIMPLY PUT, HIS LIFE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

AND SOMEDAY I'LL SING WITH THE ANGELS ABOVE.

GEORGE OFTEN DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS A SIMPLE COUNTRY BOY

AND HIS DOWN TO EARTH NATURE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY

A VITAL PART OF WHO HE WAS. BUT HE WAS FAR FROM ORDINARY.

THANKS TO CALVARY, I AM NOT THE MAN THAT I USED TO BE.

TODAY WE ARE GOING TO REVISIT THE LIFE OF A GIANT.

A GIFTED PERFORMER ON STAGE WHO ALSO FOUND JUST AS MUCH

SATISFACTION OFFSTAGE SURROUNDED BY HIS LOVED ONES.

A MAN BIGGER THAN HIS BIG VOICE, WHOSE LIFE COMMUNICATED

A FAR MORE IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAN THE SUM

OF THE SONGS HE SANG.

TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE LEGAC Y OF MY GOOD FRIEND,

GEORGE YOUNCE.

THIS OLD HOUSE ONCE KNEW MY CHILDREN,

THIS OLD HOUSE ONCE KNEW MY WIFE,

THIS OLD HOUSE WAS HOME AND COMFORT

AS WE FOUGHT THE STORMS OF LIFE:

THIS OLD HOUSE ONCE RANG WITH LAUGHTER,

THIS OLD HOUSE HEARD MANY SHOUTS,

NOW SHE TREMBLES IN THE DARKNESS

WHEN THE NIGHT WIND WALKS ABOUT.

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO MORE:

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE SHINGLES,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE FLOOR,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO OIL THE HINGES

NOR TO MEND NO WINDOW PANE:

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

I'M A GETTING READY TO MEET THE SAINTS.

THIS OLD HOUSE IS A GETTING SHAKY,

THIS OLD HOUSE IS A GETTING OLD,

THIS OLD HOUSE LETS IN THE RAIN,

THIS OLD HOUSE LETS IN THE COLD,

ON MY KNEES I'M A GETTING CHILLY

BUT I FEEL NO FEAR OR PAIN,

'CAUSE I SEE AN ANGEL PEEKIN' THRO'

A BROKEN WINDOW PANE.

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO MORE:

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE SHINGLES,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE FLOOR,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO OIL THE HINGES

NOR TO MEND NO WINDOW PANE:

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

I'M A GETTING READY TO MEET THE SAINTS.

NOW MY OLD HOUND DOG LIES A SLEEPIN',

HE DON'T KNOW I'M GONNA LEAVE,

ELSE HE'D WAKE UP BY THE FIREPLACE

AND HE'D SIT THERE AND HOWL AND GRIEVE:

BUT MY HUNTIN' DAYS ARE OVER,

AIN'T A GONNA HUNT THE COON NO MORE,

GABRI'L DONE BRO'T IN THE CHARIOT

WHEN THE WIND BLEW DOWN THE DOOR.

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO MORE:

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE SHINGLES,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE FLOOR,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO OIL THE HINGES

NOR TO MEND NO WINDOW PANE:

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

YEAH.

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

I'M A GETTING READY TO MEET THE SAINTS.

GLEN PAYNE: WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN,

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN

LORD, I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN.

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN,

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN.

OH LORD, I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN.

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO MORE:

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE SHINGLES,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE FLOOR,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO OIL THE HINGES

NOR TO MEND NO WINDOW PANE:

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

YEAH.

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

I'M A GETTING READY TO MEET THE SAINTS.

YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH.

BORN ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 1 99930, IN PATTERSON,

NORTH CAROLINA, GEORGE WAS THE YOUNGEST OF FIVE CHILDREN.

AND WHEN HE WAS STILL A KID, GEORGE FELL IN LOVE WITH

GOSPEL QUARTET MUSIC.

SOME BOYS WHERE I LIVED, SOME NEIGHBORS, INVITED

ME TO GO TO GAMEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, TO SEE THE HARMONEERS.

WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HARMONEERS WERE, YOU KNOW?

BUT I WENT WITH THEM, SAT ON THE FRONT ROW.

SEALES HILTON, BOBBY STRICKTON, FRED C. MAPLES WALKED OUT

ON STAGE THAT DAY WITH THEIR PIANO PLAYER, CHARLES KEY.

AND I THOUGHT I DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN.

WHEN I GOT THROUGH MY FRONT OF MY SHIRT WAS WET

WHERE I SLOBBERED ON MYSELF. I NEVER DID CLOSE MY MOUTH.

AND I KNEW THEN THAT THAT'S WHAT I WANT

TO DO IF SOMEHOW THE LORD WILL LET ME.

I WENT TO GLEN'S HOMETOWN THE OTHER DAY WITH HIM

AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

AND HE SHOWED ME WHERE HE GREW UP, AND I HAD A GREAT DAY

WITH GLEN THAT DAY.

I NEVER HAD BEEN TO HIS HOMETOWN, BUT WHEN

WE WERE LEAVING, THERE WAS A BUILDING

DOWN IN THERE AND I SAID, GLEN WHAT IS THAT?

HE SHOWED ME WHERE HE WENT TO SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING.

HE SAID, THAT'S A NURSING HOME.

AND GLEN SAID, I USED TO SING THERE WHEN I WAS A KID.

SO I SAID, LET'S GO BY.

WE WENT BY AND GLEN, THERE WASN'T NOBODY IN THE LOBBY

BUT THERE WAS A NURSE SITTING IN THE HALL

AND GLEN WALKED UP TO HER AND SAID,

DOYOU KNOW WHO I AM?

AND SHE TOOK HIS HAND AND PATTED IT AND SAID,

NO, HONEY, BUT IF YOU GO UP TO THE FRONT DESK,

THEY CAN TELL YOU.

GOD'S CHILDREN WERE SLAVES IN EG YPT LAND

SO GOD TOOK MOSES BY THE HAND

HE SAID MOSES TELL OL' PHARAOH TO SET 'EM FREE

BUT MOSES WANTED A WAY TO GET OUT

CAUSE IN HIS MIND HE'S BEGINNIN' TO DOUBT

HE SAID LORD OL' PHARAOH HE AIN'T A GONNA LISTEN TO ME

NOW THE LORD SAID SON THROW DOWN THAT ROD

SO MOSES DID AND HE CRIED TO GOD

CAUSE IT TURNED TO A SNAKE AS EVIL AND WICKED AS SIN

THEN HE CRIED AGAIN WITH AN AWFUL WAIL

THE LORD SAID SEIZE HIM BY THE TAIL

OLD MOSES DID AND IT TURNED TO A ROD AGAIN

GOD PROMISED TO LEAD HIS CHILDREN OUT OF BOND AGE

HE SAID HE'D FREE THEM FROM PHARAOH'S EVIL HAND

HE PROMISED TO GUIDE AND PROTECT THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY

AND LEAD THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND

WELL THE LORD SAID MOSES I'VE GOT THE POWER

AN I'LL BE WITH YOU EVERY HOUR

GO TELL PHARAOH TO SET MY CHILDREN FREE

WELL MOSES DID BUT THE LORD HELPED OUT

HE SENT A PLAGUE TO THE LAND ABOUT

SO OL' PHARAOH TOLD HIM TO GO AND LET HIM BE

WELL THEY STARTED OUT WITH A CLOUD THAT DAY

AND A FIRE BY NIGHT TO LEAD THE WAY

BUT OL' PHARAOH SUDDENLY DECIDED TO CHANGE HIS MIND

SO HE GATHERED TOGETHER HIS SOLDIER BAND

GOT ALL THEM CHARIOTS THROUGHOUT THE LAND

SAID I'LL LET THEM ISRAELITES GO SOME OTHER TIME

GOD PROMISED TO LEAD HIS CHILDREN OUT OF BOND AGE

HE SAID HE'D FREE THEM FROM PHARAOH'S EVIL HAND

HE PROMISED TO GUIDE AND PROTECT THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY

AND LEAD THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND

WELL THEY CAME TO THE BANKS OF THE OCEAN BLUE

TURNED TO MOSES AND SAID WHAT'D WE DO

AND OL' MOSES FELL ON HIS KNEES THERE IN THE SAND

WELL THE LORD SAID MOSES TRUST IN GOD

ALL YA GOTTA DO IS RAISE UP THAT ROD

AND OVER THOSE WATERS STRETCH FORTH YOUR HAND

WELL MOSES FOLLOWED THE LORD'S COMMAND

THE WATERS PARTED AND THERE IN THE SAND

THEY SAW A PATH THAT LED TO THE OTHER SHORE

WELL THE GROUND WAS DRY AND THEY PASSED ON THROUGH

AND OLD PHARAOH'S ARMY THOUGHT THEY WOULD TO

BUT THE WATERS FELL THEY AIN'T NEVER BEEN SEEN NO MORE

GOD PROMISED TO LEAD HIS CHILDREN OUT OF BOND AGE

HE SAID HE'D FREE THEM FROM PHARAOH'S EVIL HAND

HE PROMISED TO GUIDE AND PROTECT THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY

AND LEAD THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND

AND LEAD THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND.

GEORGE YOUNCE.

GEORGE LEARNED SHAPE NOTE SINGING AT THE STAMPS

BAXTER SCHOOL OF MUSIC WHEN HE WAS JUST A TEENAGER

AND HE GAINED EXPERIENCE WITH HIS FIRST QUARTET AS THEIR

LEAD SINGER UNTIL HIS VOICE CHANGED.

BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS, LEROY ABERNATHY SAID,

GEORGE, BE A SINGER WITH A LOW VOICE.

AND I THINK BEING ABLE TO STARTING OUT SINGING LEAD IN A

QUARTET, THE LEAD SINGER I WAS ABLE TO TAKE A LEAD

AND SING LIKE A LEAD SINGER IN A LITTLE LOWER RANGE.

SO, A FEW PEOPLE HELPED ME IN THAT WAY.

NOW I'M A CHILD WITH A HEAVENLY HOME.

