This songwriter, musician, performer is as pristine as it gets. Robert Earl is so incredible it's mind numbing...trying so hard to listen again...he was my only child's fav following her arrival out here in AB. I lost her, couldn't listen to him following her passing...have tired everything I know to go back and revisit, today I saw her truck, driven by another, her plate, but her not in the driver's seat...stilled me to my old being. I know how much she loved Robert Earl, I did too...trying so hard to listen without sadness...he's such a rock, such a writer, such a light....I know why she loved him.
Carolann Candy So sorry for your loss, nothing compares to the pain of losing a child. You are absolutely correct about REK, this man is the real deal in an industry with way to many crappy singers that have never written a decent song. Your baby had great taste Carolann.
Being from Bryan - College Station attending Bryan HS and Texas A&M, "This Old Porch" rings in so many things from B/CS and other parts of Texas. REK and Lyle are mainstream Texas Country Music and I had a chance to meet them last year at the Woodlands. That was an awesome night to hear the two of them ... again. The La Salle hotel is now owned by some College buddies of mine and Palace was across the street of Main St in DT Bryan. What a great song now and then.
As ‘82 grad of TAMU this song stops me in my tracks, causes me to be still, and makes me wanna hop in the car, drive to College Station, and sit on the Chicken’s front porch and have a pitcher. This song is pure greatness especially if you know the meaning of each word of it.
I remember when Lyle released his first album. "This Old Porch" was my favorite song on that album, and the two versions were very different from one another. Robert did a great job with this performance, which is much more like Lyle's original version.
Came here hoping for an insightful memory from Robert. He never disappoints. (*Kelsey Grammer, shows up on Hee Haw). Y'all accompanied me through some rough years living in Texas when I missed southern Colorado so. My ex's dad had a place west of Brenham, a fella who did well running the Swinging Door in Houston selling Anglicized beef enchiladas with cheddar and fresh onions on the side. And I almost ended up there forever in a half swampy bottomland working the land, or working a sawmill dodging Water Moccasins. I lived in Austin, but I loved the country more. We'd visit once a season, and the leaves would never really change color, or fall off, and it never snowed. Townes Van Zant would break my heart every time I'd hear "Snowing On Raton". Certain parts of Texas I was not born into loving. Lovett and Keen probably kept me from leaving it too soon to be honest.
I grew up to my daddy playing "the front porch song" almost every other day. Heard that one off the live dinner reunion and it made this young bull tear up.. Havent been able to find that exact rendition on youtube, but this one is awesome too..
Okay. Perhaps one of my favorite *ever* songs and I never thought a cover would be good, but this is really okay. Interesting, just found that Robert Earl Keene also does covers of McMurtry. Didn't know *anyone* did that. Oh, and as a member of a big ole' Texas family, yeah, this song resounds.
Not really a cover. REK wrote the beginning of the song first, then Lyle finished it. Both recorded versions of it that were very different musically back in the mid-80s.
It is not a true cover, but Lyle recorded it and made it come to light, so in essence, it is a cover... I give him credit, he does a great job, but it would not have made it without Lyles voice, phrasing and unusal country persona.. love this song so much... and wish I could do it even half as good as this version...
REK wrote the first verse prior to Lyle partaking in the writing process (adding the second verse). It's not a "who covered who" situation. It is a collaboration.
Love the song, the musician, the whole deal. Dear God, put a compressor on that whole freaking mix. Was that mixed on an Iphone or something? ASCAP you put that out? Jesus. And like 3rdCoast said, tune up. But still hearing REK do LL's version is amazing.
Lyle does the only version (for me) worth listening to... I give credit to his buddy, but once you hear Lyle you will never listen to another... his timing and phrasing are amazing...
Actually......they wrote the song together on REK's front porch in Aggieland. (Hence the name of the song) Both wrote it.......both sing it. And, if you're lucky, you can catch a live show and listen to them sing it together. :)
They did, it's basically the same song. LL calls it This Old Porch and REK calls it The Porch Song. The REK version is more up beat, but he slowed it down more like the LL version in this tribute.
![B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone [Crossroads 2010] (Official Live Video)](/img/1.gif)
This songwriter, musician, performer is as pristine as it gets. Robert Earl is so incredible it's mind numbing...trying so hard to listen again...he was my only child's fav following her arrival out here in AB. I lost her, couldn't listen to him following her passing...have tired everything I know to go back and revisit, today I saw her truck, driven by another, her plate, but her not in the driver's seat...stilled me to my old being. I know how much she loved Robert Earl, I did too...trying so hard to listen without sadness...he's such a rock, such a writer, such a light....I know why she loved him.
Carolann Candy So sorry for your loss, nothing compares to the pain of losing a child. You are absolutely correct about REK, this man is the real deal in an industry with way to many crappy singers that have never written a decent song. Your baby had great taste Carolann.
I think it was about 15 years ago I first went out to hear Robert Earl Keen . I can’t remember who suggested I go ... but I thank you 😊
Being from Bryan - College Station attending Bryan HS and Texas A&M, "This Old Porch" rings in so many things from B/CS and other parts of Texas. REK and Lyle are mainstream Texas Country Music and I had a chance to meet them last year at the Woodlands. That was an awesome night to hear the two of them ... again. The La Salle hotel is now owned by some College buddies of mine and Palace was across the street of Main St in DT Bryan. What a great song now and then.
