Red Foley Tennessee Polka | Grand Ole Opry (01-27-51)

Summary

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Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: Red Foley Tennessee Polka | Grand Ole Opry (01-27-51)
Date Aired: October 9, 2025

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Overview

This episode transports listeners back to a classic 1951 Grand Ole Opry radio broadcast, featuring the legendary Red Foley, with special performances by Hank Snow, Minnie Pearl, Rod Brasfield, and the Jordanaires. Newly restored for clarity and audio richness, the episode blends music, humor, and homespun storytelling, capturing the spirit and charm of the golden age of country radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. Grand Ole Opry Opener & "Tennessee Polka" (01:00–03:24)

• Red Foley launches the show with a rousing rendition of "Tennessee Polka," engaging both live and radio audiences with lively vocals and toe-tapping rhythm.

• Quote:
  "On a Saturday night they do a bond dance upright to the Tennessee polka…” – Red Foley (01:11)

• The hosts warmly greet the Opry family and roster: Rod Brasfield, Minnie Pearl, The Jordanaires, and tonight’s special guest, Hank Snow.

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2. Introductions & Special Guest Hank Snow (03:24–08:18)

• Red Foley teases Hank Snow’s appearance:
  "We've got a very special visitor tonight… a folk singer with one of the biggest followings you ever heard of. The one and only Hank Snow." – Red Foley (03:28)

• The cast shares background color on Hank:
  “He got his start as a deckhand on a ship and earned enough to buy his first guitar from a mail order house. Since that day, he's parlayed that guitar and singing into a mighty fancy bank account.” – Red Foley (07:39)

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3. Homespun Comedy – Rod Brasfield (03:55–07:21)

• Rod entertains with humorous tales of small-town mishaps, personal woes, and family chaos.
• Notable moments:
  • “Because my gal Susie has done started flirting around on me… I says, well, that's all right to sit on the edge of the chair with Mr. Suspense. But by Ned, you better not get up in his lap.” (04:52)
  • “When they all get out in the yard at the same time, it looks like a recess.” – on a large family (06:34)
  • “That ain’t no duck, Rod. That’s a stork—with his legs wore off.” (07:04)

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4. Hank Snow’s First Musical Performance: "Golden Rocket" (09:22–12:22)

• Red Foley introduces Hank Snow’s back-to-back hits:
  “It's very seldom that a boy comes along and has the number one folk tune of the country…Hank has done what we thought impossible…” (09:22)

• Hank Snow delivers a spirited performance of “Golden Rocket,” showcasing his signature vocals and railroad metaphors.

• Memorable lyric:
  “I was a good engine running on time, but baby, I’m switching to another line.” – Hank Snow (09:56)

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5. Fiddle & Square Dance Interlude (12:22–13:03)

• Hal Smith and Stony Fire kick up an instrumental for a lively square dance. The hosts urge listeners to grab a partner and join in the fun.
• Call-outs:
  “Get yourself a pretty gal there Hank, come on, let's everybody kick up…” – Red Foley (12:26)

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6. Gospel & Hymn Segment (13:03–16:34)

• The Opry turns to spirituals, with Hank Snow singing “Farther Along,” noted as a frequent listener request.
  "There’s one that he gets a lot of letters on is an old one called 'Farther Along.'” – Red Foley (13:03)
• Followed by The Jordanaires’ rendition of “My Journey to the Sky,” blending harmonies and uplifting messages.
• Memorable refrain:
  “Father alone we know all about…Cheer up, my brother, Earth is in the sunshine, we’ll understand it all by and by.” – Red Foley (13:32–14:32)

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7. Minnie Pearl’s Comedy Routine (17:33–20:55)

• Minnie Pearl delights with tales from Grinder’s Switch, poking fun at “Hezzy” and colorful family members.
• Notable quotes:
  • “Hezzy’s one of them swashbuckling types. That’s what Hezzy is. He’s a swashbuckler. His stomach washes and his knees buckle.” – Minnie Pearl (17:43)
  • On the dentist:
    “I told him, I said, $3 for three seconds’ work. Why, the last feller that pulled brother’s tooth, brother dragged him around the floor for half an hour, only charged him a dollar!” (18:23)