MY HOLY FATHER, WELL HE'S MADE ME HIS OWN.

AND I'M WASHED BY HIS BLOOD AND I'M CLOTHED IN HIS LOVE

AND SOMEDAY I'LL SING WITH THE ANGELS ABOVE.

OH, YES, OH, YES, I'M A CHILD OF THE KING...

THIS IS NOT FOR ME.

I'M SERVING THREE OR FOUR OTHER PEOPLE

SHE'S EATING MORE THAN I AM.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST, WHAT WE WOULD CALL

PROFESSIONAL, QUARTET?

THE WEATHERFORDS AND THEY HAD A GREAT QUARTET.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LILY WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST

FEMALE SINGERS TO BLEND WITH MEN

AND MAKE MEN SOUND GOOD.

WHEN WE DID RADIO PROGRAMS IN FORT LANE,

WE HAD A 8: 1 8 AND A 1 0: 1 8 THAT MORNING, EVERY MORNING.

BUT WHEN WE'D GO OUT AT NIGHT

TO DO CONCERTS, THE PEOPLE WOULD COME IN

AND WHEN WE WALKED ON THE STAGE AND LILY STARTED SINGING,

PEOPLE WERE, BILL, ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED

TO KNOW IT WAS A WOMAN SINGING.

BECAUSE SHE SOUNDED AS MUCH LIKE A MAN.

IT SOUNDED LIKE A MALE QUARTET DIDN'T IT?

YEAH.

NOW DIDYOU SING WITH THEM WHEN GLEN

FINALLY CAME TO SING WITH THEM.

NO, I HAD LEFT THEN. BY THEN, I WAS WITH BLUE RIDGE QUARTET

WHEN GLEN CAME TO THE WEATHERFORDS.

FOR SEVEN DAYS, THEY DID NOT SPEAK,

A MIGHTY BATTLE WAS AT HAND.

GOD HAD TOLD HIS CHILDREN TO GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND.

ON THE SEVENTH DAY, THE SEVENTH HOUR,

THE SEVENTH TIME AROUND, HIS HOLY PURPOSE WAS FULFILLED

AND THE WALL CAME A TUMBLIN' DOWN.

SET ME ON THE ROCK, JOSHUA. LET ME VIEW THE PROMISED LAND.

SET ME ON THE ROCK, JOSHUA.

HE DELIVERED UNTO US BY HIS MIGHTY HAND.

THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, HE LED US.

BY HIS BOUNTIFUL HAND, HE FED US.

OH, WON'T YOU SET ME ON THE ROCK, JOSHUA?

LET ME GAZE UPON ISRAEL'S PRIZE.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ROGER?

HE'S GOT A LITTLE BOY NAMED JORD AN.

JORD AN IS SEVEN YEARS OLD.

AND SO WHEN HE WAS FIVE, YOU KNOW HOW THEY TAKE

THE KIDS ON, KIDS CAN BE VERY PROFOUND SOMETIMES,

TAKE FIELD TRIPS?

WELL, THEY LEFT ON A FIELD TRIP WITH THE KINDERGARTEN

CLASS WHEN JORD AN WAS FIVE.

WENT TO THE STOW POLICE STATION.

THEY WERE SHOWING THEM THE TEN MOST WANTED MEN

AND JORD AN IS A PISTOL.

JORD AN SAID, ASKED THE POLICE CHIEF, SAID,

ARE THESE MEN MEAN?

HE SAID, THEY SURE ARE AND WE'RE GONNA CATCH 'EM.

AND JORD AN SAID, WHY DIDN'T YOU KEEP THEM THE DAY

YOU TOOK THEIR PICTURE?

SO NOW YOU'RE WHAT, YOU'RE 2 4, YOU'RE 28 YEARS OLD

AT WOWO.

AND THEN YOU LEAVE THERE TO GO TO THE

HOMELAND HARMONY FOR A WHILE, RIGHT?

I WENT, YEAH, JAMES MCCOY AND CONNER HALL ASKED

ME TO COME AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A BIG MOVE FOR ME.

SO I WENT TO ATLANTA WITH CLARA AND

CLARA HAD NEVER BEEN HARDLY OUT OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SO, WE MOVED TO ATLANTA AND IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT DOWN THERE.

THE HOMELAND HARMONY WAS, THEY HAD BEEN A GREAT QUARTET

AND WAS A GOOD QUARTET THEN.

THAT WAS A TOUGH PERIOD OF TIME FOR ANY GOSPEL GROUP

PROBABLY WITH THE EX CEPTION OF THE STATESMEN, THE BLACKWOODS

AND THE SPEER FAMILY.

YEAH, THE QUARTETS BACK IN THOSE DAYS

WERE HAVING A ROUGH TIME.

STRUGGLING.

EVERYBODY EX CEPT THE ONES YOU MENTIONED

WERE STILL DOING PRETTY WELL.

BUT MOST QUARTETS BACK THEN WERE STRUGGLING. IT WAS ROUGH.

I THINK WHEN A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS

SEE ANYBODY DOING WELL NOW,

THEY JUST THINK IT MUST BE A PIECE OF CAKE.

IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT FOR ALL THEIR LIFE.

BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF OLD TIMERS OUT THERE

THAT PAID A LOT OF DUES.

THAT MOST THE GROUPS WILL NEVER KNOW ABOUT.

UP ABOVE MY HEAD

THERE'S A MUSIC IN THE AIR.

UP ABOVE MY HEAD

THERE'S A MUSIC IN THE AIR.

UP ABOVE MY HEAD

THERE'S A MUSIC IN THE AIR

AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE

THERE'S A HEAVEN SOMEWHERE.

UP ABOVE MY HEAD

THERE'S MUSIC IN THE AIR.

UP ABOVE MY HEAD

THERE'S MUSIC IN THE AIR.

UP ABOVE MY HEAD

THERE'S MUSIC IN THE AIR.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE THERE'S A HEAVEN SOMEWHERE.

WELL MUSIC MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

THAT'S THE WAY TO BE HAPPY THAT MUCH I FOUND.

SING A SONG AND BE HAPPY AND FREE

SO TURN AROUND CHILDREN AND FOLLOW ME.

ONE MORE THING, GLEN, ROGER WAS AT THE HOUSE THAT DAY,

GLEN DON'T GO SHOPPING MUCH

GLEN PAYNE: HARDLY EVER.

HE JUST DON'T SHOP.

I SAW HIM COME UP BY MY DRIVEWAY THE OTHER DAY

AND ROGER WAS OVER AT MY HOUSE

AND I SAID, HERE COMES GLEN.

AND HE'S GOT A THERMOS JUG UNDER HIS ARM.

AND I KNOW GLEN, THE FIRST ONE HE HAD EVER HAD.

HE COME TO MY BACKDOOR AND I SAID,

HEY GLEN, WHATCHA GOT THERE?

HE SAID, IT'S A THERMOS JUG. HE SAID, IT'S WONDERFUL.

HE SAID, YEAH, IT KEEPS HOT THINGS HOT

AND COLD THINGS COLD.

HE SAID, CHILI AND ICED TEA.

SOYOU'RE BACK AT WOWO?

UH HUH.

WHAT YEAR DIDYOU GO DOWN TO SPARTENBURG

TO SING WITH THE BLUE RIDGE QUARTET?

I JOINED THE BLUE RIDGE IN 1 999 , NEW YEAR'S EVE OF 1 9998 7.

IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, AT THE

AUDITORIUM THERE IN CHARLOTTE, I JOINED THEM THAT NIGHT.

THE NINE YEARS I SPENT WITH THEM,

NOW WHAT YEAR DID GLEN CALL YOU ABOUT JOINING THE

CATHEDRAL TRIO AT THE TIME?

1 99964, REX, I REMEMBER REX CALLING ME AT HOME,

AND SAID, GEORGE, I WAS IN SPARTENBURG WITH BLUE RIDGE,

THINGS WERE GOING PRETTY WELL.

BUT HE CALLED ME AND SAID, GEORGE, I, WE NEEDYOU HERE

AT THE CATHEDRAL AGAIN.

DANNY AND GLEN AND BOBBY CLARK HAVE A TRIO

AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE IT A QUARTET.

AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO COME BACK TO THE CATHEDRALS.

SO I'D TALKED IT OVER WITH MY WIFE

AND SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, I JUST FELT

IF GOD HAD EVER SPOKEN TO ME IN AN AUDIBLE VOICE,

IT WAS THROUGH REX HUMBARD THAT DAY SAYING, COME BACK,

CAUSE I NEEDED A PLACE TO GO

NEEDED A HOME.

AND NEEDED A HOME.

SO I WENT BACK TO THE CATHEDRAL

AND THE REST IS HISTORY FROM THERE.

DURING THOSE VERY EARLY YEARS, THE CATHEDRALS

MADE TWO MONUMENTAL RECORDINGS FOR THEIR DAY.

THE CATHEDRALS WITH BRASS

AND THE CATHEDRALS WITH STRINGS, WHICH BECAME TWO

OF THE CLASSIC ALBUMS OF THE CENTURY. THEY WERE MAGNIFICENT.

AND AKRON'S BEEN YOUR HOME FOR 38 YEARS, HADN'T IT?

YEAH, EVERYBODY I THINK WILL KNOW WHAT I MEAN

WHEN I SAY WITH THE BLUE RIDGE, I KIND OF GOT OFF

ON THE WRONG FOOT, DOING THINGS THAT I SHOULDN'T DO.

BUT WHEN REX CALLED, I WENT BACK TO CATHEDRAL,

STARTED TEACHING A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS:

THE 8 AND 6 YEAR OLD CLASS,

WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BLESSING OF MY LIFE.

THAT GOD OPENED THAT DOOR FOR ME TO TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

TO SOME INNOCENT, YOUNG KIDS WHO I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE

A MESSAGE TO: THAT JESUS, ALL YOUR LIFE KIDS, JESUS IS RIGHT

FOR WHATEVER IS WRONG IN YOUR LIFE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I TRIED TO TELL EACH KID THAT

COME THROUGH THAT DOOR. LEAVE WITH THAT MESSAGE THAT

WHEREVER YOU GO, WHATEVER YOU DO, JESUS IS RIGHT.

