Red Foley Tater Pie | Grand Ole Opry (01-06-51)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode: Red Foley Tater Pie | Grand Ole Opry (01-06-51)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Date: October 2, 2025
Featured Performers: Red Foley, Lou Childy Lou, Rod Brassfield, Cousin Minnie Pearl

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Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners to the vibrant stage of the Grand Ole Opry from January 6, 1951, blending musical performances, lighthearted banter, and comedic sketches with a classic country flavor. Digitally restored for clarity, the broadcast features Red Foley, Lou Childy Lou, the witty Rod Brassfield, and the beloved Cousin Minnie Pearl. Together, they deliver songs about the joys of country life—tater pie, loving and longing, and railroads—intermingled with jokes and tales that paint a lively portrait of small-town Americana.

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Key Discussion Points & Performances

1. Musical Opener: “Tater Pie”

• [00:39–01:47]
  Lou Childy Lou (with Red Foley) delivers the episode's signature cheerful song, “Tater Pie,” celebrating the comfort of home cooking and simple pleasures.
  • Notable Lyrics & Energy:
    “Ever since I've been so high, I've been a fool for tater pie...”
  • Set the episode’s playful rural tone, highlighting an affectionate connection to family recipes and country courtship.

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2. Tall Tales and Comedy: Rod Brassfield’s Segment

• [02:24–05:16]
  • Rod Brassfield launches into a series of rapid-fire jokes and anecdotes, creating a warm camaraderie with Foley and Lou. Highlights include:
    • Chicken Joke ([02:30–03:02]):
      “Do you know what the little chicken said when it found an orange in its mama's nest?” – Rod Brassfield
      “Oh, look what an orange Mama laid.” – Lou Childy Lou
      (Playful exchange on punchline-stealing)
    • Susie's Stockings: ([03:11–03:42])
      Humorous tale about buying stockings for his girlfriend Susie that “just didn't quite come up to her expectations.”
    • “Civil War Dress” ([03:50–04:16]):
      “That's a dress where the north keeps pulling away from the south and skimpy. Skimpy? I'm telling you, Red, that was the skimpiest dress I've seen in my life.”
    • Costume Party Story: ([04:19–05:02])
      A man dresses as a “stuffed olive” for a party, his green suit with red underwear drawing laughter.
    • Raising Rabbits: ([05:11–05:34])
      “You know what they call them, their rabbits? It's raised inside the building... ingrown hares.”

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3. Musical Performances and Instrumental Banter

• Lou Childy Lou & Red Foley Showcase Downhome Humor and Musicianship

  • New Guitar Bit: ([06:21–06:43])
    “What’d you do to that old one?”
    “Had to have something to carry my fish bait in!”
    – Classic country humor.

  • “Hog Calling Blues” / River Swamp Song: ([06:49–08:47])
    Lou’s musical storytelling, with Foley and the band chiming in, paints vivid scenes of life on the farm and by the river.

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4. Sacred Songs & Spiritual Reflection

• “Lord, I'm Coming Home” ([09:36–11:59])

  • Led by Lou Childy Lou, with harmonies from Foley and Brassfield.
  • Notable Lyrics:
    “My soul is sick, my heart is sore, now I'm coming home...”
  • Emotive, gospel-rooted performance provides a meditative interlude.

• “Something Within” ([12:22–13:54])

  • A rousing spiritual with call-and-response, spreading contagious joy:
    “I got a feeling there's something within, oh, no—something within me vanishes pain... all that I know, good God, there's something within.”
    – Red Foley and ensemble

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5. Spotlight: Cousin Minnie Pearl’s Entrance and Country Banter

