Remember "Red"?

alledan

I was on the outskirts of a little southern town
Tryin' to reach my destination before the sun went down
The old CB was blarin' away on channel 1-9!
When there came a little boy's voice on the radio line

And he said: "Breaker 1-9! Is anyone there?
Come on back, truckers and talk to Teddy Bear!"
Well, I keyed the mike and said: "You got it, Teddy Bear!"
And a little boy's voice came back on the air

"'Preciate the break, Who we got on that end?"
I told him my handle, and, then he began:
"Now, I'm not supposed to bother you fellows out there
Mom says you're busy and for me to stay off the air

But you see, I get lonely and it helps to talk
'Cause that's about all I can do, I'm crippled, and, I can't walk!"
I came back and told him to fire up that mike
And I'd talk to 'im, as long as he liked

"This was my dad's radio", the little boy said
"But I guess it's mine and mom's now, 'cause my daddy's dead!"
"Dad had a wreck about a month ago
He was trying to get home in a blindin' snow

Mom has to work now, to make ends meet
And I'm not much help, with my two crippled feet!"
"She says not to worry that we'll make it alright
But, I hear her crying, sometimes late at night

You know there's just one thing I want more than anything else to see
Aw, I know you guys are too busy to bother with me!"
"But, you see, my dad used to take me for rides when he was home
But, I guess that's all over now, since my daddy's gone

Not one breaker came on the old CB
As that little crippled boy talked with me
I tried hard to swallow a lump that just wouldn't stay down
As I thought about my boy back in Greenville Town

"Dad was going to take mom and me with him later on this year, Why,
l remember 'im saying: 'Someday this old truck will be yours, Teddy Bear!'
But, I know I'll never get to ride an 18-wheeler again
But, this old base will keep me in touch with all my trucker friends!"

"Teddy Bear's gonna back on out now and leave you alone
'Cause it's about time for mom to come home
But, you give me a shout when you're passin' through
And I'll sure be happy to come back to you!"

Well, I came back and I said: uh! "Before you go 10-10
What's your home 20, little CB friend?"
Well, he gave me his address and I didn't once hesitate
'Cause this hot load of freight was just gonna have to wait

I turned that truck around on a dime
And headed straight for Jackson Street, 229
And as I rounded the corner, oh, I got one heck of a shock
l8 wheelers were lined up for three city blocks!

Why, I guess every driver for miles around had caught Teddy Bear's call
And that little crippled boy was having a ball
For as fast as one driver would carry him in
Another would carry him to his truck and take off again

Well, you better believe I took my turn at riding Teddy Bear
And then I carried him back in and put him down in his chair
And buddy if I never live to see happiness again
I want you to know I saw it that day, in the face of that little man

We took up a collection for him before his mama got home
And each driver said goodbye and then they all were gone
He shook my hand with a mile-long grin
And said: "So long, trucker I'll catch ya again!"

Well, I hit the Interstate with tears in my eyes
I turned on the radio and I got another surprise
"Breaker 1-9!" Came a voice on the air
"Just one word of thanks from Mama Teddy Bear!"

"We wish each and every one, a special prayer for you
'Cause, You just made my little boy's dream come true
I'll sign off now, before, I start to cry
May God ride with you, 10-4, and goodbye."



Never ask why but only the value of.

offeror

Makes a nice poem. A quick bit of research reveals that this song was a crossover hit in the 70s for Red Sovine. I'm downloading it for a listen later today. Thanks.

- Life NRA Member
If dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Lowrider

I like old country music but, sorry , Red Sovine makes me want to barf.

Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.

Jungle Jim

I knew Red Sovine very well. When we found the song "Teddy Bear" Red hated it. Said it was too morbid; but recorded it anyway as a favor to producer Tommy Hill. (Tommy wrote and produced "Giddy Up Go" which was one of Red's early hits.)When "Teddy Bear" was released and sent to the radio stations, it wasn't uncommon for the switchboard to be jammed with requests to hear it again everytime it was played. The song went to number one in 4 weeks! Red had his share of problems after the song hit; his wife died and later he slipped on stage and injured himself so badly that he had to perform in a wheelchair. The record was a certified million seller in the US, and sold several million copies overseas; and is still popular in the US and Australia with the long haul truckers. How do I know all this? Tommy Hill, myself and Moe Lytle wrote the followup to Teddy Bear, called "Little Joe". The recitation wasn't written in poetry form; just a story about a trucker and his dog. I originally had the idea about a Vietnam Vet that came home blind and his childhood dog became a seeing eye dog. No one wanted military songs then, so we changed it to a trucker's version. If you know how to look up things like this, you'll find my name first in the songwriting credits.

Sorry Red makes you want to barf, Lowrider; my royalties have enabled me to greatly increase my gun collection!

Jim

"De Oppresso Liber"

Elbesta

If you like that one, you'll really hate this one.

