Hank Thompson 52xxxx 04 1st Song - Today

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio - Episode: "Hank Thompson 52xxxx 04 1st Song - Today"

Release Date: March 21, 2025
Host: Hank Thompson
Featured Artist: Billy Gray
Duration: Approximately 13 minutes

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Introduction

In this episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, host Hank Thompson welcomes listeners to a captivating blend of classic music and insightful commentary. Alongside guest performer Billy Gray, Thompson presents a program designed to both entertain and inform, offering a nostalgic journey back to the Golden Age of Radio while addressing contemporary issues of the time.

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Host Commentary: Economic Measures and National Defense

Time Stamps:

• [00:09] Hank Thompson opens the episode by introducing the program as a contribution to the "fight against inflation," emphasizing its role in supporting the national effort during challenging economic times.

• [02:48] Thompson delves deeper into the topic of economic control, defending the necessity of temporary measures despite traditional American values favoring minimal government intervention. He asserts:

  "We have built our great nation through the efforts of liberty loving free man. And we can stay great only if we stay free."
  (02:48)

• [04:17] Continuing his discourse, Thompson explains the rationale behind production and price controls, linking them to national defense priorities:

  "Without it, prices could be fantastic on the guns and planes and tanks that we need. At the same time, inflation could wreck our business world and make your money worthless."
  (04:17)

• [09:17] In a further elaboration, Thompson outlines the balance between defense production and maintaining the standard of living, reiterating the temporary nature of these controls:

  "Price regulation was established to keep inflation from wrecking our business world while our plants and factories carry the double load of defense and home production."
  (09:17)

  He concludes this segment with a call to collective action:

  "If we all do our part, we can make our defense program a success and controls will no longer be necessary."
  (09:17)

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Musical Performances by Billy Gray

Featured Songs:

1. "Today"

   • [00:51] Billy Gray performs "Today," a heartfelt ballad expressing themes of love, loss, and longing. The lyrics convey deep emotional turmoil and reflection:

     "Today my heart is at rock bottom. Sorrow nothing else to bring. But those words you told me just today. You said I'm only in your way."
     (00:51)

2. "Shenandoah Valley"

   • [04:17] Gray delivers "Shenandoah Valley," evoking imagery of romance and nature:

     "In the Shenandoah valley of virgin lives a girl who is waiting just for me. Many times we have walked in the moonlight."
     (04:17)

3. "Good Man"

   • [06:44] Titled "Good Man," this upbeat number celebrates the rarity and value of a good partner:

     "Oh good man, it's hard to find. You always get each other time. Just when you faint in your power you must round and find him."
     (06:44)

4. "No Room in My Heart"

   • [12:03] Gray concludes the musical segment with "No Room in My Heart," a song about moving past sorrow and embracing love:

     "There’s no room in my heart for the blue. Love is satisfied to either win or lose. Darling, if I pat my heart let there be no broken heart."
     (12:03)

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Conclusion

[13:00] As the episode draws to a close, Hank Thompson wraps up the program with gratitude to the listeners and collaborators:

"This is Hank Thompson speaking for all the Brazos Valley boys, saying a great big. Much obliged to you."
(13:00)

He reinforces the program's purpose as a public service supporting the Office of Price Stabilization and acknowledges the coordination with the American Federation of Musicians:

"This transcribe program of the music you know and love is our contribution to the Office of Fire Stabilization in the battle against inflation."
(13:23)

The episode concludes with a light-hearted exchange between Thompson and Billy Gray, signaling the end of the broadcast.

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Key Takeaways

• Economic Resilience: Hank Thompson emphasizes the importance of temporary economic controls to support national defense and combat inflation, urging collective cooperation.

• Cultural Nostalgia: Through performances by Billy Gray, the episode pays homage to the enduring appeal of classic radio music, blending entertainment with poignant lyrical storytelling.

• Patriotic Spirit: The program intertwines themes of patriotism and national unity, reflecting the societal context of the time and the collective effort towards common goals.

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This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio masterfully combines informative discourse with melodic interludes, offering listeners both reflection and relaxation. Whether you're reminiscing about the past or seeking insight into historical economic policies, this broadcast provides a rich and engaging experience.

Transcript

[Billy Gray]

I've got a Humpty dumpty horn.