• [15:08–19:12]
  • Opening Salvo:
    “Howdy! I'm just proud to be here.” ([15:17–15:21])
  • Modern Romance:
    Describes “going out” with her beau Hezzy and jokes about moving beyond “keeping company.”
  • Rural Rivalry:
    Exchanges good-natured bragging contests with Brassfield over their respective southern hometowns:
    • “We grow pumpkins down there so big… folks just cut them in half and use them for bathtubs.” – Rod Brassfield ([16:48–16:58])
    • “Almost as large as the Grinder Switch mushmelon.” – Minnie Pearl ([16:58–17:05])
  • Farm Life Exaggerations:
    • “The vines grow so fast they wear the mushmallows out just dragging them along on the ground.” – Rod Brassfield ([17:14–17:25])
  • Romantic Nostalgia:
    “Do you remember when I still had them big old braces on my teeth?... Every time you smiled, you looked like the front end of a new Buick.”
    – Rod Brassfield and Minnie Pearl ([18:41–18:47])

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6. Closing Musical Medley

• Lou Childy Lou Returns with More Tunes ([19:12–21:50]):
  • “Riding on the Elevated Railroad”
    Entertaining observations of city life from an elevated train, marked by humor and vivid imagery.
  • Red Foley’s Blues Segment: ([22:00–23:03])
    Uplifting, blues-inflected performance on losing love and moving on.
• “Many Tears Ago” ([23:16–24:45])
  • A gentle, bittersweet song on heartbreak and memories.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lou Childy Lou’s “Tater Pie” Refrain:
  “I'll be hers until I die if she can make a tater pie.” ([01:06])

• Rod Brassfield’s Wisecracking:
  “That's a dress where the north keeps pulling away from the south and skimpy. Skimpy? I'm telling you, Red, that was the skimpiest dress I've seen in my life.” ([03:50–04:16])

• Cousin Minnie Pearl’s Charm:
  “I wore pigtails till I was 24... it was just that I was so shy. And when a fellow's trying to kiss… pigtails make awful good handles.” ([15:24–16:22])

• Comedic Town Rivalry:
  “Everybody knows the biggest jackasses come from hill.” – Red Foley ([17:41]) “That’s the first time you’ve been right. Boy, you ought to know.” – Minnie Pearl ([17:50])

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Key Timestamps

• 00:39–01:47: “Tater Pie” musical opener
• 02:24–05:16: Rod Brassfield’s comic storytelling
• 06:49–08:47: “Hog Calling”/river swamp songs
• 09:36–11:59: “Lord, I’m Coming Home” (sacred song)
• 12:22–13:54: “Something Within” (spiritual song)
• 15:17–19:12: Minnie Pearl and Rod Brassfield’s rural banter
• 19:25–21:50: “Riding on the Elevated Railroad”
• 23:16–24:45: “Many Tears Ago”
• 26:13: Opry sign-off

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Summary and Takeaway

This reimagined Grand Ole Opry broadcast delights with comic storytelling, affable ribbing, and a mix of gospel, blues, and country music emblematic of early 1950s American radio variety. Every segment underscores a sense of community, nostalgia, and the enduring charm of simple rural life, as delivered by some of country music’s cherished personalities.

Perfect for: Fans of classic country, lovers of old radio comedy, and anyone seeking a heartwarming, laughter-filled snapshot of mid-century musical Americana.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Red Foley]

Opry Time. Starring Red Bully.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Ever since I've been so high I've been a fool for tita pie it makes no difference High stuff I never seem to get another pie Pie teeter pie T I e E I P5E for I prepare for pizza Piper I just love that tater P I.

[Red Foley]

I'm.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Looking for a gal that cooks I don't care much the way she looks I'll be hers until I die if she can make a tater pie I.

[Red Foley]

Love tater pie T I E E.

[Lou Childy Lou]

I be pie Chocolate cherry boys berry Nothing's good as tater now after we have made the match we'll raise a great big tater patch and we'll just let the world go by Live on loving tater pie I love tater pie.

[Red Foley]

P I e I v P5 hold.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Your tater Stay a little later and we'll all have some tater pie we're looking forward to a tall tale or two as told to us by one of America's funniest men. We thank a good friend from Hohen Wall, Tennessee, Rod Brassfield.

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, thank you, miss, for that fine music.

[Red Foley]

Much obliged.

[Rod Brassfield]

Hi to you, Mr. Foley. Hi, Rodney.

[Red Foley]

How you doing?

[Rod Brassfield]

Hey, Mr. Foley.

[Red Foley]

I'm gonna get one on you now.

