Well..............

I find myself in general agreement with all of the last few posts. I remember a lot of the singing I did in my youth was at home and in church and of course a lot of that was hymns and gospel which is an obvious tie to the Southern Mountain music that I love and the offshoots such as Bluegrass which relies heavily on gospel. Pete hit the nail on the head squarely on the head when he mentions the way the song is presented. It's not the song as much as the presentation by some, such as Phil Harris, which makes it come off so badly. Sure, it's a bit scmaltzy for me, but if I had heard it done by Audie Murphy.......

But Joe, it's easy to offend and I try to keep my "sideshow" tone light enough so it's hopefully not taken too badly. But realize too that your last comment could be taken offensively. Living and growing up only a scant few miles from Wheeling, are you implying that folks in the hills and the river valley are just stupid hillbillies and could be easily duped into doing anything with the right approach? Why not use Chicago or New York? Or go to Nashville for the biggest caountry shows of those days? Or even WLW in Cincy? I know that's not what you meant Joe, far from it. But it certainly could be taken that way.

I will take issue with you on one point Joe...regarding Rick's dickheads, uh deckheads. You say we should be nice to everyone and include them in the community of Mudcat. I can prove, with logic you cannot refute, that you are wrong. When I came on I stayed because everyone was nice to me......and look how this has turned out for you!!!

catspaw