CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 19, 2018
ROY CLARK DIED LAST WEEK. HE WAS 85. CLARK HOSTED THE OLD “HEE HAW SHOW” ON CBS FOR SEVERAL SEASONS. MANAGEMENT HATED THE SHOW BUT THE PUBLIC LOVED IT, GIVING IT HIGH RATINGS.
CLARK’S MOST FAMOUS SONG WAS “YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG.” HE SANG IT AT MICKEY MANTLE’S FUNERAL AT MANTLE’S REQUEST. IT TELLS THE STORY OF A WASTED LIFE. ONE OF THE MOST STIRRING PARTS OF IT IS THIS LINE: “THE GAME OF LOVE I PLAYED WITH ARROGANCE AND PRIDE; AND EVERY FLAME I LIT TOO QUICKLY, QUICKLY DIED; THE FRIENDS I MADE ALL SEEMED TO DRIFT AWAY; AND ONLY I AM LEFT ON STAGE TO END THE PLAY; THERE ARE SO MANY SONGS IN ME THAT WON’T BE SUNG; I FEEL THE BITTER TASTE OF TEARS UPON MY TONGUE; THE TIME HAS COME TO PAY FOR YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS YOUNG.”
ON OCCASION, ROY WOULD FOLLOW THE SONG WITH “AMAZING GRACE.” IT WAS A POWERFUL MOMENT WHEN HE DID, SUGGESTING THAT HIS DEBT WAS PAID FOR BY THE DEATH OF JESUS. I DON’T KNOW IF ROY WAS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS BUT THE WAY HE COMBINED THESE SONGS SUGGESTS HE WAS. REST IN PEACE, ROY CLARK. YOU WERE ONE OF A KIND. I’M CAL THOMAS.