JESUS IS RIGHT FOR WHATEVER'S WRONG IN YOUR LIFE.

JESUS IS RIGHT FOR WHATEVER'S WRONG IN YOUR LIFE.

JUST GIVE HIM A CHANCE AND JESUS WILL PROVE

THAT EVERY PROMISE HE MADE IS TRUE.

JESUS IS RIGHT FOR WHATEVER'S WRONG IN YOUR LIFE.

I GOTTA TELL YOU THIS, HIS WIFE AND SINCE HE'S HERE

TONIGHT, HIS WIFE INVITED SOME PEOPLE OVER FOR THE LAST

PART OF THE WEEK, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SHE INVITED

THEM THE FIRST OF THE WEEK FOR THE LAST PART OF THE WEEK.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, SHE STARTED FEELING BAD.

AND SHE WAS WONDERING, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE WAITED,

MAYBE I SHOULD CALL AND TELL THEM NOT TO COME.

WELL SHE DIDN'T CALL, THEY CAME AT THE END OF THE WEEK,

ABOUT 1 8 OF THEM SAT DOWN FOR DINNER. AND HOW OLD'S MARLA?

PAYNE: SHE'S SEVEN YEARS OLD.

SEVEN. SO THEY ASK MARLA TO PRAY AND SHE LEANED OVER TO GLEN

AND SHE SAID, WHAT WILL I SAY?

GLEN SAID, JUST SAY WHAT YOUR GRANDMA SAYS.

SHE BOWED HER HEAD AND SAID,

DEAR LORD, WHY DID I INVITE THESE PEOPLE OVER HERE?

SHE'S SITTING RIGHT THERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GLEN.

THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN EITHER, FOR WHATEVER REASON,

IT WORKED AND IT WORKED WELL DIDN'T IT, FOR 38 YEARS?

YOU KNOW, GLEN AND I WERE SUCH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

AT THE CATHEDRAL WE HAD A BOSS WHICH WAS REX HUMBARD.

AND WE SANG AND HE PAID US.

WE WERE A HIRED QUARTET TO SING WITH THE CATHEDRAL TOMORROW.

WHICH WAS VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE AT THAT TIME IN MY LIFE.

SO I WAS ABLE TO BE AT HOME FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS WHEN MY KIDS

REALLY NEEDED ME.

I WAS HOME WITH THEM EVERY NIGHT, BASICALLY.

BACK THEN, WE HAD A LODESTAR 4 7 WITH, 4 7 PEOPLE IT SEATED.

WE'D FLY OUT TO A RALLY IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, AND THEN FLY

BACK HOME THAT NIGHT. SO I WAS HOME WITH MY KIDS.

AND GLEN AND I WERE SUCH DIFFERENTLY PERSONALITIES,

THAT WHEN WE DECIDED TO GO OUT ON OUR OWN FROM THE CATHEDRAL,

PEOPLE SAID, YOU AND GLEN, IT'LL NEVER WORK.

WELL, WE WERE DIFFERENT BUT I NEVER HAD ANYTHING

WORK SO PERFECT IN ALL MY LIFE.

I WAS ONE WAY, GLEN WAS THE OTHER WAY BUT SOMEHOW IT GELLED.

WE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS.

GLEN WAS THE BUSINESSMAN OF IT ALL

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID.

EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT HIM,

I THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS WHEN I LOOK AROUND AT YOU, TOO.

GLEN'S BROTHER, KEN, SAID WHEN HE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL,

HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS FOURTH GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW RIDICULOUS THAT WAS,

HE WAS 11 YEARS OLDER THAN SHE WAS.

SOMEBODY ASKED ME THE OTHER NIGHT, SAID,

WHY DOYOU PICK ON GLEN LIKE YOU DO?

I SAID, GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO THIS.

AT THE PRAISE GATHERING IN INDIANAPOLIS ONE TIME,

THIS LADY CAME AND SHE WAS ABOUT GLEN'S AGE, SHE WAS ABOUT 9990'S.

BUT I WAS, BILL WILL REMEMBER, I WAS WEARING GLEN OUT THAT NIGHT.

AND FINALLY SHE STOOD UP AND SHE SHOOK HER CANE AT ME AND SAID,

ALL THE TIME THE LAST 4 0 YEARS I'VE BEEN SEEING YOU FELLAS,

YOU'VE TEASED GLEN, OVER AND OVER YOU TEASED HIM.

YOU OUGHT NOT TO DO THAT.

YOU OUGHT NOT TO TEASE HIM LIKE THAT.

AND SHE RAKED ME OVER THE COALS GOOD FOR TEASING GLEN.

I HAD A TERRIBLE TIME EXPLAINING TO HER

THAT I'M NOT TEASING.

HEY, SHOULD I TELL THEM ABOUT NEW YORK? I GOTTA TELL YOU THIS.

HE WENT TO NEW YORK CITY ON VACATION HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO.

AND THE LADY WHO LIVED BESIDE OF HIM HEARD HE WAS GOING.

SHE COME OVER TO THE HOUSE, SHE SAID,

GLEN, MY SON WENT TO NEW YORK CITY EIGHT YEARS AGO

AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD FROM HIM.

MRS. DUNN IS HER NAME. AND SHE SAID, HIS NAME IS JOHN DUNN.

WHEN YOU GET TO NEW YORK, LOOK HIM UP AND TELL HIM

TO CALL HIS MAMA.

AND GLEN SAID, OKAY.

A PLACE LIKE NEW YORK AND HE WAS GOING TO FIND HIM RIGHT AWAY.

GLEN SAID, OKAY, I'LL LOOK HIM UP.

SO HE FLEW INTO NEW YORK, GOT IN THE CAB, WENT DOWNTOWN,

SURE ENOUGH WHEN HE GOT TO TOWN A BIG BRICK WALL HAD A BIG SIGN

SAID DUNN AND BRADSTREET

HE THOUGHT, I FOUND HIM RIGHT AWAY, HOW LUCKY!

WALKED INTO THE BUILDING, THE GIRL SITTING AT THE DESK,

HE WALKED UP TO HER AND SAID, DOYOU HAVE A JOHN IN HERE?

AND SHE SAID, RIGHT THROUGH THAT DOOR.

HE WENT THROUGH AND THERE WAS A GUY COMING OUT OF A STALL

AND GLEN SAID, ARE YOU DUNN?

AND HE SAID, YES.

AND GLEN SAID, CALL YOUR MAMA.

CALL YOUR MAMA.

I LOVE OLD PEOPLE, THEY'LL KILL YOU.

COULD I TELL THEM ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE

PAYNE: YOU SHARED ENOUGH ALREADY.

WE WERE, THEY INVITED US TO DENVER, COLORADO

A FEW YEARS AGO TO SING FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK

SELLERS AND THEY HAD NEVER HAD A GROUP LIKE US.

THEY USUALLY HAVE CONTEMPORARY GROUPS, BUT

THAT YEAR THEY HAD US TWO DAYS.

AFTER THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERT, WE HAD ALL DAY TO KILL

AND GLEN AND I DON'T GO TO MOVIES. BUT THERE IS

A WALT DISNEY MOVIE PLAYING CALLED1 0 1 DALNMATION.��

WE'D HEARD OUR KIDS TALK ABOUT SEEING THAT MOVIE.

SO WE WAS WALKING AROUND TOWN AND I SAW IT

AND I SAID, GLEN, LET'S GO IN AND WATCH THAT MOVIE

THREE OR FOUR TIMES TODAY AND WE WON'T WEAR OURSELVES OUT

WALKING AROUND TOWN. GLEN SAID, OKAY.

SO WE WENT IN AFTERNOON MOVIE SAT DOWN, IT GOT DARK, NO SOONER

THAN IT GOT DARK, GLEN WAS DOWN ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES

IN BETWEEN THE SEATS SCRATCHING AROUND.

AND I SAID, GLEN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING DOWN THERE?

HE SAID, I'M LOOKING FOR A PIECE OF A CARAMEL CANDY.

HE SAID, MY TEETH ARE IN IT.

WE USED TO COME FROM MILES AROUND,

HAVE DINNER ON THE GROUND

UNDERNEATH THOSE OLD SHADE TREES,

AND SING THE OLD SONGS IN SHAPED NOTES,

IN FOUR PART HARMONY, LIKE, HE SET ME FREE

AND HE'LL PILOT ME AND ANYWHERE IS HOME.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU HEARD AN OLD CONVENTION SONG?

I STILL LOVE TO HEAR THOSE OLD CONVENTION SONGS

THAT I HEARD AS A CHILD AS WE SANG THEM ALL DAY LONG:

LIKE I'M A GONNA WALK AND JUST A LITTLE TALK

AND ALL THE DAY LONG.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU HEARD AN OLD CONVENTION SONG?

GOSPEL SONGS TODAY HAVE A LOT TO SAY,

THEY LIFT YOU UP WHEN YOU'RE FEELING DOWN.

SOME HAVE A COUNTRY FLAVOR, SOME HAVE A MODERN SOUND.

THEY ALL SERVE A NEED OF PLANTING SEEDS,

SO I KNOW THEY CAN'T GO WRONG,

BUT THERE'S NONE SO DEAR AS WHEN I HEAR

AN OLD CONVENTION SONG.

I STILL LOVE TO HEAR THOSE OLD CONVENTION SONGS THAT I HEARD

AS A CHILD AS WE SANG THEM ALL DAY LONG:

LIKE I'M A GONNA WALK AND JUST A LITTLE TALK

AND ALL THE DAY LONG.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU HEARD AN OLD CONVENTION SONG?

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU HEARD AFTER A WHILE ?

HOW LONG SINCE YOU HEARD GIVE THE WORLD A SMILE ?

HOW LONG SINCE YOU HEARD I'M WINGIN' MY WAY BACK HOME ?

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU HEARD AN OLD CONVENTION SONG?

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU HEARD AN OLD CONVENTION SONG?

