Johnny Carson

Nearly five thousand times

He came out upon that stage
And in entertainment’s history
He wrote a very unique page.

He also “made” many a star

And launched some great careers
And everyone who was someone
Was his guest throughout those years.

Some twenty thousand people

Sat across him in the “chair”
He made them all feel welcome
And he really seemed to care.

He had his own brand of humor

Making funny, what was not
An honest, too good Entertainer
And what you saw was what you got.

Millions of us stayed up late

To see what he had up his sleeve
And now, that show is “really” over
And we are all left here to grieve.

And those who didn’t “know” him

Before he left that stage in Ninety-two
Will never know how much they missed
Now that his time on Earth is through.

But there will be a “Tonight Show”

Forever, somewhere up on high
As Johnny welcomes all those Stars
Who have passed this World by.

Del “Abe” Jones

January 23, 2005