Picking and grinning

For this week’s Pickin’ & Grinnin’ In The Kitchen Spot I wanted to share the details of an old song with you-a song I’ve heard Pap sing my entire life. We taped it back in February-and finally today I decided to use it.

I couldn’t remember who sang it first-The Louvin Brothers? Jim and Jesse? Cowboy Copas? I Googled everything I could think of but came up with nothing. I tried calling Paul-who I swear is a walking encyclopedia of old music-but he’s gone to a meeting. Next I try Pap, however, he’s having one of those senior moments and is drawing a complete blank about the song-he can tell me all the words and even sing it to me over the phone-but can’t think of who sang it or wrote it-he can’t even remember when he first heard it!

The answers to all my questions will probably come to Pap sometime in the middle of the night-but it’s “Too Late” and I’m going to bed. So enjoy the outstanding harmony-the mighty fine flat top picking-and if you know who wrote the song please tell me.

Did you enjoy the 2 part harmony? The picking? Do you know who wrote it? Who sang it?

Tipper

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Blogging about Appalachia since 2008

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20 Comments

  2. Hey Tip,
    Thanks for posting this. And thanks to everyone for their wonderful comments and compliments. Tip, I’m sorry you couldn’t get a hold of me when you needed to ask me. I’ve heard this song sung by the Louvins and later by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Just a few minutes ago, thanks to Kat, I listened to Jim Wakely do a beautiful job. Of course, like you, the first I ever heard it was when Pap sang while we little. I remember that as a kid, I thought the song was so sad but I couldn’t quite understand what had happened that had made it “too late.”
    A few years ago, I was trying to find the lyrics to a song called “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day to Cry,” a fragment that Pap remembered from his youth–and one that I hope we can post our version of on Youtube one of these days. Anyway, I found that the song was written and sung by a man named Hugh X. Lewis, not to be confused with Hewy Lewis & the News 🙂
    Mr. Lewis, who I think may still be alive, was a singer and performer in West Virginia. He was one of those folks with tons of talent that just never quite could break through and become a Nashville star. Although I’ve never heard him sing “Too Late,” I believe he wrote it. It was mentioned in a bio-sketch that I found on him. This seems to be supported by the link that Patty found. Plus, there are noticeable similarities between the lyrics and melodies of both songs (“Too Late” and “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day”). I think Lewis eventually started singing all Gospel music, but I’m not sure about that either. Jimmy Wakely’s career definitely goes back into the 40’s, but the recording on YouTube is probably from the 60’s since it’s in stereo. Well, that was probably more information than you wanted to know! 🙂

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  8. I really enjoyed the harmony. Family voices usually blend well. My brothers had a great sound when they sang together.
    The song is pretty and I’ve heard it before, but couldn’t remember who sang it originally.

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  9. Oh, I love it! Those voices are just golden! The lyrics are great too… yet another addition to my favorites… seems like Paul and Pap’s are all my favs!

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  16. Tipper,
    I’ve always known Ray Price to sing this song, but I believe it was written and first recorded by the late-1940’s tv singing cowboy star, Jimmy Wakely.
    That might help point you in the right direction.
    Matthew

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  20. I loved it. The long sleeves made me think there is a chill in the air. I was also thinking was a treasure you are preserving by recording your Pap.

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