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8. Hank Snow’s Classic: "I’m Moving On" (21:09–23:02)

• Hank returns for his iconic hit, a crowd favorite.
• Key lyric:
  "That big eight wheel rollin' down the track means your lovin' daddy ain't comin' back, 'cause I'm movin' on..." – Hank Snow (21:16)
• The hosts celebrate Hank and invite him back soon.

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9. Closing Number: "The Convict and the Rose" & Dance Call (23:21–25:58)

• Red Foley introduces “The Convict and the Rose,” keeping the show’s sentimental streak alive.
• The cast wraps up with another call to dance, using classic square-dance instructions and hearty farewells.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Red Foley: "You're wonderful. Thanks. And a great big-hearted hello to all my good friends and neighbors at Grand Ole Opry.” (02:52)
• Rod Brasfield: “That there boy is my wife’s boy by her first marriage. Of course, him and his wife's got a lot of youngins now.” (05:40)
• Hank Snow (singing): “You dealt the cards but you missed a play, so hit the road and be on your way…” (09:56)
• Minnie Pearl: “Hezzy’s a swashbuckler. His stomach washes and his knees buckle.” (17:47)

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Notable Timestamps

• 01:00 – Grand Ole Opry opening and “Tennessee Polka”
• 03:28 – Hank Snow introduction
• 03:55 – Rod Brasfield’s comedy routine
• 09:22 – Hank Snow “Golden Rocket”
• 12:26 – Fiddle dance, square-dance call
• 13:03 – “Farther Along” hymn
• 15:31 – The Jordanaires: “My Journey to the Sky”
• 17:33 – Minnie Pearl comedy segment
• 21:09 – Hank Snow: “I’m Moving On”
• 23:21 – “Convict and the Rose” finale & square dance call

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Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is jovial, homespun, and warmly nostalgic. The friendly banter, playful humor, and heartfelt musical performances evoke the closeness of a Saturday night radio get-together.
Listeners can almost feel themselves inside a bustling dance hall, swept up in laughter, fiddles, and the storied harmonies of country legends.

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For long-time fans of Western radio and newcomers alike, this episode is a toe-tapping, heartwarming tribute to the heyday of the Grand Ole Opry—preserved and newly enhanced, just as lively as ever.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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[D]

Liberty.

[E]

Liberty.

[B]

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[E]

It's Grendel Opry time, starring Red Foley.

[F]

On a Saturday night they do a.

[E]

Bond dance Upright to the Tennessee polka. Got a rug on the floor with the one you adore to the Tennessee Poker. Dancing the Tennessee poker They come all the way up from Texas to sway to the Tennessee bo. Swing them, swing them, swing them around you hipa do daddy swing em, swing em be glad that you found the poker from Tennessee. Nashville, Knoxville, wherever you go they all seem to agree it's more fun get your blues on the run with the folk out from Tennessee. Oh, swing them, swing em, swing em around y hippa do daddy swing em.

[F]

Swing em be glad that you found.

[E]

The polka from Tennessee. Nashville, Knoxville, wherever you go they all seem to breathe it's more fun get your balloons on the run with a polka from Tennessee. You're wonderful. Thanks. And a great big hearted all of my good friends and neighbors at Grand Ole Opry. Well, I just counted noses, Red. And everybody's here.

[D]

Rob Cratsfield, Minnie Pearl, the Jordan Ayers and the Antarctic.

[F]

And we've got a very special visitor tonight too, Grant. A folk singer with one of the biggest following that you folk have ever heard of.

[E]

The one and only Hank Snow. Yes, S. Well, Hank will be all set, fit and sing for us in.

[D]

Just a few minutes, folks, but right.

