I’m dusting off a personal favorite from the archive, for new visitors to this blog. “Your Old Acoustic” (listen below!) was the fourth song I ever wrote. I played guitar on it, too, and my old acoustic hasn’t quite forgiven me yet.

I tend to go overboard with verses; it’s not unusual for my songs to have as many as six of them! But “Your Old Acoustic” contains only two verses. It focuses instead on repetition of lines from the chorus. I wanted people to be able to sing along the first time they heard it.

Toward the end of “Your Old Acoustic,” we discover it is being performed in what sounds like a pub. When the song is over, the patrons return to talking and joking. Any intimacy engendered between the singer and the audience has evaporated. The singer has poured her heart out into a void: Her song is meant for one person, who isn’t there. Whom she has no way of reaching.

Your Old Acoustic

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Title:
“Your Old Acoustic”

Number:
4

Length:
3:34

Vibe/inspiration:
Michael Nesmith

Key:
F major

What people have said:

• “I LOVE this vibe! This is a song I would love to sing myself. I’m sure I’m going to have it in my head over the next days!”
• “Love it! It made me cry! So beautiful.”
• “Very nice! I did not cry, but…it was still pretty.”
• “Loved it! I especially like the end where you make it seem like it’s a recording in front of an audience. Very clever! I have ‘my son’ running through my head.”
• “Fun song! I like the ‘live’ touches at the end.”
• “Your collection of hits amazes me. Well done!”

Lyrics:

You came the night all eyes were watching me—
A pretty boy footloose and fancy-free
Toes a-tapping to my song
Rows a-clapping right along
But you could find me only on TV

And I walk
But I cannot go
And I talk
Just so you will know

Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band
Bust out and make some music
With your old man
Gone when you wore baby shoes
And now I only play the blues
Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band

A middle name was all you got from me
A pittance of a rich man’s legacy (legacy)
Thought I’d look you up one day
But I took too long to say
And you inherited a mystery

And I bring (yes, I bring)
All my loving, dear
And I sing (yes, I sing)
Just so you will hear

Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band (my son)
Bust out and make some music
With your old man (my son)
Didn’t try on daddy’s suits
I never saw you fill your boots
Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band

[Instrumental verse]

And I walk (yes, I walk)
But I cannot go
And I talk (yes, I talk)
Just so you will know

Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band (my son) (come on)
Bust out and make some music
With your old man (my son) (all right)
Gone when you wore baby shoes
And now I only play the blues
Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band

Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band (my son)
Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band (my son)
Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band (my son)
Dust off your old acoustic
And join the band

You’ve been lovely
Thank you