Front porches can ‘carry a tune’

Some of the most popular songs in country music are about the simple life. 

“Fans love songs about rocking or swinging on the front porch, screen doors slamming, corn stalks growing and faded jeans,” commented music historian Barbie Craft. 

For more than 50 years, Mary and Dave Morris have been “front porch rockers.” They’ve built a business together in Nashville, Tenn. – Front Porch Ideas and More.

 

Go online to learn how to build or add on porches, how to decorate them and how to enjoy them to the maximum. 

“Porches are the first thing you see on a home,” the Morrises said. “Ever pass a home with a great porch and notice your eyes linger just a bit? A great porch stands out. So much so that you may not be able to describe the house later, but you will remember the porch!” 

“Country music songs and lyrics often include references to front porches and front porch swings,” they said.

 

The couple has compiled an inventory of “front porch” tunes from recording artists such as Garth Brooks, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Lonestar, Kenny Rogers, Pam Tillis and Little Big Town. 

One of the favorites mentioned by Mary and Dave Morris is “If The World Had A Front Porch,” which was recorded in 1984 by Tracy Lawrence. Here’s a bit of it:

 

It was where my mama sat on that old swing with her crochet.

It was where granddaddy taught me how to cuss and how to pray.

It was where we made our own ice cream those sultry summer nights,

Where the bulldog had her puppies, and us brothers had our fights.

 

If the world had a front porch like we did back then,

We’d still have our problems but we’d all be friends.

Treating your neighbor like he’s your next of kin…

Wouldn’t be gone with the wind.

 

I’m partial to “Swingin,’” released by John Anderson in 1983. It goes like this:

 

There’s a little girl, in our neighborhood,

Her name is Charlotte Johnson, and she’s really lookin’ good.

 

I walked over to her house, and this was goin’ on:

Her brother was on the sofa eatin’ chocolate pie;

Her momma was in the kitchen cuttin’ chicken up to fry;

Her daddy was in the back yard rollin’ up a garden hose;

I was on the porch with Charlotte feelin’ love down to my toes

And we were swingin’….

 

Little Charlotte she’s as pretty as the angels when they sing,

I can’t believe I’m out here on the front porch in the swing.

 

More recently, Tony Jackson tugged at a lot of heart strings with his 2017 hit “Old Porch Swing” that starts like this:

 

Mamma used to love to reminisce.

She sat out on the porch on nights like this.

She’d tell me about her favorite things in life.

Like honeysuckles, rain and fireflies.

 

Out on that old porch swing,

I learned everything.

How to laugh, and how to love,

And who I am and who’s up above.

And everything in between.

Out on that old porch swing.

 

Just for fun, listen to “The Porch,” composed in 2010 by singer/songwriter CJaye LeRose.

 

She wrote a song about her man who isn’t spending enough time with her. She boots him out of the house with the edict:

 

I’m locking you out tonight;

You’re sleeping on the porch.