Teddy Bear's Last Ride

I was there that day and I saw her cry. . . after Mama Teddy Bear
said: "Ten-four and goodbye!". . .
She turned off the old C.B. and just looked at me. . .
and her heart overflowed and her tears ran free. . .
and the gratitude shown in her face like the sun. . .
for all the things those big tough truckers had done. . .
A hand full of change and few dollar bills. . .
but most of all a little crippled boy's dreams fulfilled. . .
I guessI was Mama Teddy Bear's best friend. . .
I'd lived by her and little Teddy Bear since, ohhh!
I couldn't remember when. . .
and that's why now, before my memory grows old,
the rest of the story just has to be told.

I'd come over and sit with Teddy Bear while his mama was away and play
little games to help him pass the day. . .
But in the afternoons he'd wheel that
chair over by the radio and he'd go on the air. . .
And one by one he'd break 'em all. . .
And I never knew a trucker not to answer his call. . .
He'd just grin and ask me not tell his mama,
but I was pretty sure she knew what was going on. . .
But time has a way of taking its toll
and much too fast Mama Teddy Bear was growin' old
and I watched as the silver touched her hair. . .
But her one aim in life was slowly losing the race. . .
And I knew it and his mama knew it too. . .
And there was nothing in this whole world either of us could do. . .
He talked less often on the old C.B. . .
There were times when he would hardly talk with me. . .

He took to sittin' by the window and watchin' the road. . .
and the big 18 wheelers rollin' by with their loads. . .
And finally he was too weak to get out of bed. . .
And one day he looked up at me and said:
"Would you turn on the radio and go on the air. . .
and tell all my trucker friends what's happened to Teddy Bear?". . .
Well, the hardest thing I've done in my time was to pick up that mike
and say: "Break One-nine!!!
This is for all you truckers who care. . .
I'm callin' for your little friend, Teddy Bear.
He says to tell you he misses you all and he's awful sorry
he can't answer your calls!". . .
They all came back and joked with me and said that they'd
catch him later on the Old C.B. . .
They never did catch Teddy Bear again 'cause
late one night the angel came and the last thing he said before he
died was: "Tell all my trucker friends how I enjoyed the rides!"

Mama Teddy Bear couldn't tell 'em and neither could I 'cause
every time we'd look at that radio, we'd both start to cry. . .
The funeral was preached at the chapel and
Little Teddy Bear started his last ride. . .
As the procession rounded the little city square,
the sounds of a hundred engines filled the air. . .
The truckers had dropped their trailers back somewhere behind,
and one by one, they fell in line. .
They all tried to comfort Mama Teddy Bear
and it seemed like the warmth of God just filled the air. . .
Slowly they formed a circle around the little grave. . .
And a lot of big men cried that day as the paid their
last respects on Teddy Bear's Last Ride.

Jungle Jim

Elbesta,

I remember it well. The radio stations had a hard time deciding whether to play "Teddy Bears Last Ride" or "Little Joe". Luckily (for me) Red Sovine's name was stronger than the newcomer with Last Ride, the messsage was more positive and we won out. "Little Joe" was nowhere near the hit that "Teddy Bear" was, but still went gold. Red was so hot then he could've recorded the Lord's Prayer and sold a million records!

For those that don't know, Red Sovine was killed in a car wreck in 1980.

Jim

"De Oppresso Liber"

woodsrunner

I can remember being about ten years old, and going out on the road with dad, listening to those songs. My favorite is "Big Joe And Phantom 309". Dad had a contract to haul fruit for the Gerber baby food co, when they had a plant here in Rochester. I wish I had a picture of that truck, it was a big old Diamond Reo.

Woods

How big a boy are ya?

Lowrider

These had to be the corniest songs ever written.

Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.

Zuider Zee

You may think they were corny Lowrider, but millions of buyers disagree with you. Red Sovine sold over 10 million records in his career.

Zee

Patrick Odle

Alledan
In reading and remembering my mind remembered one out of the distant
past that I had not thought of in years, circa near end of W11.

The postman just delivered a letter
And it filled her old heart full of joy
But she didn't know til she read the inside
It was the last one from her darling boy

Dear mom is the way that it started
I miss you so much it went on.
But mom you know that I love you so
And I'll prove it when this war is won

I'm writing this down in a trench mom
Don't scold if it isn't so neat
For mom you know as you did when I was a kid
And came home with mud on my feet

The captain just gave us our orders
And mom we will carry them thru
I'll finish this letter the first chance I get
But for now I'll just say I love you

The mothers old hand began to tremble
And she fought against tears in her eyes
But they came unashamed for there was no name
And she knew that her darling had died

That night as she knelt by her bedside
She prayed God above hear my plea
And protect all the boys that are fighting tonight
And dear God keep America free.


THE SOLDIERS LAST LETTER

Bubba Joel

Thanks for the walk down memory lane...

The Soldiers Last Letter...I had to borrow that one....There must be something in my eyes...Thanks for sharing..

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