Jimmy Dean’s song To a sleeping beauty
I had a record of Jimmy doing this love song to his daughter. It really touched my heart. At the time I didn’t even have a daughter. Songs just affect me so much. He is singing to her while she is sleeping. Then at the end of the song he says: “Tonight I kissed a princess, and I feel like a king.” The pictures with this song are very nice. There are numerous versions on the net. It is so great to have computers and internet. These things were science fiction when I was a kid!
I first heard Jimmy sing this song ‘live’ on TV in Vancouver back in 1976, and later bought a record of it. It is very touching. The pictures with this song hit very close to home for me. There are a number of versions with pictures. All are very nice.
Actually the first song I heard Jimmy sing was about “Big John,” although at the time I didn’t know who the singer was. The next two songs I heard were, “The farmer and the Lord,” and “You’re not home yet.” So I associate him with those two songs.
I had a record of Jimmy Dean singing Stuart Hamblen’s song: “This old house,” but I can’t find it on the net.
This is one of my favorite songs, but I couldn’t find Jimmy’s version. I also had a record of Porter Wagoner singing the song. Someone said once that the song was based on a true story of a missionary who went to Africa, then on the way back, it was President Roosevelt who was on the ship and got all the praises as he disembarked. Apparently he had been to Africa on a hunting trip. In Jimmy Dean’s version it went something like this: “And as the old fellow walked down the gangplank, he cast his eyes to the sky and said: ‘God, did you forget.’ And it seemed like a little voice inside the old preacher said: ‘No son, I didn’t forget, but you must remember, that you’re not home yet.’” I think is more realistic than the sky opening up. The message is that our reward is not of an earthly nature, but of an eternal value.
I am sorry to find that he has passed away. Some of his songs have been taken off the net. I also have a Gospel web site. If you want to check it out, go to: http://countrygospelandbible.com/