Some of Bill & Wilma's Original Song Lyrics

Some of Bill & Wilma's Song Lyrics

ANCIENT OLE TELLICO
by Wilma Millsaps

I sat on the banks of the Tellico River,
In an old wicker lawn chair
By a big willow tree
And I watched the cool waters
Of the peaceful old river
Flow slowly but surely
Toward the Great Tennessee.

Then one day a storm blew up
Back in the mountains
Pouring it's fury
Into small mountain streams
And I watched the cool waters
Of the Ancient Ole Tellico
Grow wild free and muddy
As she washed away dreams.

I met my first love
On the banks of the river
As I played my guitar
By the big willow tree
To the song of the waters
The wind in the willow
Me and my true love
Sang sweet harmony.

Then one day a storm blew up
Back in the mountains
Pouring its fury
Into small mountain streams
And I watched the cool waters
Of the Ancient Ole Tellico
Grow wild free and muddy
As she washed away dreams.

I last saw my love
On the banks of the river
I called out his name
But he couldn't hear me
Just the song of the water
The wind in the willow
Now me and my guitar
Sing pure misery.

Cause one day a storm blew up
Back in the mountains
Pouring its fury
Into small mountain streams
And I watched the cool waters
Of the Ancient Old Tellico
Grow wild free and muddy
As she washed away dreams.

ANGEL WITHOUT WINGS
by Wilma Millsaps & Fred Wakefield

Oh the blues came over me
After love walked out on me
And I prayed for a miracle
To set my heart at rest
Then I went for a walk
In the rain as dusk came stealing
I met him
As I was
Returning late at night.

I met him walking
Late at night
And all around him
Shone a light
At first I thought
That I was seeing things
Then I looked him over good
And I somehow understood
That he was an Angel Without Wings.

I got the miracle
I prayed for
A fair haired Angel
Without Wings
In faith and in truth
He wears his halo
Now in love
I proudly wear
His wedding ring.

BLUES OF THE MORNING
by Wilma Millsaps

I woke up this morning with love on my mind
And peace in my heart I was hoping to find
But just like a storm cloud that covers the skies
The Blues of the Morning bring tears to my eyes.

I'm all out of beer and I'm too sick to ear
And I'm aching all over from my head to my feet
And just like a storm cloud that covers the skies
The Blues of the Morning bring tears to my eyes.

The man who I love I walked out of his home
And left him to wallow in sorrow alone
I made some mistakes with deceit and with lies
Now the Blues of the Morning bring tears to my eyes.

I'm all out of beer and I'm too sick to eat
And I'm aching all over from my head to my feet
And just like a storm cloud that covers the skies
The Blues of the Morning bring tears to my eyes.

CROSSROADS OF TIME
by Bill & Wilma Millsaps

As I leave the asphalt and turn toward the hills,
I take off my Timex 'cause time just stands still;
As the colors of sunset reflect from my face,
I know God Himself created this place.

Now I stand here alone at the Crossroads of Time,
Looking ahead of me, looking behind.
The future looks brighter and the past makes me smile,
At the Crossroads of Time I'm adult and I'm child.

CHO-
The dogwoods are blooming, they're white as the snow,
'Round the old mountain cabin where wild roses grow.
Where we walked in the sunshine and danced in the dew;
When we were sixteen and romance was new.

Time just flew by down through the years,
Thoughts of the future sometimes bring me tears.
I never envisioned a life without you,
Since we were sixteen and romance was new.

When life on this earth has faded away,
I'm looking ahead to a yet brighter day,
When you'll take my hand and we'll start life anew,
Like we were sixteen and romance was new.

CHO-
Where the dogwoods are blooming, they're white as the snow,
Round the old mountain cabin where wild roses grow.
Where we walked in the sunshine and danced in the dew;
When we were sixteen and romance was new.

GAL WHO'S ALWAYS HAPPY
by Bill Millsaps

Recorded by Abigail Moore

I am a gal who's always happy,
I see sunshine every day.
I trust the Lord for His safekeeping,
Good things always come my way.

I make my home in North Carolina,
Where I learned to sing and play.
I like the tunes played by the old folks,
I'll fiddle them, All of my days.

"GOD GAVE NOAH THE RAINBOW SIGN"
(Learned from Joe Stuart) - Author Unknown
(Arr. by Bill & Wilma Millsaps)

God gave Noah the rainbow sign, don't you see
God gave Noah the rainbow sign, don't you see
God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water but the fire next time
Hide me; Oh, rock of ages hide thou me.

Poor old Lazarus poor as I, don't you see
Poor old Lazarus poor as I, don't you see
Poor old Lazarus poor as I, when he died, he had a home on high
Hide me; Oh, rock of ages hide thou me.

East and west the fire will roll hide thy me
East and west the fire will roll hide thy me
East and west the fire will roll, Lord have mercy on my poor soul
Hide me; Oh, rock of ages hide thou me.