[E]

Now, it's time for laughing.

[F]

And if there's one fellow that can do that show any better, it's the.

[E]

Hornwall heartthrob himself, Rod Bracefield.

[G]

Thank you. Thank you, ma'.

[E]

Am.

[D]

Thank you for the kind music. Howdy, Ms. Foley. I'll be with you in just a minute. Well, right now, while you do that. I'm going to give the weather report. It says fair and warmer. Polared by women in shorts. Polared by men. Ms. Foley, tonight I am sad and jealous hearted. I'm telling you, I'm just come put out. I am, I really am. Because my gal Susie has done started flirting around on me. Yeah, it is bad, terrible.

[F]

What makes you think such an awful thing is that.

[D]

Well, I called her up at her house there in Hornwell last night and I asked her what she was doing. Yeah, and she says, well, I'm sitting here at the radio with the lights all turned out, listening to one of them, our mystery radio program. And I'm sitting on the edge of my chair with suspense. And I says, well, that's all right to sit on the edge of the chair with Mr. Suspense, but by Ned, you better not get up in his laugh. That's what I told him. Hi, dear friends. Bonnet. It ain't cold tonight, is it? It's very nice. Yeah, it's a little wet outside. And spot Mr. Foley, there ain't nothing gone right for me all week. Barnett, I'm telling you the truth. I had to borrow $10 the other day in a hurry. I went over to a friend of mine, old Bob Harwood's, to borrow and I thought I'd sort of salt soap him, you know, and brag on him and stuff, so he'd lend me the $10. So he was out in the backyard with one of his young ones there. And I says to him, I says, bob, that there sure is a fine looking boy of yours there. He says, yeah, I says, he's got brains just like you. And he even looks like you. And by Ned, anybody can look at him and tell that he comes from good stock. And by the way, Bob, I says to him, can you lend me $10? He says, no, I can't. And besides that rod, that there boy is my wife's boy by our first marriage. Of course, him and his wife's got a lot of youngins now.

[E]

They have.

[D]

They've got. They've got about 12 youngins. When they all get out in the yard at the same time, it looks like a recess. I'm telling you truth. It's the truth. They sure have. And I was out there in the yard talking to him and all these young is playing around there in the yard, you know, every one of them is just crawling around all over me there. And all of a sudden there's an old duck come waddling across the yard there. And I says to Bob, I says, bob, where'd you get that there duck? He says, that ain't no duck, Rod. That's a start.

[E]

With his legs wore off.

[G]

Hey, Mr. Bully.

[D]

Mr. Bully. Speaking of children. Now, Barnett, you've got three awful cute little girl. By Ned, you know it.

[F]

Thank you, Rod. I think.

[E]

You sure have, buddy.

[D]

You sure have.

[G]

And by the way, Rev, didn't you.

[D]

Tell me that you met your wife, Ms. Eva, at a dance?

[F]

Yeah, yeah, I did.

[E]

Met her at a dance.

[F]

Met her at a dance.

[D]

Oh, that's fine. I bet that was romantic, wasn't it?

[F]

Well, not exactly.

[E]

Right.

[F]

It's a little bit embarrassing.

[D]

Embarrassing? Yeah.

[E]

Why?

[F]

I thought she's home with the kids. Well, the other day I learned something about tonight's guest that I didn't know before. It seems that he got his start as a deckhand on a ship and earned enough money to buy his first guitar from a mail order house. Since that day, he's par laid that guitar and he's singing into a mighty fancy bank account. Of course, I'm referring to Hank.

[E]

No. Yes.

[B]

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[A]

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[F]

You know, it's very seldom that a boy comes along and has the number one folk tune of the country.

[E]

And then follows that right up with.

[F]

Another song and the same of the same caliber. And that comes the number one tune, the folk tune of the country. Well, Hank has done what we thought would be impossible. He had a little tune called I'm Moving On. Nice. Followed that right up with another one called Golden Rocket.

