Blackwood Brothers By The Statler Brothers

(album: Thank You World - 1974)

We all four grew up together
In a small Virginia country town
And, for some strange reason... God only knows...
We got to singing around
And about twice a year at the National Guard Armory
Or the old school house we'd go see
The Blackwood Brothers who were coming to town
To sing especially for me

They always drew a crowd of young folk and old women
And men with the mortgage on their homes
Farmers and teachers, rich men and preachers...
The old school house was full, and they would come
And we bought up every album, every picture, every single
Their autographs were the only things free
But the main thing they were selling
Was Jesus and good singing
In that old school house where the Blackwoods sang for me

And they would sing (and they would sing)
"Hide me, old blest Rock of Ages"
Every day will be Sunday by and by
Heavenly love inside the gates
Give the world a smile each day
They were all peace like a river to my soul

And I want to cross (I want to cross)
That chilly Jordan (chilly Jordan)
And I want to be more and more like Jesus every day
Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
At the old country church
"God made a way for me", that's what the good book says

How many times (how many times)
Have we heard them sing those songs?
So many times (so many times)
They've been our idols for so long
And, God, if there's an old school house
In Heaven, let me be
Somewhere close where I can hear R.W. sing for me

The road... the road... the road of Calvary
And, God, if there's an old school house
In Heaven, let me be
Somewhere close where I can hear the Blackwoods sing for me