I Still Do

Bob Nolan
Original copyright: Unknown

Darlin’, many happy years have passed away since you and I
Were tiny little boy and girl, playin’ ‘neath a summer sky.
Do you recall the day I was bold enough to say,
“I love you, dear, I want you near”?
And I still do.

Refrain:
Here’s a story I will tell
How I loved a little girl.
I was just a little lad
But knew
That I was true because
I was proud to say that I
Loved a little gal
Like you
And I still do.

Darlin’, let your memory stray and try to picture you and me
Roamin’ through the open field and playin’ in the hollow tree.
The rocky hills above I climbed to show my love
For the little girl I loved so well
And I still do.

Darlin’, close your weary eyes and let me take you by the hand
And straightway lead you through the past back to happy childhood land
And there we’ll live again the same as we did then
Among the flow’rs we claimed as ours
And we still do.

“I Still Do” was originally recorded as a Standard Radio Transcription in 1935 and as an Orthacoustic "Symphonies of the Sage" transcription in 1940. It was recorded by RCA Victor (1947) but unissued. In 1951 and in 1952, after Bob had left the Sons of the Pioneers, release versions were recorded at RCA. It was later recorded in 1963 by the Sons of the Pioneers.

An intriguing little song because of Bob's play on words, “I Still Do” was published in Songs of the Pioneers Folio No. 2, © 1936 by Cross & Wing Inc. Bob Nolan was a many faceted songwriter—rollicking cowboy songs, pseudo spirituals, hymns, philosophical thought poems, ballads, comical songs, love songs and the most beautifully crafted word paintings of the West. He also delighted in playing with words and double trios. Nolan used individual voices in the trio to make a separate statement within the song—“Here’s-how-I-knew-that-I-loved-you.”. The bold print shows where each member of the trio began his line and then held the last note.

I Still Do (American Music, Inc.)

SONS OF THE PIONEERS TRANSCRIPTION RECORDINGS

Standard Radio transcriptions, No. 2565 (1935)

Orthacoustic Symphonies of the Sage, (064452)

Teleways Radio Productions transcriptions, Nos. 16, 56, and 190

Lucky U Ranch radio show (courtesy of Larry Hopper)
- Transcriptions disc TR-73/74 (November 6, 1951)
- Transcriptions disc TR-194, 195 (January 16, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-320/321 (April 10, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-459/460 (August 1, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-473/474 (August 13, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-658/659 (January 21, 1953)