AN OLD CONVENTION SONG.

I'VE NEVER HAD A BETTER FRIEND THAN GLEN PAYNE.

HE WAS, HE WAS JUST, GLEN WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK

AND IF ANYBODY EVER LOVED ME, I KNEW GLEN LOVED ME.

PAYNE ANDYOUNCE: SEARCH ME, O GOD,

AND KNOW MY HEART TODAY,

TRY ME, O SAVIOR,

KNOW MY THOUGHTS I PRAY.

SEE IF THERE BE

SOME WICKED WAY IN ME,

CLEANSE ME FROM EVERY SIN

AND SET ME FREE.

GLEN, WHAT A SONG. WHAT A SONG.

YOU KNOW MY DAD USED TO SAY, THERE ARE ONLY

TWO KINDS OF FOLKS IN THE WORLD, GIVERS AND TAKERS.

SO MAKE UP YOUR MIND, WHICH ONE YOU'RE GOING TO BE.

GEORGE YOUNCE WAS A GIVER.

IF HE FOUND OUT YOU LIKED SOMETHING, NOT ONLY

WOULDYOU GET ONE, HE WOULD GET YOU A LIFETIME SUPPLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVEN'T BOUGHT A PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES

SOMEHOW, GEORGE FIGURED OUT I LOVED GOOD, COMFORTABLE

WALKING SHOES. EVERY TIME HE WALKED THROUGH A MALL,

HE JUST COULDN'T RESIST THE URGE TO GET

ANOTHER BRAND NEW PAIR OF NIKE TENNIS SHOES FOR ME.

I'VE DONE THE MATH, AND THE WAY I FIGURE,

I WON'T HAVE TO BUY A PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES

FROM NOW UNTIL JESUS COMES. THANKS TO GEORGE.

ONE NIGHT AFTER A CONCERT I CALLED GEORGE AND I SAID,

YOU KNOW, GEORGE, I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH SOME OF MY

LOW NOTES. DOYOU KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HELP ME?

LISTERINE, HE SAID. THAT'S WHAT I USE BEFORE I SING.

THE NEXT THING I KNEW, YOU GUESSED IT,

A BOTTLE OF LISTERINE ARRIVED IN THE MAIL.

AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A STAND ARD SIZE

BOTTLE OF LISTERINE, HE SENT A LIFETIME SUPPLY.

I'LL NEVER FORGET STOPPING BY HIS BUS ONE NIGHT

TO SEE WHAT THE OLD CHARACTER WAS UP TO.

HE WAS EATING GRAPEFRUIT OUT OF A CAN WHICH WAS SWEETENED

BY THIS DELIGHTFUL S YRUP THAT TOOK THE BITTER TASTE

OUT OF THE GRAPEFRUIT. HE MADE ME TRY A BITE.

AFTER SAYING HOW MUCH I LOVED THE TASTE OF THAT GRAPEFRUIT,

ANDYOU GUESSED IT AGAIN, A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF GRAPEFRUIT IN

THAT WONDERFUL S YRUP WAS DELIVERED

AT OUR DOOR EVERY MONTH BY UPS.

YOU KNOW, GEORGE DIDN'T JUST GIVE TO ME,

HE GAVE TO MORE PEOPLE THAN ANYONE WILL EVER KNOW.

LOOKING BACK, IT SEEMS THAT GEORGE MADE IT HIS

PERSONAL MISSION TO MAKE THE WORLD A HAPPIER PLACE.

THERE'S A HAPPY RHYTHM KEEPS A ROCKIN' AND A ROLLIN',

I CAN FEEL IT MOVIN' WHEN I SING THIS SONG:

WHAT A THRILL TO FEEL IT MOVIN' ON AND NEVER STOPPIN',

DEEP WITHIN MY HEART IT KEEPS A ROLLIN' AND A ROCKIN':

ROLLIN' AND A ROCKIN' AND A ROCKIN' AND A ROLLIN',

IT'S A HAPPY RHYTHM IN MY SOUL, IN MY SOUL.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW I COULD DO THAT.

WE WERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, HERE WHILE BACK.

JAKE LIKES GOOD MEXICAN FOOD AND WE HAD

AN AFTERNOON CONCERT, WE'D BE OUT BY ABOUT SIX.

SO HE CALLED AND MADE RESERVATIONS FOR ABOUT 6:30.

HARDLY EVER DO WE HAVE AN AFTERNOON CONCERT.

SO WE GOT TO THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND WE WALKED IN

AND IT WAS FULL BUT THEY SET US DOWN TO A TABLE

WHERE THERE WAS ABOUT FOUR OLD BOYS OVER HERE

WHO HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH TEQUILA.

AND THEY WERE LAUGHING AND TALKING, RUSS.

I REMEMBER SLAPPING EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS WOULD EVER HAPPEN,

BUT FINALLY A LADY WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR

WITH A DUCK UNDER HER ARM.

ONE OF THE DRUNKS SEEN HER AND HE STOOD UP AND HE SAID,

WHERE'DYOU GET THE PIG?

SHE SAID, THIS IS A DUCK.

HE SAID, I WAS TALKING TO THE DUCK.

YOU KNOW WHAT? I MADE THAT UP, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

JAKE SAID HE THOUGHT IT DID.

WHEN LIFE IS COLD AND BLEAK

LIKE A SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAIN PEAK,

DON'T GIVE UP YOUR HOPES IN DESPAIR.

YOU CAN FIND A WAY PLEASE BELIEVE IN WHAT I SAY

TROUBLES ALL WILL VANISH IN THE AIR.

YOU CAN MOVE THAT MOUNTAIN...

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED READING EPITAPHS.

I LIKE THEM BECAUSE GIVEN THE SUM TOTAL OF A PERSON'S LIFE,

THOSE WHO KNOW HIM WELL, STOOD BACK AND GAVE WORDS TO WHAT

THIS LIFE WAS ALL ABOUT.

AS WE STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE LIFE OF THIS AMAZING MAN,

ONE WORD THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS TIMELESS.

GEORGE SEEMED TO HAVE THOSE UNIVERSAL COMMON DENOMINATORS

THAT MADE US ALL ONE.

WHETHER WE WERE YOUNG OR OLD, RICH OR POOR,

SIMPLE OR COMPLICATED, UNLEARNED OR SCHOOLED.

GEORGE HAD A GENUINE LOVE FOR PEOPLE.

IT'S HARD TO RESIST SOMEONE WHO LOVES YOU

AND GEORGE HAD A WAY OF LOVING YOU, NOT BECAUSE

YOU DESERVED IT, OR BECAUSE YOU HAD SOMETHING HE NEEDED,

BUT BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN, AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER,

IN NEED OF LOVE HIMSELF AND WAS WISE ENOUGH TO GIVE OTHERS

WHAT HE HAD LEARNED WE ALL NEED.

HE'D FOUND THE SECRETS OF LOSING TO WIN, GIVING TO RECEIVE,

AND LETTING GO TO HOLD ON.

HE NEVER MINDED RISKING BEING A FOOL FOR CHRIST'S SAKE

OR LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE TO PICK IT UP AGAIN.

ONE OF MY GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE ALL OF

GEORGE'S QUALITIES IN OPERATION, WAS IN WORKING WITH GEORGE

WITH THE CHILDREN ON THE HOMECOMING KIDS VIDEO SERIES.

HE WAS CHOSEN TO DO THIS SERIES IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE

IN THE MANY LETTERS CHILDREN WROTE US ABOUT THE

GROWN UP HOMECOMING VIDEOS, MOST MENTIONED GEORGE

AND VESTAL AS THEIR FAVORITES.

SO THESE TWO WERE THE OBVIOUS KINGPINS AROUND WHICH

WE BUILT THE SCRIPTS.

THEY WERE POSITIONED, NOT AS ADULTS TELLING CHILDREN

WHAT TO DO, BUT AS GROWN UP KIDS GOING ON AD VENTURES

WITH NOT SO GROWN UP KIDS.

GEORGE WAS GAME TO DO THE MOST OUTLANDISH THINGS IN ALL

KINDS OF WEATHER IN A WIDE RANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND SETTINGS.

HE STALKED TIGERS AND ELEPHANTS AT THE ZOO.

HE CLIMBED THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN TRAILS.

HE WENT ON CAMPING TRIPS IN THE INDIANA WOODS DURING A DOWNPOUR.

HE RODE WITH VESTAL ON A BIC YCLE BUILT FOR TWO AND

SWATTED MOSQUITOES IN THE HOT HUMID CREEK BANKS IN AUGUST.

HE TAUGHT A LOST LITTLE BOY THAT GOD LOVES TO TALK TO LITTLE

BOYS WHILE THEY'RE FISHING AND CONVINCED A SHY GIRL

THAT THEY WERE BOTH STILL KIDS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

CHILDREN LOVED WHAT WE ALL LOVED,

TO LAUGH AT GEORGE'S HUMOR,

TO BE LOVED WHEN THEY LEAST DESERVED IT AND TO SEE HIM TRADE

HIS REPUTATION, HIS AUTHORITY AND IF NECESSARY, HIS DIGNITY

TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP.

MOST OF ALL, THEY LOVED THAT HE GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO RISK

BY LETTING THEM SEE HIM TRY AND SOMETIMES FAIL, BRUSH HIMSELF

OFF AND GO AT IT AGAIN.

WE CAN CARVE NO EPITAPH ON STONE THAT GEORGE HAS NOT

ALREADY CARVED IN LIVES, OUR LIVES, OUR KIDS' LIVES.

AS SAINT FRANCIS IS CREDITED WITH SAYING,

PREACH THE GOSPEL ALWAYS AND WHEN NECESSARY USE WORDS.

SO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GEORGE HAS ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN,

LAUGH UNTIL YOU CRY.

LOVE UNTIL THEY'RE FREE.

GIVE UNTIL YOU OUT GIVE GOD.

DON'T SAVE FACE, SAVE RELATIONSHIPS.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD GOD TALKING? HE DOES YOU KNOW?

