From 1966 to 1972, I lived in San Antonio, Texas. I became acquainted with the Station Manager of WOAI Radio. He was in his 60s and had been in radio and early TV for many years. He had some very interesting stories to tell. He also had a collection of Out-Takes from a number of Personalities which he let me copy.
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| John Gary |
One morning we met and discussed that John Gary, the singer, was going to be in town for an Archery Shoot and to have a program in the evening at the convention center. (Gary was also an amateur archer) Guy said he had an interesting story connected with Gary. After he told the story, I went to my car and did my best to remember how it went. The following is as best I can remember.
The scene is a hospital room. An old man is in bed and has been going in and out of delirium for several days. The doctor is not exactly sure of the cause, but he suspects it is from an injury from WW1. The old man was in the 6th Marines and still had a piece of German Shrapnel somewhere close to his heart. His wife of many years had been with him most of the time since admission. This last evening he was unconscious and was lying peacefully in bed. She was so tired from events of the past days that she pulled her chair up to the bed and laid her torso on the bed at his feet.
Evidently at some time in the night he awoke and sensed that his time was near. Seeing the love of his life lying at his feet he picked up a pad and pencil and wrote to her his last Love Letter. Some time later he expired. When his wife awoke and saw that he was gone, she noticed the pad and read his last note to her. She tore it off and kept it.
Within a year of his death as so often happens, she became ill and sensed that she would not be around very long. Her only son was there with her, and she showed him the last letter his father had written on his death bed. She asked him to keep it and to treasure it as had she. Not long afterward she too was gone.
The son had an acquaintance who was in the music business so he showed the letter to his friend and asked him if he thought it had possibilities for a song. The acquaintance said that he thought something could be done.
Well you wonder how this is related to John Gary. The letter begins “Softly, I must leave you. Softly, for my heart would break if you should wake and see me go.” I have no idea how much truth is in the story which Guy told me, but if it is true, it’s very moving. If only some elements are true it is still a beautiful story.
- R.L. Clark
Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break
If you should leave
And see me go
So I leave you softly
Long before you miss me
Long before your arms beg me to stay
For one more hour
For one more day
After all the years
I can't bear the tears
To fall, so softly
As I leave you there
Softly, long before you kiss me
Long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour
For one more day
After all the years
I can't bear the tears
To fall, so softly
As I leave you there