GOLDEN MEMORIES
by Wilma Millsaps

Golden memories, appear in daydreams,
Time and age, have slowed me down.
And traveling through, my Golden Memories,
Is the way, I get around.

1st. CHO-
Take me back, to the mountains,
Where the wind, blows soft and free.
Mountain steams, trickle slowly,
Over pebbles, in my dreams.

Little wildflowers, dot the grasses,
Of a field, from olden time,
And an old house, sits in silence;
Basking in, the warm sunshine.

Mama singing, in the kitchen,
Cooking cornbread, making pies;
On the front porch, Daddy's whittlin,
Making me, a toy suprise.

Little children, in the sunshine,
Shaking apples from a tree;
Running carefree, through the meadow,
These are Golden Memories.

2nd CHO-
Now I'm old, and I can't go there,
Except to travel, in my mind;
So alone, I'll make my journey,
To the mountains, one more time.

Soon they'll lay me, midst the wildflowers,
Underneath, an old oak tree;
Maybe I will, be a part of,
Someone's Golden Memories.
Repeat 1st CHO-

GOODBYE JOE
by Bill Millsaps & Rick Campbell

Well good bye Joe, I'll really miss you
A friend you were, In the toughest times
We rode the road, And picked together
Joe you were, A friend of mine.

Joe you know, You had the rhythm
You put the life, Into a band
I know they'll be, So glad to have you
Up in Heaven's, Bluegrass band.

You were the king, Of all the sidemen
All the pickers, Will admit that's so
Tho some may play, The way you showed them
There'll never be, Another Joe.

You paid your dues, A way too early
You took the bitter, With a little sweet
You never reached, Great fame or fortune
Joe your pickin', It can't be beat

Joe when you, Knew you were dying
When you let, Your guitar go
You must have seen, The harps of Heaven
And a guitar, Made just for Joe.

Joe your smiles, Hid all the misery
As you shouldered, Your heavy load
I guess the Lord, Understood it
And took you off, This lonesome road.

So Good Bye Joe, I'll really miss you
A friend you were, In the roughest times
We rode the road, And picked together
Joe you were, A friend of mine.

I'M ALONE IN THIS WORLD
by Bill Millsaps & Harry Harless

I'm as lonesome as a church house on a Sunday afternoon,
When the people have all gone and there's nothing left to do.
Like a purpose with no reason or a bird without a tree,
I'm alone in this world and as lonesome as I can be.

There's a saying that my mother had and that I've always heard,
It's a story often told that's a story often heard.
But now as I am sitting here and singing this song,
There's nobody listenin' in. Where has everybody gone?

Seems like I never get a break or anything at all,
I've been down and out and out of luck so long as I recall.
I've been trying hard to get a break, seems like I never do,
Better things may come my way but until the day I do.

I'll be sitting here and waiting for the phone to ring,
The way my life's been going I'll be sitting here 'til spring.
I've thought of moving on and I've thought of giving up,
But nothing that I've thought of seem to help me very much.

I'm as lonesome as a church house on a Sunday afternoon,
When the people have all gone and there's nothing left to do.
Like a purpose with no reason or a bird without a tree,
I'm alone in this world and as lonesome as I can be.

LONESOME WAS THAT DAY
by Bill Millsaps

Spare me just one of your moments,
Take in what I have to say;
Learn and profit from my story,
'Bout a friend who passed away.

Life was full of sweet temptations,
Sometimes more than he could bear;
Tho they sometimes gave him pleasure,
His poor life they didn't spare.

CHO-
Lonesome Was That Day,
Death took him away,
From this world of sweet temptations;
Oh, so Lonesome Was That Day.

Death one day did come a'creeping,
From it there was no escape;
All his friends they came a'weeping,
And his coffin they did shape.

To the graveyard they did take him,
Where a deep dark grave they made.
Down in the ground they did fix him,
Planted him there in the shade.

PONDERING
Words and Music by: Bill Millsaps
Sometimes I find myself pondering back thru the walls of time,
Back to the days of my childhood, When everything was fine;
The memories give me goosebumps and bring chills to my spine,
When I ponder o're the good times and the pleasures that were mine.

Things like when we were playing 'round the honeysuckle vine,
And the wind gently whispering, Thru the lonesome old pines;
The honeybees buzzing peacefully in and out of their gums,
And the cow bells a clanking when milking time comes.

Then I think of the girl who once promised me her heart,
All at once my thoughts are shaken, All my pondering falls apart;
For my love for her was greater than anything I can explain,
And in spite of all the good things, Pondering has got its pain.

So I'll quit all my pondering and forget about the past,
Stop wasting time on old memories, About a love that didn't last;
I'll just have to go on living, Whether in joy or in sorrow,
And keep in mind that today, Will be pondered on tommorrow.

