A follow-up to my recent posting of Will’s song, “The Great Beyond Near,” about Glynda Cox, co-owner with partner Peg Miller of the old Chicago House: “Road of Roses” was a crowd favorite from those days, lending a lyric as the title of Will’s second self-released cassette.
On the road of roses,
I will ride.
Well, his years counted 90,
But his stories numbered more.
He’d tell ’em from an old oak rocking chair
On the porch of the country store.
They were all about his horses,
And the trail rides that he loved.
When I asked him
Why they never saddened him,
He told me it’s because,
“There’s a road of roses
Where this world’s worries end.
On the road of roses,
I will ride.
In a land free of sin,
I’ll be a good old hand again
When my Savior saddles up by my side.”
Well, his cough was growing harsher,
And his eyes were dimming more.
But he would not see a doctor,
He said, “I never have before.”
But I’d stop and visit,
I’d sit at the side of his bed.
And he’d toss his Bible to me,
And tell me while I read,
“There’s a road of roses
Where this world’s worries end.
On the road of roses,
I will ride.
In a land free of sin,
I’ll be a good old hand again
When my Savior saddles up by my side.”
Welll, the preacher’s voice was somber,
And there were tears in many eyes.
But as I lay his spurs beside him,
I couldn’t help but smile.
‘Cause there were roses by the coffin,
But they were only there for us —
The Lord & him were on a road of them,
Kickin’ up dust.
On the road of roses,
Where this world’s worries end.
On the road of roses,
They ride.
In a land free of sin,
He’s a damned good hand again
With the Savior saddled up by his side.
Repeat final chorus
Buller's back porch 