[Rod Brassfield]

I won't get a good joke on Ro. Do you know what the little chicken said when it found an orange in its mama's nest?

[Lou Childy Lou]

Do I know what the little chicken said when it found an orange in its mama's nest?

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Oh, look what an orange Mama laid.

[Rod Brassfield]

That ain't the way it was supposed to be, Mr. Foley. I supposed to tell the funny part.

[Red Foley]

You saw. We're going you.

[Rod Brassfield]

Hey, Ms. Foley. I'm having a lot of trouble with my gal Susie.

[Lou Childy Lou]

I always have a crazy Susie.

[Rod Brassfield]

The other day I went out and I bought her some new stockings, but she didn't like them.

[Lou Childy Lou]

She didn't? What is the matter with the stockings?

[Rod Brassfield]

I don't know, Mr. Foley. Unless there's too short. Susie said they just didn't Quite come up to her expectations. And another thing, Mr. Foley, that gal don't dress near as neat as she used to.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Why do you say that?

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, the last time I seen Susie, she was wearing one of my Civil War dresses.

[Lou Childy Lou]

What on earth is a Civil War dress?

[Rod Brassfield]

That's a dress where the north keeps pulling away from the south and skimpy. Skimpy? I'm telling you, Red, that was the skimpiest dress I've seen in my life. It wasn't in my gownless evening strap. I called her and she says, I'll be right out, Rod. And she wasn't kidding.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Rod, where'd you go to party or something like that?

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah, I went to a party, Mr. Foley. My uncle s give one of my costume parties. Trouble is, Uncle Cyp didn't stay long, he said.

[Lou Childy Lou]

You mean at his own. At his own costume?

[Rod Brassfield]

No, he didn't stay long. You know how he loves to take.

[Red Foley]

A little drink now and then. Old race.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Well, he just stayed there for about.

[Rod Brassfield]

An hour in the court. I tell you one thing, though, Mr. Foley. I seen the best costumes at their party I ever seen in my life. A fellow come dressed in a bright green suit, very green suit. And underneath the suit was his red long handled underwear. And the whole back end of that.

[Red Foley]

Green suit was all cut out.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Rod, what in the world was this fella supposed to be?

[Red Foley]

A stuffed olive?

[Rod Brassfield]

Ms. Polly, I'd love to visit with you longer, but I'll declare I've got to go and see about my rabbits.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Where you going?

[Rod Brassfield]

I'm raising rabbits. You know, everybody's raising them there. White rabbits now, you know, they raise them to eat.

[Lou Childy Lou]

They good, too.

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah, I love. Oh, I love fried rabbit. Boy, I'm telling you, ain't nothing no better than fried labbit. Fried rabbit. You know what they call them, their rabbits? It's raised inside the building.

[Red Foley]

Oh.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Oh, no. What rod that ingrown hers. I've known some fishermen in my life, and I've known some singers, too. And here's a man, though, that can't make up his mind whether he'd rather fish than sing or sing than fish. But I guarantee you he does both about as well as they can be done. And I mean that goodwill ambassador from Opp Alabama, the one and only Lou Childy Lou, come out there. Yes, sir, the one and only Lou. Better be glad to. Say, that's a new guitar you got. Yes, sir, Mr. Red. That is a new one.

[Red Foley]

Don't shine.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Boy, look at that. What you do? What you do to that old one.

[Red Foley]

Well, sir, man, you know I had to have something to carry my fish bait in. Don't you know that that man will.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Go to any extreme? Lou, you've been making some records here lately, haven't you? Yeah. For mercury, huh? Uh huh. Well, I tell you what. I. I think the folks would like to hear one of your very latest records. Well, I got a light Lou child.

[Red Foley]

Arrangement here on one of the light of love classics. I wonder if I could use your ensemble.

[Lou Childy Lou]

They're available.

