Guitar Case
Journey of a Worn Guitar Case: A Ballad of Life on the Road
Lyrics
Off a four hour shift
Reflecting on a four-hour work shift
Fingers calloused from the songs
Fingers are toughened from playing music
Been over ten years of barrooms
Over a decade spent performing in bars
Sometimes it seems like twice as long
Feels like a much longer period
You can't tell the age of his soul
One's soul age isn't evident by appearance
By the look that's on his face
Facial expression doesn't reveal the depth of his experiences
But what tells his story best
Guitar case tells his life story effectively
Is what's on his guitar case
Guitar case holds significance
With bumper stickers from all the places
Bumper stickers on the case represent various performance locations
He's played out on the road
References places he played during his travels
And the names of all his heroes
Lists names of musical influences
Who's stories that he's told
Shares stories of musical heroes
His favorite strings and cigarettes
Favorite strings and cigarettes, symbolic of his lifelong companions
That he's used all his life
Strings and cigarettes used throughout his life
With the rips, and scratches, and dents
Guitar case exhibits wear and tear from weather, roads, and time
It's got from weather, roads and time
Physical evidence of experiences and journeys
He's been through some things you never knew
Expresses facing challenges unknown to others
His age cant keep track of time
Age unable to keep track of time due to hardships
Fighting with the news and self abuse
Dealing with news and self-destructive tendencies
Trying to make a song a dime
Struggling to turn songs into income
The only thing that's been there
Music and Haggard songs provide solace
When life kicks dirt in his face
Guitar case is a constant support in tough times
Is the comfort of a Haggard song
Comfort found in the lyrics of Merle Haggard's songs
And that ragged guitar case
Connection to a worn-out guitar case
With bumper stickers from all the places
Bumper stickers symbolize the diverse locations he's performed
He's played out on the road
Reflects on the road life and experiences
And the names of all his heroes
Names of heroes whose stories have been shared
Who's stories that he's told
Retelling the tales of musical inspirations
His favorite strings and cigarettes
Strings and cigarettes as constants in his life
That he's used all his life
Used throughout his musical journey
With the rips, and scratches, and dents
Physical marks on the case from weather, roads, and time
It's got from weather, roads and time
Evidence of the passage of time and experiences
He said I got this one down south in Tampa
Recalls acquiring one guitar in Tampa
I got this one in Arizona
Remembers obtaining another in Arizona
Got those three there right here in Tennessee
Three guitars acquired in Tennessee
There's the kinda truck he's driving
Describes the type of truck he drives
And the kinda drink he's buying
Specifies his drink of choice
And you can see a million more life stories just like his
Millions of similar life stories in the world
Walking down that street
Observing various life stories on the street
With bumper stickers from all the places
Bumper stickers as a representation of his journey
He's played out on the road
Reflecting on the road life and experiences
With the names of all his heroes
Names of heroes and their stories shared with others
Who's stories that he's told
Recalling tales of musical inspirations
His favorite strings and cigarettes
Strings and cigarettes as constants in his life
That he's used all his life
Used throughout his musical journey
With the rips, and scratches, and dents
Physical marks on the case from weather, roads, and time
It's got from weather, roads and time
Evidence of the passage of time and experiences
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