[E]

Hank, shall we hear it, huh?

[C]

Thank you, Red.

[D]

Here you go.

[C]

From old Montana down to Alabama I've been before and I'll travel again. You drive a whim and can't keep a good man down. You delphicar and fletcher minister play so hit the road and be on your way I'm coming for the Golden Rocket and leave this town I was a good engine running on time but baby, I'm switching to another line so, honey, never hang your signal out for me I'm tired of running on the same old crack About a oneway ticket and I want me back to stone rocket and I roll my blues.

[E]

Here that.

[C]

Long summer with a bull that's your cue and but now you know that I got another tool I'm awaiting in Tennessee this midnight special to Burning the Rail for woman don't try to fall my trail is golden Rocket's gonna roll my fools away Here for thumb drown through the night this golden Rocket isn't doing me right and that sunny old Southland shore is a part of me now from me Paul bought a race with angel found absent in a loss of flame and the golden rock I rolling my boo away he seemed to know you'd done me wrong I was feeling low before he yelled louder over that Dixon line Bubba Spider singing a song Said you worried now but it won't be long the scolding ronger is leaving your blues behind. Then the party yelled with his southern roll it's right. And sang good morning you all and I sprang from my feet and greet.

[E]

The newborn day When I kissed my.

[C]

Baby at the station door light With a good blue eye as ever before on the golden rocket to roll my boobs away.

[E]

Well, there's Hal Smith starting the old.

[F]

Fiddle going with stony fire. Folks, join us for a dance.

[E]

Get yourself a pretty gal there hang. Come on, let's everybody kick up a.

[D]

Fussy hands up and wave.

[E]

Go and turn right back single file aging, leading gently out a whole new door and everybody dance. Right hand grand left cow man right and left and all the way around Grab that gal watch you smile Way back years ago hog wild home you go and everybody dance Feed them all.

[D]

Like snakes all night and hold.

[F]

Well, you know, Hank Snow and me were having a little conflab back there a while ago and we missed talking about the special hymns that folks write and ask us to sing. There's one that he gets a lot of letters on Is an old one called for the long. I had it planned tonight so here it is for the law.

[E]

If didn't tried we're all made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long While there are others living about us Never moreless Please you go in the wrong father Alone we know all about Father Alone we understand why Cheer up, my brother Earth is in the.

[D]

Sunshine we'll understand.

[E]

It all my life Father, allow me understand why Here at my brother Living the sunshine we'll understand it all by and by Something that'll sure pin your folks ears back it's.

[F]

The Jordan A one of their fine spiritual calls My journey to the sky.

[A]

Know.

[E]

So many times my heavy burden has fall for need you my but I pray oh, blessed be God Won't.

[C]

You help me if you please if.

[E]

He would hasten to my rescue I no longer had to cry so I'll keep my Savior with me on my journey Journey to the sky where oh, that's wonderful.

[F]

Well, see, every day, you know, folks, the news changes from good to bad. And sometimes from bad to good. And sometimes it gets fair to middling, as Rob says.

[E]

But for the happiest news of all.

[F]

From Grinders to it's cousin Minnie Pearl.

[G]

How do I see? I'm just surprised to see her. Lester. Hezzy. That there's my feller. He brung me in to town tonight. Hezzy's one of them swashbuckling types. Now, that's what Hezzy is. He's a swashbuckler. His stomach washes and his knees buckle. I'll never forget, though, the first time Hezzy kissed me. I thought every hair on my head was a Jew's heart. And somebody's playing a different tune on.

[E]

Every one of them.