[Hank Thompson]

Well, howdy neighbors. This is your old friend Hank Thompson. We're bringing you 15 minutes of modern fake music for the office of Pride Stabilization. The Brazos Valley boys and I have transcribed this little program of the music that you know and love as our contribution to the fight against inflation. I'll have more to say about that home front enemy in just a few minutes. But what do you say that has delivered? We have an old song from a capital record for listening today.

[Billy Gray]

And life will leap and autumn never again to know the spring Today my heart is at rock bottom. Sorrow nothing else to bring. But those words you told me just today. You said I'm only in your way. I'm lost, I'll never find my all my world I turn and gaze into the darkness but no tomorrow could I see. And I remember your remark. I recall I used to do I have I traded yesterday something you can't take on my mom. I'll never find my way for my world.

[Hank Thompson]

You know, friends, it's traditional for us Americans to be against control. That's only normal. We have built our great nation through the efforts of liberty loving free man. And we can stay great only if we stay free. But you see, sometimes we must set up rules for ourselves while we are working to reach the big goals. Now, right now we're arming to be sure that we can defend our country from aggression. And the goal of building our defenses makes controls necessary on some things. For instance, we have production controls to ensure that the steel needed for guns is not used for unnecessary gadgets. And Congress has decided that we also need price control. This price stabilization program is a mighty important part of our defense effort. Why, without it, prices could be fantastic on the guns and planes and tanks that we need. At the same time, inflation could wreck our business world and make your money worthless. I know you don't want that. So it is necessary that we all cooperate with these emergency controls. Even if we don't like them. If we all do our part, we can make them work and lick the inflation that would help our enemy. Everybody likes a good war storm. I especially like this here called the Shenanoa Valley wall.

[Billy Gray]

In the Shenandoah valley of virgin lives a girl who is waiting just for me. Many times we have walked in the moonlight. And in her lovely eyes I long to dance in the moonlight. And I know he misses me too. In the shore valley of the deep live the girl and I know her love is true. In the she lives a girl he is waiting just for me. Many times we have walked in the moonlight and in her lovely arms I long to dream. I miss her smiles in the moonlight. And I know you missed me too. In the cannon blue valley of the jungle there's a girl and I know her love is true.

[Hank Thompson]

Well, here comes Billy Gray to sing a song that you can really pat your foot to. A good man is hard to find.

[Billy Gray]

Oh good man, it's hard to find. You always get each other time. Just when you faint in your power you must around and find until the mountain lots of love and naughty. Just when you think that he's your cow, you look around and find him. Turn around some other ground.

[Hank Thompson]

Neighbors, It's a solemn fact that our country is facing a dangerous threat of aggression. We know that we must build enough strength that the aggressors won't bear attacking. We are building that strength as fast as we can through a huge defense program. But we don't want to lower our standard of living either, even though a big part of our production must go for defense. So price regulation was established to keep inflation from wrecking our business world while our plants and factories carry the double load of defense and home production. Price control is an emergency measure which will last only as long as the emergency lasts. Within two years, we hope to build the strength we need to hold off any aggressors and also produce all the home front goods that we want. In the meantime, let's all cooperate with the temporary controls necessary for our nation's welfare. If we all do our part, we can make our defense program a success and controls will no longer be necessary. Gilbach and all the Bradford Valley boys on the Tiana Brigade Right now, here's a team that has a lot of philosophy to it. There's no room in my heart for the blues.

[Billy Gray]

There'S no room in my heart for the blue. Love is satisfied to either win or lose. Darling, if I pat my heart Let there be no broken heart. There's no room bend my heart there's no room in my memory for te will and bygones be forgotten through the news. If your hungry heart forgets Let there be no sad regret. There's no room and my heart far the blue.

[Hank Thompson]

It looks as though we've used up about all of our time. So until our next radio visit, this is Hank Thompson speaking for all the Brazos Valley boys, saying a great big. Much obliged to you.

[Billy Gray]

I've got a Humpty Dumpty. Humpty.

[Hank Thompson]

Folks, this transcribe program of the music you know and love is our contribution to the Office of Fire Stabilization in the battle against inflation. It has been presented for this station as a public service and through special arrangement with the American Federation of Musicians. James C. Petrella.

[Billy Gray]

SA.