The Porch Ain’t Made of Wood Bubba Patrick & Darlene Porch Wisdom with Bubba & Trigger [Intro — Martin guitar, piano, then swinging horns] [Bubba — Spoken] Well, Trigger, we’ve learned a few things. [Darlene — Spoken, female] Some of us have been taking notes. [Bubba — Spoken] I knew I should’ve kept those to myself. [Verse 1 — Bubba] Pulled a chair up after supper, Trigger settled by my feet. Had a glass of good old Georgia sweet tea, Had a little evening breeze. Then Darlene came through the doorway With that sax case in her hand. Said, “You’ve done enough advising— Let’s go strike up that old band.” [Verse 2 — Darlene, female] There’s a mark beside the table Where a rocking chair once stood. There’s a story ’bout that flowerpot That you ought to tell for good. There are folks who came for minutes, Stayed until the stars came out. You can hear ’em in the laughter When another friend comes ’round. [Chorus — Both] The porch ain’t made of wood, It’s made of stories. Made of “Come on in” And “How you been?” And “Pull that chair up for me.” Every laugh and every lesson, Every friend who stayed awhile— The porch ain’t made of wood, It’s made of stories, And we’re adding one tonight. [Horn turnaround] [Verse 3 — Bubba] We learned not to chase each squirrel, Not to holler at the rain. Not to dig up last year’s trouble Just to drag it back again. [Darlene, female] Learned the sidewalk’s for the neighbors, Learned to let somebody through— [Bubba] And when I started preaching patience— [Darlene, female] We saved a little bit for you! [Spoken — Bubba] Y’all are getting a lot of mileage out of that. [Chorus — Both] The porch ain’t made of wood, It’s made of stories. Made of “Come on in” And “How you been?” And “Pull that chair up for me.” Every laugh and every lesson, Every friend who stayed awhile— The porch ain’t made of wood, It’s made of stories, And we’re adding one tonight. [Instrumental — Bubba harmonica solo over Martin guitar] [Darlene — Spoken, female] All right, Bubba! [Instrumental — Darlene saxophone solo, horns answer] [Bubba — Spoken] Now, that’ll bring the neighbors out! [Bridge — Bubba, softer] Papa taught me how to make that tea, I still fix it like he showed. [Darlene, female] Funny how a little thing like that Can bring somebody close. [Bubba] I can tell it while we’re sitting here, Pass a little of it on. [Both — Build] Let somebody finish telling theirs— We’ve got time for one more song! [Verse 4 — Darlene, female] Trigger’s sleeping through the trumpet, But a snack bag wakes him up. You’ve been searching for your glasses— [Bubba] They were here when I stood up. [Darlene, female] They’re sitting right there on your forehead. [Bubba] Well, they’re easy to retrieve. [Both] There’s another little story For the next time somebody leaves! [Final Chorus — Both, full band] The porch ain’t made of wood, It’s made of stories. Made of “Come on in” And “How you been?” And “Pull that chair up for me.” Every laugh and every lesson, Every friend who stayed awhile— The porch ain’t made of wood, It’s made of stories, And we’re adding one tonight! [Instrumental — Short harmonica and saxophone exchange] [Tag — Both] Bring a memory, bring a neighbor, Bring that tale we’ve heard before. There’s a chair here with your name on it— We can always fit one more! [Outro — Spoken over soft guitar] [Bubba] Well, Trigger, what’d we learn? [Darlene, female] You first. [Bubba] I learned a man ought to be careful Giving advice in front of witnesses. [Pause] And that’s our time, folks. Y’all come back. [Big horn flourish and full-band finish]
