Today’s post was written by Paul.
To honor Pap’s birthday on July 16, I had planned to sing harmony with Pap on an old hymn that he recorded by himself. Unfortunately, it was the day before his birthday by the time I had any opportunity to work on that endeavor. I shot around an hour of footage, including a lengthy intro, but I just couldn’t get the harmony to sound good, so I had to go to plan B.
When I was young, Pap and I watched Chet Atkins one night on Austin City Limits, and Chet sang the song “I Still Can’t Say Goodbye.” This was in the late 80’s. Pap and I both thought the song was beautiful.
Chet was never known for his singing ability, but he did the song justice and sang with great feeling. Pap and I both identified with the song because we both had fathers that we greatly looked up to (at that time, Pap’s father, Papaw Wade, was still alive).
I thought about trying to sing this song over the years, but I could never sing it without crying in certain parts, so I just gave up on it. Also, it’s the type of song that really needs the little riffs that Chet put in on the guitar in order to shine like it should.
When plan A didn’t work out, I did something that I don’t recommend: I tried learning a song and uploading it in just a couple of hours. I could never have learned the song well just from watching Chet’s live performance of it. There was just too much going on at any one time on the guitar. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Mr. Ed Ikeguchi’s channel, where he shared a clear, step-by-step breakdown of how to play the song on guitar.
I certainly didn’t want to fail to upload something honoring Pap on his birthday, and I didn’t want to upload something that was unworthy of his memory. One of those two things would have taken place if I hadn’t found Ed’s video about this special song! You can see Ed’s video at this link and the Chet version at this link.
The two hats sitting on the top of my couch in this video both belonged to Pap. The one to the left of the screen is a hat that says “8th Marines.” I ordered it one year. I can’t remember if it was for his birthday, Christmas, Father’s day, or just at a random time.
Pap served in the 8th Marine division. You may notice that the top part of the hat is squashed down. That’s something Pap always did to his hats. He didn’t like them standing up too high.
The white hat is an old Clay’s Corner hat, merchandise from a popular roadside store in Brasstown. That store was run by one of Pap’s friends, Clay Logan. I keep the Marine hat at my house because I bought it for Pap. I keep it in my studio control room to somewhat create his presence there as an inspiration. The only reason the white hat happened to be at my house is that Granny took it down from a shelf recently and asked me to take it home and wash it. It was very dusty.
I hope that all of our Acorns enjoyed this beautiful song and that it reminded you of your own fathers. More importantly, it’s my hope and prayer that you had a wonderful father or father figure in your life like Pap and that all of your children, grandchildren, etc. experience the same. Thanks for watching.
Last night’s video: Christmas Cookies in July.
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
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Great!!!!
Very good job with the song. Lyrics many can relate to, I’m sure. It’s a fitting choice for your Pap’s birthday. Reading the story behind it adds so much. Thanks!
Beautiful song Paul. You made your Pap Proud.
I would like to reiterate what I said in my comment on Paul’s video. I love the finger picking and think he might have missed his calling.
Paul, that was one of the most moving songs I’ve heard in a very long time, and you showed heart felt emotion! Pap would have loved hearing that I think. I know you miss him, but you will meet again in heaven, how wonderful to know that! God bless and keep you!
Paul, thank you for sharing this song, you sang it beautifully with such love and yet longing. I’ve missed my Daddy for 35 years and my husband, Bill, for 38 years and “I still can’t say goodbye”. either. Hearing you sing this song has blessed me, tears of longing to just hear their voice, yes, but peace in knowing I will see them again. Thank you again!
oh Paul, that was beautiful. I cried through the whole thing. I had a Daddy like that. I was his little girl and he was so special to me. although he has been gone 16 years now, I was lucky enough to have him until he was 85. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and wish I could ask him something. He was a history buff and he traced our family on both sides back to the time they came to America. He left us many albums filled with information. I am so thankful God blessed me with my Daddy. Thanks again for that beautiful song.
Beautifully sung, Paul. I still miss my daddy who passed in 1989. Daddy’s like ours will always have a special place in our hearts. Thank you Blessings
Oh my…what a wonderful song and so beautifully done. It touched my heart. My Daddy was a gentle giant – a good man who left shoes that can never be filled. He died two weeks after 9-11. He grew up in the country and along with my Mama, raised my brother and me to appreciate the small things in life. We grew a large garden; set hooks for catfish in the creek out back; played in mountain streams; went to church EVERY Sunday, taught me to play a harmonica and guitar; carved wooden guns and whistles; and on and on and on. We took a long walk in the woods each and every season, just to see the changes in nature. I was blessed with a truly loving and caring Daddy and I will never get over missing him yet because of my Christian faith, I know I will see him again alongside our Heavenly Father.
Thank you, Paul for sharing this song with us.
Paul that was beautiful. I feel the same why about my dad I lost him when I was 22 I’m now 63 and almost the same age he was when he died. It still hurts, he seemed invincible to me then. Thanks for sharing that lovely song and glad you made it through the song without tears I sure didn’t. Prayers always to granny she’s a jewel.
Loved the song and Paul’s voice and guitar on it. Thanks for sharing, Paul. Although I didn’t cry, not a muscle in my body other than my heart moved as I listened. I absolutely was transfixed!
Very nice!