[G]

He'd been eating for summers and sucking lemons for three days to get in practice. But this year, class week, I went to see the dentist. In fact, all our family went to see the dentist. And when the dentist looked at Uncle Nabob's teeth, he said they was absolutely perfect. He said there wasn't a thing wrong with them. Then he handed them back to him Brother. Brother got in the dentist's chair. And the dentist told brother to open his mouth. So brother opened it as wide as he could. Scared the dentist to death. He said, wait a minute, I just want to look in. I don't want to crawl in. That Denny sure was prized, though, when he looked in brother's mouth. You know, some folks has got swollen gums and some's got bleeding gums. You know what Brother Scott? Bubble gum. But he had to pull one of brother's teeth. The other one was all right, but he put them. He put them for six or five sets. No, it is forceps. That is right. He put him in brother's mouth and whoo, zip. He had that tooth out. You know what he charged for that? $3? I told him, I said, $3 for three seconds work. While the last fellow that pulled the tooth's brother dragged him around before for half an hour. Only charged him a dollar. Well, you know that Dennis fellow was sort of highfalutin. He told me that $3 was his regular price, so extra extraction. And I said, well, what in the world does extraction mean? He said, why, extraction means to pull. I said, well, in that case, you ought to come up Grinder Slick sometime and watch our old mule extract the plow. I was awfully embarrassed. On the bus, though. On the way to the dentist, the bus driver kept glaring at Uncle Nabob just like he hadn't paid his fare. But that didn't faze Uncle Nabob. He just kept glaring right back just like he had. And when we got out at the dentist, there was a woman cleaning the outside of a window up on the first floor. And she fell right in the trash can. And Uncle Nabob didn't see her fall. And when he looked and seen that woman in the trash can, he said, there. That just goes to show you how wasteful city folks is throwing that woman away. And she's good for 15 years.

[E]

Y hey, Slow, come on back out here. Good boy. And I'm sure that the folks will.

[F]

Agree with me that we cannot let you get away without singing the ones that people are always asking for.

[D]

Once more.

[E]

I'm moving on.

[C]

Thank you. That big eight wheel rolling down the track meets loving dad. He ain't come back without moving on. I'm rolling on. You are flying too high for my little old sky. So I'm moving on. That big loud whistle as a blue and blues that hello to the southland. We're coming to you when we're moving on we'll soon be gone. You had to laugh at me so I'm steady free and I'm moving on.

[E]

Move on.

[C]

Mr. P, won't you please listen to me? Cause I got a pretty mama in Tennessee. Keep moving me on. Keep rolling on. Don't shovel a bowl at this rattle or roll and keep moving me on. I told you, baby from time to time but you just wouldn't listen to pain and no mind, no, I'm moving on. I'm ruling on, I'm warned if I can settle the fire as I'm moving on. Baby, when you pad your play you're going to want the daddy. But the daddy will say keep moving on. Stay away too long I'm Cool with you. Too bad your blue keep moving on.

[E]

Roll on Daddy. Thanks a lot, Hank. Come back real soon. See you.

[F]

Here's an old timer that I hope you some of you folks remember. Call the convict and the road.

[E]

Within my friends so dreary alone I sit with broken heart I'm thinking of my lonely darling Forever from her I must.

[C]

Part.

[E]

A ro she sent me as a token she said it just to light my gloom to tell me that her heart is broken to cheer me on to meet my blue Goodbye sweetheart For in the morning I need my maker and repose and when I go at daylight Starting against my heart they'll find a road grand alley man left with your pony to a grand right and left your step around Then you pollinate home with your darling promenade with that old red river Delay that first couple leads on down that valley Circle to the left this is the United States Armed Forces Radio Service, the voice.

[D]

Of information and education.

[E]

Come back and swing that old red river down Then you leave right on down the valley circle to the left and to the right we're playing with that girl in the valley playing with that red river girl Then you lead along lead along get on down the valley you circle to the left head circle to the right swing that other girl wait in the valley Come back and swing the old red river G Now it's heavy in little stony corner turn right, left just right around promade home with your so it's a prominent with that red river girl we'll add next couple leads on that down that valley Turn them to the left turn them to the right read way over swing down in that valley Come on back and swing that old red river down Men you read right on down the valley Circle to the left and to the right Foreign.

[H]

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 Facebook 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.

[E]

Sam.