Mark-Clark,

Sheesh! Ya sure know how ta make a gyrl cry! Such sweet sentiments, I am sure your daughters will choke up, just like me! I didn't come along until 53, so the first radio I remember listening to was Gunsmoke, on Saturday nights. The first song I remember learning off the radio was Catch A Falling Star.

We had everything in our house, from opera, classical, folk, cowboy, Girl Scouts, campy/camp, WWII popular, etc. you name, our family was pretty much exposed to it. we all had classical training, mostly in piano & violin. Mom and Dad played for dances and they had an extensive collection of popular sheet music. My sister, bet, is in the process of alphabetising it right now. Somehow, at 82, Dad still remembers more songs than most and I marvel at him still going to entertain the "old folks" at the nursing homes.

Now, to get that bit o'thread creep back in line: two more sad songs runing through my mind are Freddie Fender's "Before the next teardrop falls" and Hank Williams' "House Upon the Hill".

And, what about Utah Carroll:

And as, my friend, you ask me what makes me sad and still
And why my brow is darkened like the clouds upon the hill
Run in your pony closer and I'll tell to you the tale
Of Utah Carroll, my pardner, and his last ride on the trail

then....

As the girl fell from her pony she had dragged the blanket down
And it lay there close beside her as she lay upon the ground.
Utah picked up the blanket, "Lie still," again he said,
Then he raced across the prairie and waved the blanket o'er his head.
(it was red & he was turning the stampede away from her)

and....

When we broke into the circle, upon the ground my pardner lay;
Nevermore to cinch a bronco, nor to give a cattle call.
There he died upon the ranges, though it seemed most awful hard
That I could not make the distance in time to save my pard.

and there's more!

katwhocan'tsinganysadsongswithcowboys,horses,orothercrittersinthem!