Every Southern family has at least 3 good settin up stories…in our neighborhood we had a dog jump into the open casket and it went downhill from there.
The tradition of sitting up with the dead goes back to the time when they needed to verify the person was actually dead and not just in a diabetic coma or something. The tradition is to sit in attendance for three days which goes back to bible times for establishing if you are dead or not. If you are ever in Mississippi in the country, in the dark, in a severe storm you might change your mind. Totally dark with lightning flashing and the Spanish Moss hanging off the trees even if you don’t believe in ghosts it’s easy to understand why so many southerners do. For your next song try “I’m My Own Grandpa”. It’s a hoot.
Sittin up with dead was a real thing in the times of the Great Depression. Kind of spooky perhaps but it was a thing of respect to stay with the deceased family member for three days before the actual burial.
The problem with "sitting up with the Dead" is that when the dead aren't embalmed and just go to their rest in a home-made coffin sometimes the gasses within a decomposing body will cause the corpse to sit up, twitch or make a mournful groan. :D That can be quite an experience in itself.
This was a standard practice where I came from as a child. They were put up in the living room and people sat with them day or night so they wouldn't be alone in a cold funeral home. Then they were taken to the church for the funeral and then the procession to the cemetery.
Being from the southeastern USA, I have participated in this tradition. The last time was in 1989 when my husband's grandmother passed. It wasn't held in her home but was held at the church. Thank goodness it was nowhere as eventful as this song's lyrics.
Ray Stevens is best known for his novelty songs like this (althugh his best ones are the ones he released in the '60s when he was still making HITS). But he also released three serious songs that have as much meaning today as when he recorded them in the late '60s/early '70s. Check out 1970's "Everything Is Beautiful," 1968's "Unwind" and the best of the bunch, 1968's "Mr. Businessman." And as long as you're going to go back that far, check out the songs he's most known for, like "Guitarzan" (1969), "The Streak" (1974), "Ahab the Arab" (1962), and "Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving, Fast-Acting, Pleasant-Tasting, Green and Purple Pills" (1960).
Love Ray Stevens he. Also sings Mr. Custer and Hang up and drive but I bet you never heard Weird al Yankovic as a side by side video try Fat from Weird Al and Bad. From Michael Jackson or eat it with beat it or I'm just putting out Weird Al now Amish Paradise Headline News or Ricky or the Saga begins and I love Rocky Road living with a Hernia
I’m from East Texas- for anyone unfamiliar, East Texas is special, even for Texas lol - and I remember the old ones doing this as late as the early 90’s
I grew up with this music ... Loads of great story telling ... We didn't have videos with them when they came out, but that's the beauty of true story-tellers ... They paint it so clearly ... You can close your eyes and see it ...
The late Barney Seber had a theory as to how the practice of sitting up with the dead began. He said that in the days before funeral homes came into existence, one of the reasons people sat with a deceased person was to keep rodents away.
i remember my great grandmother, my grandmother and my aunt they were brought home til their funeral it was normal the last one i remember was 1968 ....
glad you're back and ok. I love it that you are showing Ray Stevens some love. One of his funniest songs IMO is one called "I tried to teach Charlene McKenzie How To Drive". Great reaction.
Everyone knows Ray Stevens for his comedy songs but you ought to hear him when he really sings. Suggest you take a listen to "Everything is Beautiful". Just to let you know the man can sing.
Check out music video “We are the world” and Garth Brooks' for 'The Dance' look for the version with black and white vide of Martin Luther King Je,, President Kennedy, Lane frost and others we have lost
I barely remember it...but as a very small child my mama, and grandma had been cooking all morning, to take food to a woman's house out in the country. I was all excited because I would get to play with little Jimmy from my Sunday School class. (he had been sick and missed a few Sundays). To my horror when we walked in was a small casket sat on 6 props, right there in the living room, with flowers everywhere. People were crying and talking...it was little Jimmy...he had died. To find out like I did just blew my little mind and scared me so bad...I ran back to the car, got in, and locked all the doors. I was really angry with my mama and grandma for not telling me BEFORE we got there...such a horrible way to find out.
First video I clicked on was because you look like you could be my best friend from high school's twin, but I'm stickin around because I dig the content.
One of the reasons for sitting up with the dead was to make sure rats wouldn't get to the corpse. I am sure that just broke your mental paintbrush. You never know what you are going to get from Ray.
![Starfield - "The Valentine" Space Shanty - "Out in the Blackness" - [Cinematic Cover]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hWo6MAhlHIM/mqdefault.jpg)
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Every Southern family has at least 3 good settin up stories…in our neighborhood we had a dog jump into the open casket and it went downhill from there.
My mom as a kid jumped into her granddaddy's casket to give him coffee. She was like 3 and it was 1961
One of my favorite Ray Stevens songs. "Shriners Convention"
The tradition of sitting up with the dead goes back to the time when they needed to verify the person was actually dead and not just in a diabetic coma or something. The tradition is to sit in attendance for three days which goes back to bible times for establishing if you are dead or not. If you are ever in Mississippi in the country, in the dark, in a severe storm you might change your mind. Totally dark with lightning flashing and the Spanish Moss hanging off the trees even if you don’t believe in ghosts it’s easy to understand why so many southerners do. For your next song try “I’m My Own Grandpa”. It’s a hoot.
Yeah, that'll get him confused!
Sittin up with dead was a real thing in the times of the Great Depression. Kind of spooky perhaps but it was a thing of respect to stay with the deceased family member for three days before the actual burial.
I'm so glad you've been appreciating Ray Stevens' uniquely great comedic Country music stylings. Young folks like you give me hope for y'all's future!
You need to react to ray's song 'The Shriners Convention'. No one reacts to it and it is one of his best songs.