Such a beautiful, but also a very sad song Paul. It is understandable how difficult it would be to sing for as I listen it brings tears to my eyes too, as I remember my own daddy who died in March of 91 at 85 years old, but more so in remembering my John who died at 73 years in November 2019. Have a peaceful and restful Sunday.
oh Paul! boy can I relate to this one. Our Daddys are a special breed.
So much grief & love rolled into those words. Thankyou for sharing with us.
Clay Logan? Is that the same Clay Logan that married my 2nd cousin Judy? Is his first name actually James but he goes by Clay?
Ed, that is him 🙂
My daddy always wore a railroad cap, the ones with blue and white stripes. All the years he rode horses, he also wore a cowboy hat. I miss him so much. It’s been six months, but it seems like yesterday I was holding his hand while he took his last breath. Your song was beautiful and made me cry.
Oh my goodness! That was absolutely beautiful, Paul! One of the best I’ve heard you do. My dad passed away in 1973, so he’s been gone many years. He was a fine man & made such a positive impact on my life. I miss him still.
It is odd how so-called ‘little things’ become so big, things we would have never thought would do so. Not sure what to make of that but I think one reason is because there is one or more vivid memories connected. But another is a great number of ‘small’ memories connected will have the same effect. I wish I could sit down with Dad and ask him about a lot of different things in his life and how he felt about them. But I don’t think he would tell me if he were here. Us guys didn’t (and still don’t) talk about our deepest thoughts and emotions. It is too risky to venture your self respect to criticism, especially if it has been hammered before. Dad’s birthday is this month. He turned 19 sitting in a rice paddy in China. They had been called out to go to the aid of a convoy attacked by the Red Chinese. I understand, Paul, why that song is a tear-jerker.
Another great song and another great video, Paul. A wonderful tribute to all the daddys out there. Thank you again.
What a beautiful song. I certainly miss my daddy too. I’d not heard this before. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I was blessed to have a fantastic Daddy. I followed him as a little girl and have the same love of nature and animals that I’m sure came from him. He was a good example of a God fearing, hard-working man that intended to take care of his family and worked as a team with his wife in growing food and putting it up. If he was alive today he would be 110 and I sure do miss him! Paul your song was beautiful!!
Happy heavenly birthday to Pap & what a beautiful tribute to him with that song that speaks to all that he was. From the little I know about him, he was an amazing man, husband, father & friend. He was someone to look up to and aspire to be like. Paul, that songs speaks volumes to how you, Tipper & Steve felt about him & how very special he was in your lives. I’m glad I have gotten to know him through you.
Blessings for a beautiful Sunday to all! Beautiful and very special song, Paul.
I look forward to hearing the music on Sundays! You’re so talented. Thank you!
Very touching song.
Thank you.
The tears are rolling. My daddy went home 11 years ago today. I heard his very last heartbeat. I still miss him so! What a precious song; thank you for sharing! It’s the first time I’ve heard it.
Great song. Thanks for sharing and sharing your talent. Always enjoy hearing you play.
good Sunday morning, God bless each and everyone
Saturday was a rough day–new information about and having to have several conversations (for some reason everyone called me yesterday when normally no one calls) about 2 people in last days of cancer (one a relative one a dear close friend of over forty years) and a third relative not even sixty who has started having small strokes–neurologists can not seem to find a ‘fixable, or controllable cause’. I have not been able to sleep so while praying for them all I thought I would jump on here and see if todays post was up yet…..I tried listening to the song, I was a great admirer of Chet and he was also one of my dad’s favorite musicians. I am familiar with him singing this and as I said I tried to listen to it, but after the day I had I could not finish it–at least not just yet. (you do an amazing job at pickin and singing which made it even more difficult to listen to) One day I won’t be so raw emotionally and will finish listening to the song…..my dad was amazing in many ways, some of which I had to get many years behind me before I recognized things as they really were in order to come to my conclusion of just how wonderful he was. I look forward to Tuesdays, Thursdays and the occasional Sundays when you put up a song and bless us with wonderful background information and side stories concerning the songs….keep ’em coming
Gaylia, I’m so sorry. I will pray for them and for you too.
Gaylia, I am like you, I tried listening to today’s song but stopped. In no way will I ever be able to say goodbye to my wife or daughter along with the other family members that have passed away. I look forward to one day being able to again say “hello.” In the last two weeks, three of my friends, two were coworkers have all died from cancer.
Gaylia, I have asked for the Lord to give you peace and strength and wisdom.
I am already awake but haven’t listen to the song yet, don’t want to wake the others up but will listen later on. Not sure if I want too, so many family members have died and especially my wife and daughter. I know it will be good just like the others. My comment has to do with Pap’s hats, I had an extremely good Daddy and farther in law. Daddy would wear a cap or hat at times and the only times my father in law didn’t wear a cap was at church, while eating at the table, or at night while sleeping. He wouldn’t wear a hat inside the church building even if it was during the week and he was doing some type of work. Now my son, their grandson, has some caps that each of them had worn. My Daddy died on January 20, 1991 and my father in law July 11, 2013. I miss both of them.
My son works for Fastenal. He brings me all their brand caps and their RFK Nascar Racing caps. He collects free caps and stuff from his customers too.
Before Fastenal he worked for United Rentals, another source for free caps. I have a closet full (small closet) of caps and shirts he has given me and a few I have collected on my own.
I would have mentioned free calendars but they are not so special. They all expire at the end of the year.