[Red Foley]

Boys, not too f. Not too slow now we want it just right so it'll be sweet Right out through the pig pen I come with a hog calling blue Here we go. That's the rilla Moore. I got these hot calling crude bit of goddamn plug from my head down to my shoes I'm going down to the river swan I'm gonna take me a sack full of corn out of never needed bay I'm going down to the river swamp I'm gonna take me a sack cooling corn I'm gonna call in pigs from night t. Look at y. They coming, them pigs, they coming on around. That's that the sh right there. There is looky coming the pigs they coming on a run. Really coming yet to get some fish. Yeah, good old golden dead tall.

[Rod Brassfield]

Let.

[Red Foley]

Me run the old spotted s waving that little spin show. Cause if she hit him with him long tushes she going to cut that little boy's throat.

[Lou Childy Lou]

I feel it's time for a little quiet time thought and maybe a silent prayer or two Tonight's sacred song Lord, I'm coming home I've wondered Far away from God.

[Red Foley]

Now I'm calling home.

[Rod Brassfield]

The.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Path of sin too long uproar Lord, I'm coming home.

[Red Foley]

Coming home coming home Never mind to rock My soul is.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Sick my heart is sore now I'm.

[Red Foley]

Coming home.

[Lou Childy Lou]

My strength renew My hope restored Lord, I'm coming home.

[Red Foley]

Coming home coming home Never more to go.

[Rod Brassfield]

Thine.

[Red Foley]

Arms of love lo and coming.

[Rod Brassfield]

Home.

[Lou Childy Lou]

See the Jordan there run back. Yeah, there they are. I see them.

[Rod Brassfield]

All right.

[Lou Childy Lou]

There you go. Ready?

[Red Foley]

All right.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Suppose we hear a little spiritual here called something within, Huh?

[Red Foley]

I got a feeling there's something within oh, no Something within me got a hold of the ring Something within me vanishes Pain oh yes Something within me oh, I can't explain oh yeah all that I know Good God there's something within.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Have you that something oh yes that burning desire.

[Red Foley]

Burning like.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Oh yes if you have something.

[Red Foley]

Will never do get in a hurry Tell everybody something.

[Lou Childy Lou]

So God is in me.

[Rod Brassfield]

Let God.

[Red Foley]

One moment One Monday morning maybe Tuesday morning One Tuesday morning Could it be Thursday morning? One Thursday morning maybe Friday morning Yes, it's Friday morning so feeling bad? So bad Heart heavy laden oh, yes, I bow down my little head Yes, I did I said my burden.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Fellas. Wonderful. As you know, I've got a kind of a crush on this gal that we're going to hear from now. And from your response week after week, I'd say that you have too. So let's get her out here.

[Red Foley]

Cousin Minnie Pearl.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Howdy.

[Rod Brassfield]

Howdy.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

I'm just proud to be here. Well, somebody suggested tonight that I ought to come out here and start throwing kisses at the to fellers. Imagine me throwing. Throwing kisses to fellers. I ain't that lazy. But I don't have to worry none as long as I have my feller Hezzy. I've been going out with Hezy now for a long time. I use that. Going out. That's something new I picked up. I used to say keeping company, but not anymore. I'm real, real modern. I say going out now. I've been. We've had this since I was. I wore pigtails. I wore pigtails till I was 24 about two or three years ago. It wasn't that them there pigtails improved my appearance. It was just that I was so shy. And when a fellow's trying to kiss.

[Rod Brassfield]

A girl, that's shy.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Pigtails make awful good handles. Well, we should have been having nice weather in Grinder Switch. Why, that's the best place in Tennessee to live at.

[Rod Brassfield]

Excuse me, Minnie.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Yes, right.

[Rod Brassfield]

Did I hear you say that Grinder Switch was the best place in Tennessee to live at?

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

That's right.

[Rod Brassfield]

Wall Flitter. I guess you never heard the horn Wall.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Well.

[Rod Brassfield]

I'll tell you one thing. Everybody and everything is a healthy down there. While we grow pumpkins down there so big, get the pig folks just cut them in half and use them for bathtubs.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Oh, well, that's fairly large for a pumpkin. Almost as large as the grinder switch mushmelon.

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah, well, we can't grow no mush melons in Hornw.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

That's what I thought. You got to have good rich soil for mush melons.

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah, that's the trouble, Minnie.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Our soil is too rich.