Man I often fondly me recollect upon my days back in Bryan College Station
WHOOP
Love this Lovett song.
Jack Boyette was my landlord too about 10 years later. The porch was already torn down.
Lyle should have far more recognition
why?
Brilliant man.
As ‘82 grad of TAMU this song stops me in my tracks, causes me to be still, and makes me wanna hop in the car, drive to College Station, and sit on the Chicken’s front porch and have a pitcher. This song is pure greatness especially if you know the meaning of each word of it.
Wish I'd of heard this guy years ago. He hanggs with the best. Those who love guys and girls like this understand the ultimate story tellers.
I remember when Lyle released his first album. "This Old Porch" was my favorite song on that album, and the two versions were very different from one another. Robert did a great job with this performance, which is much more like Lyle's original version.
Love that album! The imagery is haunting...
Came here hoping for an insightful memory from Robert. He never disappoints. (*Kelsey Grammer, shows up on Hee Haw).
Y'all accompanied me through some rough years living in Texas when I missed southern Colorado so. My ex's dad had a place west of Brenham, a fella who did well running the Swinging Door in Houston selling Anglicized beef enchiladas with cheddar and fresh onions on the side. And I almost ended up there forever in a half swampy bottomland working the land, or working a sawmill dodging Water Moccasins.
I lived in Austin, but I loved the country more. We'd visit once a season, and the leaves would never really change color, or fall off, and it never snowed. Townes Van Zant would break my heart every time I'd hear "Snowing On Raton".
Certain parts of Texas I was not born into loving. Lovett and Keen probably kept me from leaving it too soon to be honest.
I love the original and this version.
I grew up to my daddy playing "the front porch song" almost every other day. Heard that one off the live dinner reunion and it made this young bull tear up.. Havent been able to find that exact rendition on youtube, but this one is awesome too..
the one from the live album is on apple music
He covers Townes, Steve Earle, Todd Snider, etc. He has excellent taste.
Dude tells me what it was/is...
Love it.
WHOOP!!!! GIG'M AGGIES
I bet if that ol' porch was still up on Northgate here in College Station, it'd have all kinds of stories to tell.
And I am hearing them from folks today who were there with Keen and Lovett!
Jesus. That's powerful.
This song,as completed by REK,has merit,and substance too!
Robert wrote the first part, then Lyle wrote the rest.
Okay. Perhaps one of my favorite *ever* songs and I never thought a cover would be good, but this is really okay. Interesting, just found that Robert Earl Keene also does covers of McMurtry. Didn't know *anyone* did that.
Oh, and as a member of a big ole' Texas family, yeah, this song resounds.
Not really a cover. REK wrote the beginning of the song first, then Lyle finished it. Both recorded versions of it that were very different musically back in the mid-80s.
This is not a cover, they co-wrote this song in college.
It is not a true cover, but Lyle recorded it and made it come to light, so in essence, it is a cover... I give him credit, he does a great job, but it would not have made it without Lyles voice, phrasing and unusal country persona.. love this song so much... and wish I could do it even half as good as this version...
REK recorded it and released it on his 1984 album No Kinda Dancer - LL didn't release it until 1986. It's definitely not a cover by either of them.
REK wrote the first verse prior to Lyle partaking in the writing process (adding the second verse). It's not a "who covered who" situation. It is a collaboration.
Gord Merritt You obviously don't go back very far with either artist. Love these guys.
Clara Keen And you should know. You must be so proud of your dad. He's a wonderful artist. :)
I like how REK changed the song up for this version.
🎼🎶🎵🎶🎸
Go Aggies!!!
Its Gig Em... Whoop!
Love the song, the musician, the whole deal. Dear God, put a compressor on that whole freaking mix. Was that mixed on an Iphone or something? ASCAP you put that out? Jesus. And like 3rdCoast said, tune up. But still hearing REK do LL's version is amazing.
I know!
Such a shame.
If there even WAS a sound engineer involved, he was a waste of space and oxygen
Frazier walks into HeeHaw. As a Houstonian who knows where REK and LL grew up it should have been the opposite!!
This might be Old Time..you did good "Robert Keen"
I can't quite get into it like I can his other versions.
I've never heard this slower rendition.
Does Lyle Lovett also have a recording of this? I'd like to hear it.
+joecoolmccall yeah he recorded it also
Lyle does the only version (for me) worth listening to... I give credit to his buddy, but once you hear Lyle you will never listen to another... his timing and phrasing are amazing...
no... he wrote and recorded it.. this is a tribute by his old friend during an awards ceremony.... this guy never recorded it...
Actually......they wrote the song together on REK's front porch in Aggieland. (Hence the name of the song) Both wrote it.......both sing it. And, if you're lucky, you can catch a live show and listen to them sing it together. :)
Gord Merritt I have been a robert keen fan for 30 years sir, they both wrote it.
Tune your guitar Robert!
did not like this change in a great song !! Go back to original version !!!! this sucks
Beautiful and fitting. He's playing Lyle's "This Old Porch" not Robert's "Front Porch Song." The bond and talent they share is amazing.
I thought I remembered that the two cowrote the song.
They did, it's basically the same song. LL calls it This Old Porch and REK calls it The Porch Song. The REK version is more up beat, but he slowed it down more like the LL version in this tribute.