As written by Johnny Cash in his last autobiography
[Gene Autry’s] arrival in Ireland, Merle [Travis] recalled, produced a reaction that would have put Beatlemania to shame: two million people were jammed into the streets of Dublin around his hotel making a sound like nothing Merle had ever heard before. Somehow the entertainers had managed to get from the airport to the hotel and in through a back door, and then Gene had invited Merle up to his room for a drink. Merle did like to drink. So did Gene. Gene himself was a touch earthier than the character who sold the movie tickets.
They had several shots of whiskey without saying a word to each other, just sitting in the room listening to that incredible noise surge in through the open windows. Finally Merle spoke. ‘Gene, maybe you should go out on the balcony and let the people see you.’
Gene grunted. ‘Hmm. You think I should?’
‘Yes I do.’
‘Well, let’s have another drink first.’
They had another drink, and then another, and by that time the crowd was even louder - a constant roar, people frenzied for a glimpse of the hero.
Merle was getting uneasy. ‘Gene, I really think you should go out there on that balcony and wave your white hat to those people. Let them see you.’
‘You think I should?'
‘Yes, I think you should.’
‘Well, let’s have one more drink before I do.’
They got themselves another drink, and Gene settled down again, not making a move. Finally, Merle couldn’t stand it.
‘Gene, come on. Come on and go out on the balcony and wave to those people!’
Gene bestirred himself. ‘By God, I will!’ he said, and strode to the balcony. He got out there and whipped off his had, and the noise exploded. He waved the hat toward the people to his left, and hundreds of thousands of voices roared and screamed. He waved the hat to his right, and a million more yelled even louder. It was amazing. The din was stupendous. Then he replaced his hat, turned around, came back into the room, poured himself a fresh glass of whiskey, and sat down.
Gene finished his drink in silence and poured another. He was almost through with that one when he said, ‘Travis, you know something?’
‘What’s that, Gene?’
‘Damn Irishmen love me.’
They had several shots of whiskey without saying a word to each other, just sitting in the room listening to that incredible noise surge in through the open windows. Finally Merle spoke. ‘Gene, maybe you should go out on the balcony and let the people see you.’
Gene grunted. ‘Hmm. You think I should?’
‘Yes I do.’
‘Well, let’s have another drink first.’
They had another drink, and then another, and by that time the crowd was even louder - a constant roar, people frenzied for a glimpse of the hero.
Merle was getting uneasy. ‘Gene, I really think you should go out there on that balcony and wave your white hat to those people. Let them see you.’
‘You think I should?'
‘Yes, I think you should.’
‘Well, let’s have one more drink before I do.’
They got themselves another drink, and Gene settled down again, not making a move. Finally, Merle couldn’t stand it.
‘Gene, come on. Come on and go out on the balcony and wave to those people!’
Gene bestirred himself. ‘By God, I will!’ he said, and strode to the balcony. He got out there and whipped off his had, and the noise exploded. He waved the hat toward the people to his left, and hundreds of thousands of voices roared and screamed. He waved the hat to his right, and a million more yelled even louder. It was amazing. The din was stupendous. Then he replaced his hat, turned around, came back into the room, poured himself a fresh glass of whiskey, and sat down.
Gene finished his drink in silence and poured another. He was almost through with that one when he said, ‘Travis, you know something?’
‘What’s that, Gene?’
‘Damn Irishmen love me.’