THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT

By Charles E. Rice

Will Campbell’s affair with country music often disguises as well as conveys the message he has to preach. For him the tragic lyrics of country songs add up to a picture of human sin and despair and a cry for a better lot in life. “It’s all eschatological,” he says. “It has to do with heaven, hell, death, and judgment.” He also admits it has to do with hope. Some of his songfests thus end with a bourbon toast and an invitation to those who believe that Jesus is Lord to celebrate and drink up.

The first time I heard Will sing was at a farewell party for us when we were leaving Donelson. He closed out the evening singing, “Walk out backwards, if you must go. Don’t say goodbye, just wave one last hello. Cause it won’t hurt so much if we can just pretend. So walk out backwards, and I’ll think you’re walkin’ in.”*

One New Year’s Eve, Will and Bob Boatwright and I went to the nursing home in Fort Oglethorpe where Grandma Billings was confined. I remembered how Grandma had loved the Grand Ole’ Opry. Will took “Baby”—his guitar. After greetings Will began to play and sing for Grandma. Almost immediately, staff people, other patients and such gathered at the room, enthralled by this unusual and unscheduled performance.

We were scheduled for a New Year’s Eve party that night where a quite different group would gather in plush surroundings for a party and for Will’s entertainment. Driving away from the nursing home, I commented, “Will, I don’t know who will be at the party tonight—but you’ll never have a more appreciative audience than the one you just played for.”

Will spat some Beechnut chewing tobacco juice out the car window, and replied, “Audience, tonight? . . . Fuck the audience tonight.”

And so he continues to treat any audience, whether singing or talking. Redneck, Klansman, black militant—none of them can ever be outclassed by whoever comes next.

END

Will Campbell strums "Baby" outside his office in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 1969
(photo by Charles Rice or possibly Al Clayton, from the Rice private collection)

"The Audience Tonight" is from Charles E. Rice's book The View From My Ridge, available from Canopic Publishing.

*"Walk Out Backwards" written and originally recorded by Whisperin' Bill Anderson

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