Glad you’re back!!!
Please check out Ray’s I’m my own grandpa!!!
The problem with "sitting up with the Dead" is that when the dead aren't embalmed and just go to their rest in a home-made coffin sometimes the gasses within a decomposing body will cause the corpse to sit up, twitch or make a mournful groan. :D That can be quite an experience in itself.
This was a standard practice where I came from as a child. They were put up in the living room and people sat with them day or night so they wouldn't be alone in a cold funeral home. Then they were taken to the church for the funeral and then the procession to the cemetery.
Ray Stevens Erik the Awful hilarious
Being from the southeastern USA, I have participated in this tradition. The last time was in 1989 when my husband's grandmother passed. It wasn't held in her home but was held at the church. Thank goodness it was nowhere as eventful as this song's lyrics.
Ray Stevens is best known for his novelty songs like this (althugh his best ones are the ones he released in the '60s when he was still making HITS). But he also released three serious songs that have as much meaning today as when he recorded them in the late '60s/early '70s. Check out 1970's "Everything Is Beautiful," 1968's "Unwind" and the best of the bunch, 1968's "Mr. Businessman." And as long as you're going to go back that far, check out the songs he's most known for, like "Guitarzan" (1969), "The Streak" (1974), "Ahab the Arab" (1962), and "Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving, Fast-Acting, Pleasant-Tasting, Green and Purple Pills" (1960).
Just got to love. Ray Stevens. I still have his greatest hits. On DVD!!
Two more Ray Steven's songs that are good are Too Drunk To Fish and Taylor Swift is Stalking Me.
This is true , especially in the country… long ago.. it is funny👍
Love Ray Stevens he. Also sings Mr. Custer and Hang up and drive but I bet you never heard Weird al Yankovic as a side by side video try Fat from Weird Al and Bad. From Michael Jackson or eat it with beat it or I'm just putting out Weird Al now Amish Paradise Headline News or Ricky or the Saga begins and I love Rocky Road living with a Hernia
I’m from East Texas- for anyone unfamiliar, East Texas is special, even for Texas lol - and I remember the old ones doing this as late as the early 90’s
Ever notice how comedy doesn't deal with death anymore? If you aren't afraid of death, it is easy to make fun of it.
I grew up with this music ... Loads of great story telling ... We didn't have videos with them when they came out, but that's the beauty of true story-tellers ... They paint it so clearly ... You can close your eyes and see it ...
Suggested reaction to Jerry Reed. "She got the gold mine I got the shaft" same concept as Ray Steven's.
❤ my favorite of Ray's 😂😂😂😂
Love Ray
I'm Happy Your Back and Feeling Better ❤
The late Barney Seber had a theory as to how the practice of sitting up with the dead began. He said that in the days before funeral homes came into existence, one of the reasons people sat with a deceased person was to keep rodents away.
Your smile is so infectious in a good way!!! Thank you!!!!
Everything is Beautiful won him a Grammy .
i remember my great grandmother, my grandmother and my aunt they were brought home til their funeral it was normal the last one i remember was 1968 ....
He, Miller is still living. One of his songs is "The preacher wore a Rolex on his television show.'
glad you're back and ok. I love it that you are showing Ray Stevens some love. One of his funniest songs IMO is one called "I tried to teach Charlene McKenzie How To Drive". Great reaction.
Put "I'm My Own Grandpa" on ur to watch list. Youll get a kick outta that! 😂😊
Hey you want to hear some comedy that is clean and funny try Jerry Clower talking about his friends the Leadbeders!
Glad you’re better. Welcome back🙏
That's where the term WAKE came from - as is applied to funerals.
Get well soon😊
You need to watch Johnny Cash - Chicken in Black.
In the 70s, I n Kentucky they sat down with the dead.
I’m so glad you’re back!! I was getting concerned, it had been 7 days since you’d done a reaction.
Ray Stevens made a movie called get serious
Everyone knows Ray Stevens for his comedy songs but you ought to hear him when he really sings. Suggest you take a listen to "Everything is Beautiful". Just to let you know the man can sing.
Thanks! Started watching you with Voice Play, but Ray Stevens is my kinda fun too. I’m kind of eclectic on music
Please also check out Ray's song Indian Love Call. Shows his amazing singing ability.
See ya
Ray Stevens/Along Came Jones
Check out music video “We are the world” and Garth Brooks' for 'The Dance' look for the version with black and white vide of Martin Luther King Je,, President Kennedy, Lane frost and others we have lost
It’s hilarious,
I barely remember it...but as a very small child my mama, and grandma had been cooking all morning, to take food to a woman's house out in the country. I was all excited because I would get to play with little Jimmy from my Sunday School class. (he had been sick and missed a few Sundays). To my horror when we walked in was a small casket sat on 6 props, right there in the living room, with flowers everywhere. People were crying and talking...it was little Jimmy...he had died. To find out like I did just blew my little mind and scared me so bad...I ran back to the car, got in, and locked all the doors. I was really angry with my mama and grandma for not telling me BEFORE we got there...such a horrible way to find out.
I told my husband , you're settin up with me!! Better make sure I'm dead if they don't do an autopsy!😂😂😂
Need to do Wildwood Weed by Ray Stevens
There is such a thing as too safe
Great reaction. You need to reaction to Ray Stevens ...too drunk,to Fish,
First video I clicked on was because you look like you could be my best friend from high school's twin, but I'm stickin around because I dig the content.
Love all the ray stevens...sorry only comment on one
Welcome back
Now do Im My Own Grandpa!
Relax. It's just for fun
I want this one played at my funeral, lol😅
One of the reasons for sitting up with the dead was to make sure rats wouldn't get to the corpse. I am sure that just broke your mental paintbrush. You never know what you are going to get from Ray.
🤣