This was one of my father's favorite songs. The man staring at the sign is the long gone son, whose mother (implied that the father was dead already) and his mother had waited patienlty for him until her death. When she knew her time was up, she or someone else put up the sign: An Old Log Cabin For Sale. An oaken bucket and well. (some sing "an old oaken bucket and well") Easy terms just keep a log on the fire. And a light burning bright in the dell. Even though she didn't live, her hopes was for her son's return. He finally did, but "too late, yes too late"! Some of my family lived out in the backwoods of northern Arkansas, miles from the nearest town; some even have no Internet when I visit occasionally. I can imagine such a setting for this song! It is sung slowly, but with passion by Porter Waggoner; all of us kids knew on Saturday nights that The Portor Waggoner Show would be on the tv after Dad got home, unless the electtricity was out at our house.