TO US, BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE JUST NOT LISTENING.

GOD LOVES TO TALK TO LITTLE BOYS WHILE THEY'RE FISHING.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE TIME BOYS LISTEN BEST.

IT'S THE ONLY QUIET TIME THERE IS FOR WISHING.

IT'S THE ONLY TIME WHEN GOD AND BOYS CAN REST.

LITTLE BOY: YOU KNOW A BOY CAN ALMOST HEAR GOD WHISPER

SOMETIMES OUT HERE FISHING.

I WONDER IF HE'S JUST TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING.

EX CUSE ME JUST A MINUTE MR. GEORGE WHILE I JUST SIT

HERE AND LISTEN FOR A SPELL.

YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD, MADISON, YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD, SON.

GOD LOVES TO TALK TO LITTLE BOYS WHILE THEY'RE FISHING.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE TIME BOYS LISTEN BEST.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A BOY WHO'S GOOD AT FISHING

GOD KNOWS HE'LL MAKE A VERY SPECIAL FRIEND.

A BOY WHO LEARNS TO LISTEN WHILE HE'S FISHING

CAN HEAR GOD WHEN IT'S TIME TO FISH FOR MEN

GOD LOVES TO TALK TO BOYS WHILE THEY'RE FISHING

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE TIME BOYS LISTEN BEST.

IT'S THE ONLY QUIET TIME THERE IS FOR WISHING

IT'S THE ONLY TIME WHEN GOD AND BOYS CAN REST.

MR. GEORGE, I'M GLAD WE WENT FISHING TODAY

ME TOO, MADISON, ME TOO.

I GOT ONE! I GOT ONE!

I GOT, I GOT... ANOTHER BOOT FOR MY COLLECTION.

WELL MOSES FOLLOWED THE LORD'S COMMAND

THE WATERS PARTED AND THERE IN THE SAND

THEY SAW A PATH THAT LED TO THE OTHER SHORE

WELL THE GROUND WAS DRY AND THEY PASSED ON THROUGH

SO PHARAOH'S ARMY THOUGHT THEY WOULD TOO

BUT THE WATERS FELL THEY AIN'T NEVER BEEN SEEN NO MORE

OH, MY NAME IS TICKLISH REUBEN

FROM WAY DOWN IN OLD VERMONT

I'VE BEEN TICKLED BY ALMOST EVERYTHING

BOM BOM BOM BOM

I'VE BEEN TICKLED BY A FEATHER I'VE BEEN TICKLED BY A WASP

I'VE BEEN TICKLED BY A YELLOW BUMBLEBEE.

THAT'S ALL, HONEY.

YOU KNOW BASS SINGERS IN SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC,

HAVE OFTEN KEPT FRIENDLY BANTER GOING WITH EACH OTHER

DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS.

BUT NO ONE BANTERED MORE THAN GEORGE YOUNCE AND J.D. SUMNER.

THESE TWO OLD FRIENDS COULD TEASE EACH OTHER MORE

RELENTLESSLY THAN ANY ONE I'VE EVER KNOWN.

THEY REALLY DID LOVE EACH OTHER, THEY JUST HAD A FUNNY

WAY OF SHOWING IT.

J.D. CALLED ME FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE WAS TALKING

SERIOUS ABOUT PAUL DOWNING HAD PASSED AWAY,

HONEY DUNN HAD JUST PASSED AWAY,

SEVERAL BASS SINGERS HAD PASSED AWAY, TOMMY THOMPSON.

SO J.D. CALLED ME AND HE SAID, OLD BUDDY,

WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL.

AND I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

HE SAID, ALL THESE BASS SINGERS PASSING AWAY.

I SAID, J.D. TAKE IT EASY, THEY'RE TALKING

ABOUT BASS SINGERS.

DON'T YOU KNOW YOU AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

AND I KEPT ON TALKING, REAMING HIM REAL GOOD, I SAID,

J.D., SO DON'T WORRY, US SINGERS THE ONES

THAT GOTTA WORRY, PEOPLE LIKE YOU, YOU'RE SAFE.

YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY

I STOPPED TALKING, GOT REAL QUIET ON THE PHONE

AND FINALLY J.D. SAID, WHY DO I TALK TO YOU?

I THOUGHT THAT WAS MY PACEMAKER RINGING.

NO, NO, SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN. SOMEBODY HOLD HIM.

HE'S OLDER THAN DIRT.

YEARS AGO, WE WORKED AT DAYTON, OHIO, NOW, THIS IS, LIKE,

YEARS AGO: I WAS WITH THE BLUE RIDGE QUARTET BACK THEN

SO WE WORKED WITH J.D. AND THE BLACKWOODS.

THEY COME OFF STAGE, AND I TOLD J.D.,

I SAID, J.D., I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT

THERE AIN'T NOBODY THAT I HADN'T RATHER HEAR SING THAN YOU.

WELL, HE MISUNDERSTOOD ME.

J.D. SUMNER: NO, WE WERE BACK IT WAS IN SPARTENBURG.

WE WERE TALKING, HE SAID, WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE BASS SINGER?

AND I SAID UH, WHAT WHO SUNG WITH LEROY? AYCEL SOWARD.

AND I SAID, MAN, THAT GUY COULD SING.

HE SAID, WELL, THIS MAY SEEM FUNNY TO YOU,

BUT, J.D., YOU ARE MY FAVORITE.

HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW OF

ANYBODY I HADN'T RATHER HEAR SING THAN YOU.

AND I ALMOST CRIED.

THAT GEORGE YOUNCE WOULD

HE HAD BIG TEARS IN HIS EYES.

OH, YEAH, AND EVERY TIME HE'D GET A CHANCE,

HE'D SAY, WELL, J.D., I STILL SAY

TRYING TO GET ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING

HE SAID, I STILL SAY I DON'T

KNOW OF ANYBODY I HADN'T RATHER SING THAN YOU.

AND I WENT ON AND CRIED ABOUT HOW MUCH

GEORGE LOVED MY SINGING.

THEN WE GOT TO DAYTON THE NEXT WEEK ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

AND WE MET IN THE HALL, AND GEORGE COME UP TO ME

AND SAID, J.D., LET ME TELL YOU ONE MORE TIME.

HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY I HADN'T RATHER

HEAR SING THAN YOU.

I SAID, GEORGE, WOULDYOU RUN THAT BY ME ONE MORE TIME?

HE SAID, YOU'VE BEEN LAUGHING AT ME FOR SIX MONTHS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY BILL ALWAYS SITS ME NEAR J.D.

HE CAN'T SING, HE CAN'T STAY ON PITCH, IT BOTHERS ME.

SUMNER: I ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP GEORGE WHEN I STARTED THE STAMPS

I'D GIVE GEORGE A CHANCE TO SING BARITONE.

HE AIN'T LOW ENOUGH TO SING BASS BUT I FEEL SORRY FOR HIM.

SPREAD HIS WINGS A TIME OR TWO AND LEARNED HOW TO FLY

IT'S A GREAT, GREAT MORNING, YOUR FIRST DAY

IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU STROLL DOWN THE GOLDEN AVENUE...

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, I MEAN, HE SINGS THROUGH HIS NOSE

HOW ANYBODY IS ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING THROUGH THAT NOSE

IS BEYOND ME, BUT IT MAKES ME SICK.

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF EVERY TIME THE STAMPS DO A RECORD,

THEY CALL ME IN AND HAVE ME REDO NEARLY EVERYTHING J.D. SINGS.

ALL HIS OFF PITCH SINGING.

THE THING ABOUT IT IS, HE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.

HE THINKS I'M HIM.

HE CAN'T SING LIKE THAT.

BUT HE DON'T KNOW IT, BLESS HIS HEART.

SUMNER: SPREAD HIS WINGS A TIME OR TWO

AND LEARNED HOW TO FLY

J.D.'S OLD.

HE JUST OUGHT TO HANG IT UP, LET THEM YOUNG GUYS GO ON.

HE'S RUINED EVERY GROUP HE'S EVER BEEN IN.

HE CAUSED THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS TO DISBAND,

THE MASTER'S FIVE, WHEN HE WORKED WITH THEM.

CAUSED JAKE TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK, JAMES HAD A STROKE.

HE KILLED ELVIS.

GEORGE SPENT 4 8 MINUTES FIXING HIS HAIR AND THEN FORGOT

AND LEFT IT AT THE HOTEL.

J.D. SAID TO ME THE OTHER NIGHT, DIDYOU HEAR

HOW MY VOICE FILLED THAT ROOM TONIGHT?

AND I SAID, YEAH I SEEN A BUNCH PEOPLE LEAVING

TO MAKE ROOM FOR IT.

WE WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SOME PEOPLE RECOGNIZED US

AND WE KNEW IT AND THE GUY WAS ACROSS THE STREET AND HE RUN

ACROSS THE STREET SO EX CITED AND RUN UP TO J.D. AND SAID,

DOES ANYBODY EVER TELL YOU THAT YOU LOOK LIKE

THAT FELLA THAT SINGS BASS FOR THE STAMPS?

AND J.D. SAID, WHY YEAH THEY DO.

AND THE GUY SAID, MAKES YOU KIND A MAD DON'T IT?

WHEN J.D. WAS BORN HIS PARENTS WERE SO DISAPPOINTED,

THEY WAS HOPING FOR CHILDREN.

GEORGE I REMEMBER THE DAY YOU CAME BY THE HOUSE

AND GLORIA FEDYOU AGAIN.

YEAH SHE DID.

IT SEEMS TO WORK, DOESN'T IT?

WE WERE THE HUNGRIEST BUNCH SHE HAD EVER SEEN.

ANDYOU SAID, HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANYTHING NEW?

AND WE HAD JUST WRITTEN A SONG AND I SAID,

GEORGE, OF ALL THE SONGS WE'VE WRITTEN I THINK THIS

FITS YOUR LIFE FROM WHAT YOU'VE TOLD ME,

BACK IN YOUR PARATROOPER DAYS,

PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER.

ANYTHING THAT I'VE EVER SUNG.

