I never truly understood the adage that individual guitars can help one write specific songs until I got into CBG about a year ago. Recently, I purchased the A.J. Gaither "Arkanasas Tenor" from C.B, Gitty, and that little wooden box is the best typewriter I have ever owned. Here is the first tune I penned on it called, "The Cigar Box Guitar," written from the imagined perspective of A.J. Hope the lyrics speak to the builders on the site. Been working it out live, and will post a video when I figure out how.


THE CIGAR BOX GUITAR
© Chris Bohlman BMI

Lately I been thinking what I could hand down
Should I wake up in heaven or fall asleep underground
Something my only son could remember me by
Guess you could drive my gun or you could shoot the car
But I don't think either will get you too far
Cause you always run out of unleaded and lead

I never made it big, I barely made it small
And I ain't got two pennies to make cents of it all
Cigarettes and the nights of my life they just burnt away
Ain't dreams and daddies cause a song never dies
And unlike the whiskey a guitar never lies
You just gently hold her till she shows you the way
Oh yeah, she'll show you the way

She was born in Kansas City
Loved her like your mamma though she ain't quite as pretty
Always kept one by my side when the other was gone
She can make you cry, she can make you sing
Just an old Macanudo and four bronze-wound strings
She played my life back to me in the key of D

I never made it big, I barely made it small
And I ain't got two pennies to make cents of it all
Moonshine on fire the nights of my life they just burn away
Ain't dreams and daddies cause a song never dies
And unlike a woman a guitar never lies
You just grab her and hold her and she'll show you the way
Oh yeah, she'll show you the way

I know my time might be comin' soon
But I got one more gig at the Westport Saloon
And all my friends are gonna be there and they'll be stoned as hell
So before I put this home made ax away
I gonna do some cutting just one more day
And boy, I wish you could be there to see them girls sway

I never made it big, I barely made it small
And I ain't got two pennies to make cents of it all
Reefer and the nights of my life they just burnt away
Ain't dreams and daddies cause a song never dies
And unlike your mamma this guitar never lies
You just hold on tight and she'll show you the way
Boy I promise, she's gonna show you the way