My Friend – ‘Stan’ Parsons – Frank Poland: Lyrics & Music – Stanley Parsons and I have many years of friendship, singing together with Sonlife Quartet, adventures, family memories, and a treasure chest of stories that nobody else could tell.
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STANLEY “STAN” PARSONS
‘MY LOYAL FRIEND’
Some friends we meet along life’s way,
And some become our friends each day;
But once in a lifetime, if blessed by grace,
A friend comes along who no one can replace.
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Stanley Parsons, “Stan” to me,
Is the kind of friend a friend should be;
A buddy, a pal, a confidant true,
The kind of friend who will stand with you.
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We share our stories, our thoughts, our time,
And somehow our friendship just seems to rhyme.
He has a heart that is big and kind,
And helping others is close to his mind.
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With Stan I can speak with an open heart,
No fear of judgment on his part;
I can tell him the truth, whatever it may be,
For I know that my friend will still stand with me.
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If I had one word to describe this man,
One word that says all that I possibly can,
I wouldn’t need paragraphs, speeches, or song—
I’d simply say “Loyal,” and never be wrong.
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A good ole country boy from Kenna’s ground,
In West Virginia, where his roots are found;
Raised with the values that country boys know,
Where character matters and friendships grow.
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And somewhere along that country road,
God gave him a gift that he learned to unfold;
A baritone voice with a beautiful sound,
The kind folks request whenever he’s around.
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He knows gospel songs by the hundreds, it seems,
With melodies stored like old country dreams;
A tune from long ago, just mention its name,
And Stan can remember the words just the same.
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For several decades, side by side,
In the Sonlife Quartet, we’ve sung with pride;
We’ve shared microphones, harmonies, and song,
And somehow the years have just rolled along.
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We’ve traveled through music, through laughter and prayer,
Sharing the moments that two friends can share;
And every old song brings memories anew,
For music has woven our friendship through.
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But Stan’s not confined to a song or a stage,
He’s a man who understands nature with age;
The woods and the waters are part of his soul,
Where hunting and fishing have always been whole.
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He loves to hunt turkey and deer in the wild,
And fish like the country boy he was as a child;
The outdoors speaks a language he understands well,
A language of woods, streams, and stories to tell.
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Then somewhere between those woods and the years,
He followed a path that required brains and gears;
An Electrical Engineering degree in his hand,
He built a career that was carefully planned.
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He came to Chattanooga to finish his days,
And TVA became part of his working ways;
He gave them his knowledge, his effort, his time,
Then stepped into retirement when the timing was right.
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But when Mom and Dad passed and the family land called,
Back home to Kenna, West Virginia, his heart did follow;
He returned to the acreage, the hills, and the land,
Back to the roots that had nurtured Stan the man.
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And standing beside him through life’s changing view,
Was Karen, his wife, loving and true;
With Curt and Amanda, his family complete,
A loving support that makes his life sweet.
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I’ve searched through the years for a negative word,
But not one about Stan have I ever heard;
From everyone meeting him, the story’s the same—
Respect, admiration, and praise for his name.
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So, Stanley, my friend, if someday you hear,
These words that I’ve written from friendship sincere,
Know more than the verses, the rhythm, or rhyme—
I’m grateful that you’ve been a good friend of mine.
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For life gives us treasures that money can’t buy,
And friendships like yours are the reason why;
When someday our earthly songs finally end,
I’ll thank God for giving me Stan—a best friend.
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