[Rod Brassfield]

Why, the vines grow so fast to wear the mushmallows out just dragging them along on the ground.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Well, I know. I know one thing. We sure bro the biggest muse in grinders than any place else in the World.

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Yeah.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Biggest mule.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Yeah.

[Rod Brassfield]

You know what you're talking about?

[Red Foley]

Why, everybody knows the biggest jackasses come from hill.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

That's the first time you've been right. Yeah, that's right. Boy, you ought to know.

[Rod Brassfield]

Sure are. Oh.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Look, Rodley. Now, wait, Rodney. Let's don't argue. Did you get the note I sent you the other day?

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah, I did, Minnie. But tell me, honey, what was that all in my little X's doing on the bottom of the lid?

[Lou Childy Lou]

Learn.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Oh, didn't you know, Rob?

[Red Foley]

Know what they mean, them kisses? Kisses.

[Rod Brassfield]

Boy, you sure you sure have got funny shaped lips.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Riley. Riley, do you remember when we used to go around together before you met Susie and I met Hessy?

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Remember when I still had them big old braces on my teeth?

[Rod Brassfield]

I sure do, Mindy.

[Red Foley]

I sure do.

[Rod Brassfield]

Every time you smiled, you look like the front end of a new Buick.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Oh, yeah. So that's why one night you kissed the car and backed me in the garage.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Well, sir, I guess we've got the stage all set here for Mr. Lou children to come back out here. Lou, come on out here, buddy.

[Red Foley]

Ring the bell.

[Lou Childy Lou]

You ready to go, huh?

[Red Foley]

We ride aboard the elevated radio well, it's riding on the elevated rail road this planet suits for me. People living near the frighten everything looking back where the window shades high so you can see. Now in the first room I saw a man a shaving he was prowling like the razor hurt his face. And in the next room I saw bull dog gazing Had a cat up on the wind a cheese. In the next room I saw a lady cooking While the man was going through his evening mail. And in the next room I saw a little baby he was trying hard to bite his dog's tail. Oh, it's riding on the elevated railroad. It's pleasant and it just suits me. Take a day or night and know you'll find old lord ride with some very funny sight. You can see all right.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Now.

[Red Foley]

You can ride in taxi cabs or in the subway. Aeroplanes are nice in summertime. But folks, you don't know what you're really missing until you ride upon the elevator. In the next room I saw a cup of spooning While all the lights were turned down low. And the next room I saw an old maid praying for a man who twisted. Honey, I love you so Behave yourself. Spirit is riding on the elevated railroad. His planet just suits me. People living near the track to never think you're looking back the river when the sheets high so you can see so take a day or night and know you'll find old lose ride some very funny sight you will see.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Well that's our long lean and lanky friend Spring being the badger pickles man this side of the Cumberland river so keep it going there Spring Want some.

[Red Foley]

Road blues boy get ready tonight Find way down in jail on my knees on the way down in jail on my knees Find a way down in jail on my knees and it gonna be pretty sweet Time to go down this road feeling bad Time to go down this road feeling bad Go down this road to bed and I'm gone between the street I lost only girl ever had I lost only belliger head I lost only fel er head and in broken treated this way I'm going down the road I'm going down the.

[Rod Brassfield]

Road.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Many tears ago Many tears ago you said you love me.

[Red Foley]

Oh how.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Happy was this heart of mine.

[Red Foley]

Then.

[Lou Childy Lou]

A dark cloud came from out a little nowhere and the sun went down no more to shine Many tears ago I learned to well love.

[Red Foley]

What it.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Means to bear a heavy load I found out just what is meant by.

[Red Foley]

Sorrow Many tears ago long life's grown.

[Lou Childy Lou]

Many tears ago was in the springtime when you said goodbye and went away oh how well this acre heart remember many many tears.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Sam.

[Red Foley]

Grand Old Opre, the nationally known and famous program starring.

[Lou Childy Lou]

The best hillbilly and country artists has.

[Red Foley]

Come to you through the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.

[Cousin Minnie Pearl]

Sam Ram.

[Narrator]

This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube and send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739. This episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.