The King's Highway
Bob Nolan
Original copyright: Undetermined
Refrain:
Sing to the mountains and sing to the vale,
Sing to the wild things along the trail,
Sing till you hear a great Voice say,
“Welcome, my friend, on The King's Highway.”
So straight the road and so clear the sky,
So sweet the sound that goes rolling by.
Take my advice. You’ll never stray
Once you have been on The King's Highway.
Follow the signs He has posted well,
Stop at the sound of the warning bell.
Someone is lost along the way ~
Straighten him out on The King's Highway.
I see the goal I’ve been reaching for
There in the Light from His open door.
I know He’ll greet me some sweet day
There at the end of The King's Highway.
ABOUT THIS SONG
Still a favorite of church choirs, "The King's Highway" was recorded on February 24, 1955 (RCA Victor LP "How Great Thou Art" in 1957). Bob Nolan had come out of retirement for two years, but only to record for RCA Victor because the TV audience wanted to hear the original Sons of the Pioneers. The 1940s Roy Rogers films had been cut to fit one-hour television programs in the 1950s and a new generation was being exposed to the Classic Sons of the Pioneers. They demanded records by this group, not the 1950s group. They wanted Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer in particular even though both Bob and Tim had retired in 1949. RCA Victor caused an internal problem with the Pioneers by insisting that the Classic Sons of the Pioneers be brought back under contract. (The touring group naturally resented this and it took all of Lloyd Perryman's tact and persuasive powers to keep it from breaking up.) Tim's voice did not hold out and Ken Curtis was hired to take his place in the trio. Bob came out of retirement and recorded with the classic group until his last session on September 25, 1957. His voice never tired. It was strong and true until the day he died.