WHEN I WAS IN THE PARATROOPERS I DID GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.

I TOLDYOU BEFORE I WORKED IN THE NCO CLUB AS A SHIFT LEADER.

WELL, I'D SELL ONE DRINK AND DRINK TWO, YOU KNOW?

SO I GOT OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT, GOT WITH THE WRONG CROWD.

FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS THERE WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE,

GOD GAVE ME A CHANCE TO CLEAN MY LIFE UP

AND STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT.

THEN WHEN I HEARD THIS SONG THAT YOU SANG THOSE WORDS TO ME.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY, THE TEARS WELLED UP IN MY EYES

BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE, HEY, GEORGE, I KNOW YOUR LIFE NOW

AND I'M WRITING THIS SONG JUST FOR YOU.

TODAY I WENT BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE I USED TO GO.

TODAY I SAW THAT SAME OLD CROWD THAT I USED TO KNOW.

WHEN THEY ASKED ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED I TRIED TO TELL THEM

THANKS TO CALVARY, I DON'T COME HERE ANYMORE.

PRAISE GOD FOR THAT SONG, BILL.

TODAY I WENT BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE I USED TO GO.

TODAY I SAW THAT SAME OLD CROWD I KNEW BEFORE.

WHEN THEY ASKED ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED I TRIED TO TELL THEM

THANKS TO CALVARY, I DON'T COME HERE ANYMORE.

THANKS TO CALVARY, I AM NOT THE MAN THAT I USED TO BE.

THANKS TO CALVARY, THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE.

WHILE THE TEARS RAN DOWN MY FACE I TRIED TO TELL THEM

THANKS TO CALVARY, WE DON'T COME HERE ANYMORE.

THEN WE WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE WHERE WE USED TO LIVE

MY LITTLE BOY RAN AND HID BEHIND THE DOOR

AND I SAID, SON, OH LITTLE BOY, DON'T BE AFRAID,

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A BRAND NEW DADDY NOW.

THANKS TO CALVARY, WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

THANKS TO CALVARY, I AM NOT THE DAD THAT I USED TO BE.

THANKS TO CALVARY, THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE.

WHILE THE TEARS RAN DOWN MY FACE, I TRIED TO TELL

MY LITTLE BOY, SAID,

SON, THANKS TO CALVARY, THANKS TO CALVARY,

WE DON'T LIVE HERE NO, THANK GOD,

WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

ANYMORE.

ONE OF OUR SONGS THAT YOU SANG THAT I ALWAYS,

ALWAYS LOVED BECAUSE YOU WOULD TAKE THE FIRST VERSE OF IT

AND IT'S BASICALLY BRAGGING ON WHAT GOD HAS DONE.

BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY EASY SOMETIMES IF YOU DON'T WATCH IT,

TO KIND OF GET PUFFED UP ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

THIS SONG PUTS THE EMPHASIS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

WITH THE NOTORIETY SOMETIMES OF PEOPLE COMING

AROUND PATTING YOU ON THE BACK WHEN YOU COME OFF STAGE SAYING,

MAN, YOU ARE A GREAT SINGER. MAN, YOU ARE DOING GOOD.

SOMETIMES WE GET A LITTLE PUMPED UP YOU KNOW,

AND THINK, MAN, YOU KNOW, I AM PRETTY GOOD, YOU KNOW?

WHEN YOU WROTE THOSE WORDS FOR ME,

YOU AND GLORIA WROTE THOSE WORDS FOR ME,

IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT I ONCE WAS

IF YOU COULD GO WITH ME BACK TO WHERE I STARTED FROM

THEN I KNOW YOU WOULD SEE

THE MIRACLE OF LOVE...

AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS BILL,

AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE OF LOVE THAT JESUS TOUCHED ME ONE DAY.

THANKS FOR WRITING THAT SONG.

IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT I ONCE WAS

IF YOU COULD GO WITH ME

BACK TO WHERE I STARTED FROM

THEN I KNOW YOU WOULD SEE THE MIRACLE OF LOVE

THAT TOOK ME IN ITS SWEET EMBRACE

AND MADE ME WHAT I AM TODAY

JUST AN OLD SINNER SAVED BY GRACE.

I'M JUST A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE

WHEN I STOOD CONDEMNED TO DEATH HE TOOK MY PLACE

NOW I LIVE AND BREATHE IN FREEDOM

WITH EACH BREATH OF LIFE I TAKE

LOVED AND FORGIVEN BACK WITH THE LIVING

I'M JUST A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE.

GLEN PAYNE: HOW COULD I BOAST OF ANYTHING

I'VE EVER SEEN OR DONE?

HOW COULD I D ARE TO CLAIM AS MINE

THE VICTORIES GOD HAS WON?

WHERE WOULD I BE HAD GOD NOT BROUGHT ME

GENTLY TO THIS PLACE?

I'M HERE TO SAY I'M NOTHING BUT AN OLD SINNER

SAVED BY GRACE.

I'M JUST A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE

WHEN I STOOD CONDEMNED TO DEATH HE TOOK MY PLACE

NOW I LIVE AND BREATHE IN FREEDOM

WITH EACH BREATH OF LIFE I TAKE

I'M LOVED AND FORGIVEN BACK WITH THE LIVING

I'M JUST A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE.

NOW I LIVE AND BREATHE IN FREEDOM

WITH EACH BREATH OF LIFE I TAKE

I'M LOVED AND FORGIVEN, BACK WITH THE LIVING

I'M JUST A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE

SAVED BY GRACE.

JANET PASCHAL IS ONE OF THE COUNTLESS FRIENDS AND

ARTISTS WHOSE LIFE WAS IMPACTED BY GEORGE'S GREAT HEART.

I THINK JANET SPEAKS FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITH THESE WORDS.

JANET PASCHAL: GEORGE YOUNCE WAS ONE OF THE INDUSTRY'S

MOST BELOVED FIGURES.

HE ALONE REDEFINED THE ROLE OF THE QUARTET SPOKESPERSON.

WHEN THE CATHEDRALS APPEARED ON STAGE,

MR. GEORGE WOULD GENTLY BUT SURELY GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF

AN AUDIENCE WITH HIS SINCERITY AND HIS WARM HUMOR.

HE MADE YOU LAUGH, CRY AND VERY GLADYOU CAME.

I THINK THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO LOVED GEORGE YOUNCE MORE THAN

HIS FANS AND PEERS WERE HIS FAMILY.

HIS GIRLS AND HIS SON WOULD BEAM WHEN HE ROUSED THE CROWD

WITH A LOW NOTE OR A WELL TIMED JOKE OR COMMENT.

THEY ATTENDED EVERY CONCERT POSSIBLE AND HUNG ONTO

EVERY WORD AND EVERY NOTE.

JUST AS THOUGH THEY WERE HEARING HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THAT ALONE SHOWS THE RICHNESS OF HIS LIFE.

WE WILL MISS HIS SONGS AND HIS HUMOR AND HIS GENEROSITY,

BUT MOSTLY WE WILL MISS HAVING HIM IN OUR WORLD.

HE MADE OUR MUSIC BETTER BECAUSE HE LOVED IT SO MUCH.

HE MADE OUR INDUSTRY BETTER BECAUSE HE LOVED US SO MUCH.

HE MADE US BETTER BECAUSE HE DEMONSTRATED QUALITIES

FOR WHICH MOST OF US ARE STRIVING STILL.

NOW THE TWILIGHT IS FADING AND THE DAY SOON SHALL END

I GET HOMESICK THE FARTHER I ROAM

BUT MY FATHER HAS LED ME EACH STEP OF THE WAY

AND NOW I AM GOING HOME.

THANK GOD

GOING HOME. I'M GOING HOME.

THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD ME HERE.

FOR I'VE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THAT HEAVENLY LAND.

PRAISE GOD I AM GOING HOME.

OOOH. OOH. OOH. OOOOH.

FOR NEARLY FIVE DECADES, THE CATHEDRALS

MAINTAINED A STAND ARD OF EX CELLENCE UNEQUALED

BY MOST GOSPEL GROUPS OF THEIR TIME AND THEY DID SO

WITH INTEGRITY AND CLASS.

BUT THE MOMENT FINALLY CAME WHEN THEY KNEW GEORGE'S HEALTH

WAS NOT GOING TO HOLD OUT MUCH LONGER.

IT WOULD SOON BE THE TIME TO BRING THEIR

TOURING DAYS TO A CLOSE.

FIRST I SAID, YOU KNOW, GLEN, WITH MY

KIDNEY SITUATION, MY KIDNEYS WERE FAILING, I KNOW

THEY WERE GOING DOWN.

RIGHT THEN THEY WERE AT TEN PERCENT, MY KIDNEYS.

SO I SAID, GLEN MAYBE I CAN MAKE IT A YEAR IF WE DO A

FAREWELL TOUR, JUST GO TO MANY PLACES AS WE CAN AND TELL

PEOPLE GOODBYE, THANK ALL THE PROMOTERS FOR HAVING US ALL

THESE YEARS, THANK ALL THE PEOPLE, TO GO BY AND HUG THEIR

NECKS AT EVERY CONCERT. IN FACT, AFTER A CONCERT

WE SAT UP A TABLE, AND WE TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT GLEN AND I

ARE GOING TO BE AT THAT TABLE TO HUG YOUR NECK

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ALL THESE YEARS.

AND SOMETIMES I'D LOOK AT THE LINE OF PEOPLE LINED UP

AND COULD NOT BELIEVE. SOME PEOPLE WOULD STAND IN LINE

FOR 4 8 MINUTES TO SHAKE OUR HANDS.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THRILLS OF MY LIFE.

I SAID, IF WE CAN MAKE THIS TOUR,

MY KIDNEYS AT TEN PERCENT...

