Poem - Bluegrass Heaven

I heard them singing,
just inside the pearly gates
T'was a bluegrass show in Heaven
And there could be no mistake,
For on stage was Tiny and an Angel
Introducing all the bands,
My, what a show it was
In that beautiful Glory Land.

Why, there was Boots Eubanks,
With that ol' familiar grin.
He had just been called up to sing
"Back in the Saddle Again."
The Angel took his arm
And led him on stage,
Everyone clapped and cheered
As Boots began to play.
Ohl How beautiful it was
To hear his voice again
Singing on that Heavenly stage
That all the Angels did attend.

Then when the fabulous Paul Champion
Was called to that Heavenly stage,
A hush fell over the crowd
And I heard someone pray.
The Angel walked out front
And raised his hand on high,
Telling of the great talent we had
On that bluegrass show in the sky.
Then when Paul began to play
First on his old banjo,
The notes of "I Saw the Light,"
All across Heaven did flow,
Then, low and behold, there was Jim Baleau,
just as plain as day,
He was shaking the Angels hand
Then with Paul began to play.

When they played their last song,
Which was "Amazing Grace"
The audience made not a sound,
When Paul and Jim took their place.
As I stood there spellbound,
By that last song, so great,
I knew no greater talent
Had ever entered those Pearly Gates.

The next one to come on stage
Was Pete Harwell, Ohl So dear!
Then to the audience he smiled,
And all the Angels in Heaven did cheer.
Then came the talented James Dockery
who we all had heard play,
And now on that Heavenly bluegrass show
He would play again this day.

After Pete and James had left the stage,
The Angel called for Will McClean
Who hurried on up the steps,
And his Okeechobee song did sing
In a voice so deep and low,
He told the tragedy of that night,
When a hurricane blew across that lake,
Bringing death and fright,
His words came loud and clear,
"Lord, hold back the waters of Lake Okeechobee,
For Lake Okeechobee's blue waters are cold."
When wild winds are blowing across Lake Okeechobee;
They are calling and seeking another poor soul,
"For the Okeechobee waters are cold."
When he had finished singing,
For, Will just never was a bragger,
He just raised his arms, And said,
"I'm just an old Florida Cracker."

Why, there was Don Reno and Lester Flatt,
A jamming over at the side,
Chubby Anthony and Bud Chambers
Was making their fiddles cry;
They was singing a song With a beautiful sound,
It was written by Chubby
And was called "Georgia Bound."
I never saw so many pickers
And a lot I didn't know,
But never was there a jam session
Like that Heavenly bluegrass show.
Sitting on the front seats
That was wove of golden lace.
Was Roland Hancock, Leonard Gill and Mervin Wilson
And others, I knew not their face.
Then I heard the Angel call
That someone special would sing,
I could hardly believe my eyes,
For it was Earnest Cooper of the old Bluegrass train.
Then, as if a curtain had fell, I sat up in bed.
Had I really been dreaming?
Or was it a glimpse of, Heaven instead.