Alt. last two lines:
I'll just have to go on living, Taking things as they are,
And keep in mind that today, Will be pondered on tommorrow.

SANTEETLAH
(Santeetlah Waltz)
by Bill Millsaps

Santeetlah, That's where I long to be,
Cool crystal waters, Are waiting for me;
Other places, I may adore,
But I love Santeetlah more.

Santeetlah, Home of the Cherokee,
Proud native tribesmen, Lived here so free;
Here too, The buffalo roamed,
I love my Santeetlah home.

Santeetlah, that's where I make my bed,
There's no other place, I'd rather lay my head;
And when, this life of mine is ore',
I'll rest on Santeetlah's shore.

SNOWBIRD MOUNTAIN
by Bill Millsaps

High in the hills of North Carolina,
There's the place that's home to me;
Far from the reach of any big city,
And that is where I long to be.

CHO-
Snowbird (Snowbird), Snowbird Mountain is my home,
Down in Caroline;
Snowbird (Snowbird), Snowbird Mountain,
Is where I'll rest beneath the pines.

I want a drink of that cool mountain water,
I dream of its taste so pure and sweet;
I want to wade through the creek on old Snowbird,
And feel the rocks beneath my feet.

When I get home to North Carolina,
From there I'll never more roam;
I'll live out my life and always be happy,
There in my Snowbird Mountain home.

THE LAST BECAME THE FIRST
Bill Millsaps

Years ago in old Kentucky,
A lady gave birth to her youngest son.
But the first will be last
And the last will be first.
Monroe grew up to be number one.

All his family liked to play music,
They put Bill on the mandolin.
It took him a while
But he developed a style,
And he stood tall among his fellow men.

He wrote true songs from his memories,
Uncle Pen became a world-wide name.
When it came to putting on a show,
The Blue Grass Boys were "ready to go."
They went to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Now Bill is old and tired and withered,
No longer able to pick and grin;
But my friends don't lament
He has peace and content,
As he sits and hugs his mandolin.

When his days down here are over,
When with the angels he must go;
In that land so bright and fair,
I'm sure the brightest tenor there,
Will be that of our beloved Bill Monroe.

THINKING OF ME
by Fred R. Wakefield & Bill Millsaps

You wandered away from me my darling,
I wonder if you ever think of me.
You have not called or even wrotea letter;
I wonder if you ever think of me.

CHO-
Thinking of Me, Thinking of Me.
You're just sitting there Thinking of Me.
Someday if we make it, we'll get back together;
Then you won't have to think of me,
Then you won't have to think of me.

Deep down in our hearts, we're not separated;
We're only apart because of me.
But if we should make it and get back together,
Then you won't have to think of me,
Then you won't have to think of me.

I have broke my heart, by letting you leave me;
Too stubborn to ask you not to go.
But if you'll come back, no more will it happen,
And then you won't have to think of me,
Then you won't have to think of me.

WHEN I NEEDED YOU
by Bill & Wilma Millsaps

When I Needed You, You walked out on me,
Left me with the blues and lots of misery.
I feel all alone, Since you've went away,
And as long as you're gone, I'll be blue every day.

CHO-
Well I'm 'a sitting here crying, Feel like I'm dying,
And I don't know what to say.
My head's getting hazy and I'm sure to go crazy, If you don't come this way.
Sometimes I really wonder, Just what in the thunder,
You meant by leaving that day,
Hope you'll come back, Before my blues turn black,
And you'll be home to stay.

You don't know bad, You hurt me in my heart,
And how I've been sad since we've been apart.
It seems you don't want, It any other way,
And as long as you're gone, I'll be blue every day.

YOUR HAUNTING EYES
by Bill Millsaps & Robert Jenkins

When we first met, your eyes they charmed me;
They sparkled like the starry skies,
Now all alone, no-one around me,
I'm haunted by Your Haunting Eyes.

CHO-
Little bright eyed darling, your eyes still haunt me,
On restless nights, they steal my sleep.
Why did you go and leave me lonesome,
When will your eyes stop haunting me.

Now, I can't stop the rain from falling,
Or still the waters of a raging stream;
I can't keep my heart from sinking,
I can't erase, you from my dreams.

YOU'RE SIMPLY UNCONCERNED
by Bill Millsaps & Wilma Wakefield

Oft' I sit in my window and think of you;
Think of how much I love you,
And how you made me blue.
I keep hoping and praying,
That your heart will turn,
But no matter how I love you,
You're just simply unconcerned.

CHO-
Unconcerned about my heartaches,
Unconcerned about my blues,
Unconcerned about my misery,
I just don't know what to do.
I keep hoping and praying,
That your heart will turn,
But no matter how I love you,
You're just simply unconcerned.

I keep waiting and wishing,
For the day to come;
That you will learn to want me,
And you will love me some.
I keep hoping and praying,
That your heart will turn,
But no matter how I love you,
You're just simply unconcerned.