WELL BY THE TIME THE TOUR WAS OVER,

DECEMBER NINTH, TENTH AND ELEVENTH

IN AKRON, OHIO, MY KIDNEYS WERE AT TWO PERCENT AND I WAS SO SICK

EVERY NIGHT I DIDN'T THINK I'D MAKE IT ON STAGE,

DIDN'T THINK I COULD SING, BUT SOMEHOW GOD GAVE ME STRENGTH

ENOUGH TO DO THAT YEAR.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DID THE CONCERT YEAR TOUR

ON ACCOUNT OF MY HEALTH, NEVER DREAMING THAT

ON OCTOBER THE 1 8TH THAT GLEN WOULD PASS AWAY

AND THAT WAS A HARD, FROM OCTOBER THE 1 8TH

THROUGHOUT DECEMBER WAS THE HARDEST TIME OF MY LIFE

BECAUSE I MADE, I KNOW YOU WERE AT GLEN'S DEATHBED AND I WAS

AND GLEN SAID, GEORGE MAKE ME A PROMISE.

AND I SAID, GLEN, WHATEVER IT IS I'LL DO MY BEST.

HE SAID, GO KEEP OUR COMMITMENTS.

SO, I TIGHTENED MY BELT UP A NOTCH

AND WENT AND ASKED THE LORD TO HELP ME AND THROUGH GOD'S HELP

I WAS ABLE TO KEEP ALL OF OUR COMMITMENTS.

THE BOYS DIDN'T MISS A D ATE, I MISSED TWO.

I WAS SO SICK I COULDN'T GET UP OFF MY BED TO GO DO THEM.

THE ONE THING WE WANTED TO DO WAS SAY GOODBYE TO EVERYBODY

AND THE PEOPLE RESPONDED TO COME AND SAY GOODBYE TO US.

THE CATHEDRALS DID FINISH THAT TOUR AND THEY DID IT WELL.

THEN ON DECEMBER THE 3 1 ST, 1 999999999, THE CATHEDRALS NAME WAS HUNG

IN THE HALL OF HONOR. AND FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

GEORGE DID SOMETHING MOST ARTISTS WOULD FIND

VERY DIFFICULT TO DO, HE MADE THE TRANSITION FROM

A WORLD CLASS PERFORMER TO SIMPLY BEING A DAD

AND A GRANDPA AND A HUSBAND AT HOME IN STOW, OHIO.

HE STEPPED OFF THE STAGE AND HE STILL FOUND

GENUINE CONTENTMENT IN SPENDING HIS DAYS

WITH CLARA, HIS DEAR WIFE OF 80 YEARS AND

HIS FIVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, GINA, D ANA,

LISA, TARA, GEORGE LANE WHOM HE LOVED SO MUCH.

DURING THOSE FIVE YEARS, GEORGE WAS PRETTY MUCH

HOUSE BOUND, BUT EVERY ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE HE WOULD COME

OUT AND SING AT SELECT CONCERTS AS HIS HEALTH WOULD ALLOW.

SOMETIMES HE WOULD MAKE A SURPRISE APPEARANCE

WITH HIS SON IN LAW, ERNIE HAASE AND SIGNATURE SOUND,

OF WHOM HE WAS SO PROUD.

OR HE WOULD SING WITH US AT HOMECOMING CONCERTS.

THE LAST TIME HE EVER MADE AN APPEARANCE IN PERSON, WAS AT A

HOMECOMING CONCERT IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, IN THE FALL OF 2004.

WE HAVE SOME VERY ROUGH FOOTAGE OF THOSE PRICELESS MOMENTS.

WATCH THIS.

HERE IS A VOICE THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT NOT

EVER, EVER HEAR AGAIN.

LISTEN. LISTEN.

THIS OLD HOUSE ONCE KNEW MY CHILDREN

THIS OLD HOUSE ONCE KNEW MY WIFE

THIS OLD HOUSE WAS HOME AND COMFORT

AS WE FOUGHT THE STORMS OF LIFE.

THIS OLD HOUSE ONCE RANG WITH LAUGHTER.

THIS OLD HOUSE HEARD MANY SHOUTS.

NOW SHE TREMBLES IN THE DARKNESS

TWO MORE STEPS AND I'VE MADE IT.

GEORGE YOUNCE.

WHEN THE NIGHT WIND

WALKS ABOUT.

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO MORE:

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE SHINGLES,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO FIX THE FLOOR,

AIN'T GOT TIME TO OIL THE HINGES

NOR TO MEND NO WINDOW PANE:

AIN'T A GONNA NEED THIS HOUSE NO LONGER,

I'M A GETTING READY TO MEET THE SAINTS.

GEORGE YOUNCE, ARE YOU HAPPY TO SEE

GEORGE YOUNCE HERE TONIGHT?

SINCE I'M HERE LET ME DO A LITTLE JESS Y.

IS HE A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES?

I CALL YOU ABOUT EVERY DAY, DON'T I?

I KNOW YOU DO, BILL, AND WHAT A

YOU MAKE AN OLD MAN FEEL GOOD.

GEORGE AND GLEN AND THE CATHEDRAL QUARTET,

HOW MANY YEARS UP IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY ABOUT 4 0 YEARS?

ABOUT 4 0 YEARS.

ABOUT 4 0 YEARS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THEY REDEFINED WHAT QUARTET SINGING,

GOOD QUARTET SINGING WAS ALL ABOUT.

THESE CRAZY CHARACTERS DID IT AND THEY DID IT BEST.

AND EVERY TIME I CALL YOU, YOU GOT A NEW STORY.

WHAT WAS THE YOU SANG ME THIS SONG THE OTHER DAY

OH, I GOT TO THINKING, WHAT'D IT BE LIKE IF A GUY

DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE GIRL HE WAS MARRYING, YOU KNOW?

AND IT GOES LIKE THIS...

WE GOT MARRIED LAST FRIDAY,

MY GIRL WAS RIGHT THERE BESIDE ME

OUR FRIENDS WERE ALL GONE WE WERE ALONE

SIDE BY SIDE

WE WERE SO HAPPILY WED WHEN SHE GOT READY FOR BED THEN

HER TEETH AND HER HAIR SHE PLACED IN A CHAIR

SIDE BY SIDE

ONE GLASS EYE SO TINY

ONE HEARING AID SO SMALL

THEN SHE TOOK ONE LEG OFF

AND PLACED ON THE CHAIR BY THE WALL

I STOOD THERE BROKEN HEARTED

MOST OF MY GIRL HAD DEPARTED

I SLEPT ON THE CHAIR THERE WAS MORE OF HER THERE

SIDE BY SIDE.

NOW, I WAS SUPPOSED TO SING THAT SONG JUST TO YOU,

NOT TO TWENY THOUSAND PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMMENTS WE GET

ON THE VIDEOS IS,

YOU'VE GOT THE COOLEST OLD PEOPLE I'VE EVER SEEN

ON THOSE VIDEOS. THEY STILL KNOW HOW TO LAUGH AT THEMSELVES

AND JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME.

DOYOU GET OUT MUCH? DOYOU GO OUT AND EAT AT SOME OF

THE RESTAURANTS THERE AROUND STOW EVERY NOW AND THEN?

OH YEAH, I GO OUT TO CRACKER BARREL. YES SIREE.

DOYOU EVER GO TO PLACES LIKE WALMART?

I LIVE AT WALMART. I GO FROM THERE TO CRACKER BARREL.

DO PEOPLE RECOGNIZE YOU?

OH YEAH, THE OTHER DAY, WE WERE AT A SHOPPING MALL

THERE IN AKRON AND THAT DAY I HAD SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE,

GEORGE, GEORGE!

THAT SEEN YOU ON THE VIDEOS.

THAT SEEN ME ON THE VIDEOS.

SO I WENT, I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM

SO I WALKED IN THE BATHROOM AND WENT IN THE STALL

AND SOME GUY SAID, HOW YOU DOING?

AND I THOUGHT, HE MUST OF SAW ME THROUGH THE CRACK

OF THAT DOOR OR SOMETHING YOU KNOW AND RECOGNIZED ME.

HE SAID, HOW YOU DOING? I SAID, AH PRETTY GOOD.

HE SAID, WHAT TIME IS IT?

I SAID, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW I LEFT MY WATCH AT HOME.

HE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE. COULDYOU HOLD ON A MINUTE

AND LET ME CALL YOU BACK? THIS GUY IN THE NEXT STALL

IS ANSWERING EVERYTHING I SAY TO YOU.

I WENT TO THE DOCTOR THE OTHER DAY AND THE DOCTOR SAID,

GEORGE, DOYOU DO ANY EXERCISE?

AND I SAID, LIKE WHAT?

HE SAID, LIKE, WELL, DOYOU BEND OVER AND TOUCH YOUR TOES?

I SAID, IF GOD WANTED ME TO TOUCH MY TOES,

HE'D HAVE PUT THEM ON MY KNEES.

YOU LOOK SPIFFY, I MEAN TO TELL YOU,

THIS GUY HAS BEEN THROUGH EVERY HEART PROBLEM

YOU CAN BE THROUGH, ON DIALYSIS THREE TIMES A WEEK,

ANDYOU NEVER CALL HIM AND SAY, HOW YOU DOING?

AND HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD TWO OR THREE

OF THE BEST DAYS THAT I'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.

YOU CAN'T GET THIS CHARACTER DOWN.

BUT HE GOT HIMSELF BACK IN THE HOSPITAL A WHILE BACK

AND THEY DIDN'T THINK HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT AGAIN.

YEAH, I'VE HAD TWO CARDIAC ARRESTS

AND THEY THOUGHT THEY LOST ME BOTH TIMES.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I REMEMBER MORE THAN ANYTHING?

IT'S SO EMBARRASSING, THEM GOWNS YOU PUT ON.

I MEAN, THERE AIN'T NO WAY, YOU WALK DOWN

AND TRY TO HOLD IT THIS IS WAY, YOU KNOW.

JUST AIN'T NO WAY YOU CAN COVER UP YOUR WHOLE BODY.

OF COURSE, THEY GIVE ME A SHOT OF THAT MORPHINE

AND I DON'T EVEN WEAR A GOWN.

THE VOCAL BAND STOPPED BY ONE MORNING ON OUR WAY TO ERIE

ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND HE WAS IN THERE AGAIN

AND ERNIE HAASE CALLED ME AND SAID,

BILL, I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT.

