Bill Anderson
Miscellaneous
Golden Guitar (1966)
I happen to wonder in a honky-tonk one night down in New Orleans
Up above the bar hung a big guitar like none I ever seen
The neck was set with diamonds and though the strings were old
Like kings of sound they wound around six keys of solid gold
A man stepped up beside me his breath was strong with wine
He said you know that guitar once belonged to a mighty close pal of mine
He used to play it right here I forget the year around ’45 I think
I could tell you quite a story friend if you’d care to buy me a drink
Well possessed by every weakness that makes a man a fool
I bought a round he drank it down and then he rocked back on his stool
He said yeah I remember now it was ’45 all right
He’d just returned from the Great War that’s where he lost his sight
His buddies gave him that guitar at the time it was simple and plain
He added the gold and the diamonds as he gained his fame
He was doing a show in Shreveport the night he received the call
To come up here on the Grand Old Opry the greatest show of all
I was driving him to Nashville it was cold and misting rain
The signals flashed and the whistles screamed but I swear mister I never saw that train
I heard the doctor tell him just after he’d used his knife
You’re lucky son it was just your arm it could have been your life
But he died that nightlife just demanded more than he could give
I think he could have made it he just lost his will to live
But this world’s loss is heaven’s gain and tonight he’s still a star
He’s playing with a band of angels that’s my son’s golden guitar

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