AND I SAID, WELL, WE'RE COMING THROUGH HERE IN A COUPLE DAYS.

AND BY THE TIME WE GOT THERE HE HAD GOTTEN THROUGH THE DEEP PART

AND I ASKED THE KIDS ON THE WAY UP AND IT WAS ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK

IN THE MORNING ANDYOU WERE ALREADY UP IN YOUR BED

ENTERTAINING ALL THE NURSES.

DID I HAVE A GOWN ON?

YOU KNOW THERE'S ALL KINDS OF BUTTONS YOU CAN RING

AND THEY HAD HIM WIRED UP AND EVERYTHING

AND HE SAID, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I PUSH THIS BUTTON.

NURSES AND DOCTORS WOULD COME FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE SAY,

WHAT'S GOING ON?

AND HE SAID, JUST SEEING IF YOU WERE THERE.

GEORGE, IT'S A JOY TO HAVE YOU HERE TONIGHT.

ARE YOU GOING TO SING SOMETHING FOR US HERE TONIGHT?

BILL, I'D LOVED TO. YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH

THAT I USED TO HAVE, BUT I'M JUST AS GOOD LOOKING

AS I EVER WAS.

YOU KNOW, BILL, I DIDN'T KNOW IF I'D EVER WALK ON STAGE

WITH YOU AGAIN OR NOT.

AND IT'S THIRTY MILES DOWN TO STOW WHERE I LIVE AND MY

SON IN LAWS AND MY D AUGHTERS BROUGHT ME UP HERE TONIGHT.

YOU CAN'T I CAN'T TELL YOU

IT'S LIKE MEDICINE THE DOCTORS CAN'T GIVE YOU,

TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

I LOVE THOSE STORIES HE USED TO TELL ON GLEN.

CAN YOU REMEMBER THAT ONE YOU TOLD ABOUT

THE DAY VAN AND GLEN BOUGHT A PARROT?

YEAH, VAN AND GLEN BOUGHT A PARROT AND THE PARROT REPEATS

WHATEVER YOU SAY.

WELL, THEY TAUGHT IT TO SAY, WHO IS IT?

AND THAT'S ALL THE PARROT COULD SAY WAS, WHO IS IT?

WELL, VAN HAD TO GO TO THE BEAUTY PARLOR

BUT THE PLUMBER WAS COMING.

AND GLEN TRYING TO MAKE A SANDWICH, NO BREAD,

HE THOUGHT, I'LL RUN DOWN TO THE STORE RIGHT FAST

BEFORE THE PLUMBER GETS HERE.

BUT AS SOON AS HE WENT AROUND THE CORNER

THE PLUMBER PULLED IN.

KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, THE PARROT SAID, WHO IS IT?

HE SAID, IT'S THE PLUMBER. PARROT SAID, WHO IS IT?

HE SAID, IT'S THE PLUMBER.

PARROT SAID, WHO IS IT?

HE SAID, IT'S THE PLUMBER, IT'S THE PLUMBER.

AND HE WAS GETTING RED IN THE FACE AND HIS BLOOD PRESSURE

JUMPED UP AND THE PARROT SAID, WHO IS IT?

AND HE JUST FAINTED RIGHT THERE AT THE DOOR, THE PLUMBER DID.

WELL, GLEN CAME AROUND WALKED UP

ON THE PORCH AND SAW THE GUY LAYING THERE

AND GLEN SAID, WHO IS IT?

THE PARROT SAID, IT'S THE PLUMBER.

WHEN I WAS BUT A BOY IN DAYS OF CHILDHOOD,

I USED TO PLAY TIL EVENING SHADOWS COME:

THEN WINDING DOWN AN OLD FAMILIAR PATHWAY,

I HEARD MY MOTHER CALL AT SET OF SUN.

COME HOME, COME HOME,

IT'S SUPPERTIME,

THE SHADOWS LENGTHEN FAST:

COME HOME, COME HOME,

IT'S SUPPERTIME,

WE'RE GOING HOME AT LAST.

SOME OF THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD,

WERE WOVEN AROUND SUPPERTIME.

WHEN MOM WOULD COME TO THE BACK STEPS OF THE OLD HOME PLACE

AND SHE'D SAY, GEORGE, COME ON IN, IT'S SUPPERTIME.

OH, OH MY, BUT HOW I'D LOVE TO HEAR THAT ONE MORE TIME.

BUT YOU KNOW, FOR ME, TIME HAS WOVEN THE REALIZATION

OF A TRUTH, AND THAT'S WHEN THE LORD COMES TO THE PORTAL

OF GLORY AND SAYS TO COME ON IN, FOR IT'S SUPPERTIME.

AND WE'LL BE GATHERED AROUND THE TABLE WITH THE LORD HIMSELF

AT THE GREATEST SUPPERTIME OF THEM ALL.

VISIONS NOW I SEE HER STANDING YONDER

AND HER FAMILIAR VOICE I HEAR ONCE MORE:

THE BANQUET TABLE'S READY UP IN HEAVEN,

OH, IT'S SUPPERTIME UPON THE GOLDEN SHORE.

COME HOME, COME HOME,

IT'S SUPPERTIME,

THE SHADOWS LENGTHEN FAST:

COME HOME, COME HOME,

IT'S SUPPERTIME,

WE'RE GOING HOME AT LAST.

WE'RE GOING HOME,

YEAH, WE'RE GOING HOME,

YOU KNOW, SONYA, I'VE GOT A LOT MORE DAYS BEHIND ME THAN

I HAVE AHEAD OF ME AND I KNOW THAT.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THIS, SHOULD THE MASTER

RETURN TONIGHT, I AM PACKED AND READY TO GO.

BILL, I GOT MY HOUSE ALL IN ORDER.

YEAH, I'M GOING HOME SOMEDAY.

WHAT A TREASURE.

YOU KNOW THEY SAY SUCCESS DOESN'T CHANGE A MAN,

IT ONLY REVEALS WHO HE REALLY IS.

HIS GREATEST SUCCESSES AND HIS MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES

REVEAL THE HEART OF A HERO.

GEORGE YOUNCE WAS A MAN WHO ALWAYS, ALWAYS CAME OUT SINGING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP ALL THESE YEARS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP, YOU KNOW THAT.

NOT ONLY TO ME BUT TO MY FAMILY.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME AND I FEEL

SO UNDESERVED TO BE AT THE PLACE I'M AT RIGHT NOW IN MY LIFE.

EVEN THOUGH I'M ON DIALYSIS MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAYS

FOR THREE HOURS AND 4 8 MINUTES A MORNING, AND IT'LL BE LIKE

THAT THE REST OF MY LIFE, I AM SO BLESSED.

I FEEL SO THANKFUL FOR GOD'S TOUCH AND SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE

ASK ME, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, BILL, I'VE HEARDYOU SAY THIS,

THAT WE NEED TO LEARN TO SING SONGS IN THE NIGHT.

WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL WITH ME, I TRY TO SING A SONG.

WHEN I FEEL LIKE ALL MY FRIENDS HAVE FORSAKEN ME I REMEMBER,

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS...

SOMETIMES WHEN I'M LOW ON DIALYSIS AND I THINK

I CAN'T SEE THE WAY, SOMETIMES I SING,

LEAD ME GENTLY HOME, FATHER, LEAD ME GENTLY HOME...

SOMETIMES WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WONDERFUL

THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME WITH FRIENDS LIKE YOU,

OH LORD, MY GOD, WHEN I IN AWESOME WONDER...

AND I WONDER AT THE MASTER'S TOUCH ON MY LIFE, YOU KNOW?

AND HE'S LED ME TO FRIENDS LIKE YOU AND GUIDED MY PATHS

AND THE WORD SAYS THAT IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

IN ALL OF OUR WAYS THAT HE WOULD DIRECT OUR PATHS.

I'D RATHER HAVE THAT THAN THE WINNING LOTTERY TICKET FOR THE

BIGGEST JACKPOT IN THE WORLD BECAUSE JESUS PROMISED ME THAT

HE'D LEAD ME IN PATHS I'D NEVER KNOWN, NEVER DREAMED OF

AND HE HAS. AND I WANT TO THANK GOD FOR THAT AND

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SHOULDYOU GO FIRST AND I REMAIN

TO WALK THE ROAD ALONE,

I'LL LIVE IN MEMORY'S GARDEN, DEAR,

WITH THE HAPPY DAYS WE'VE KNOWN.

IN SPRING I'LL WATCH FOR ROSES RED

WHEN FADES THE LILAC BLUE, AND IN EARLY FALL

WHEN BROWN LEAVES CALL,

SHOULDYOU GO FIRST AND I REMAIN

TO FINISH WITH THE SCROLL,

NO LENGTHENING SHADOWS SHALL CREEP IN

TO MAKE THIS LIFE SEEM DROLL.

WE'VE KNOWN SO MUCH OF HAPPINESS

AND WE'VE HAD OUR CUP OF JOY,

BUT MEMORY IS ONE GIFT OF GOD THAT DEATH CANNOT DESTROY.

SHOULDYOU GO FIRST AND I REMAIN

FOR BATTLES TO BE FOUGHT,

EACH THING YOU'VE TOUCHED ALONG THE WAY

WILL BE A HALLOWED SPOT.

I'LL HEAR YOUR VOICE, AND I'LL SEE YOUR SMILE

AND THOUGH BLINDLY I MAY GROPE,

THE MEMORY OF YOUR HELPING HAND

WILL BORE ME ON WITH HOPE:

SHOULDYOU GO FIRST AND I REMAIN

ONE THING I'D HAVE YOU DO:

WALK SLOWLY DOWN THAT LONG, LONG PATH

FOR SOON I'LL FOLLOW YOU,

AND I'LL WANT TO KNOW EACH STEP YOU TAKE

THAT I MAY WALK THE SAME,

FOR SOMEDAY DOWN THAT LONELY ROAD

YOU'LL HEAR ME CALL YOUR NAME.

SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.