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I was listening to this CLASSIC Buffett album the other night and was listening to "Stories We Could Tell", and the 2nd verse left me dumbfounded. I was just wondering if anyone knew who Jimmy was talking about in the verse where he states:

"Stared at that guitar in that museum in Tenn.
Name plate on the glass brought back 20 melodies,
Scars upon your face, told of all the times you fell,
Singing all the stories he could tell..."

The first person I thought of was Elvis, but I was just wondering if anyone knew for sure who he is talking about in this song...just something I've always wondered...
PHINS UP!

In the version on "Live in Hawaii," he says, "The scars upon the face told of all the times Hank fell." That leads me to belive it's Hank Williams.

The song "Stories We Could Tell" was actually written by John B. Sebastian (of Lovin' Spoonful fame). I don't know who he was refering to in that line, but I've always assumed it was Elvis.

Harbour Shark wrote:The song "Stories We Could Tell" was actually written by John B. Sebastian (of Lovin' Spoonful fame). I don't know who he was refering to in that line, but I've always assumed it was Elvis.

And don't forget "Welcome Back Kotter"!

Im pretty sure it was Hank Williams

phenwayparrothead wrote:Im pretty sure it was Hank Williams

From MartinGuitar.com:

The original Hank Williams, Sr., D-28 Martin is one of the most valuable (if not priceless) guitars ever made. Its worth is certainly affected by the fact that it was Hank Williams' favorite personal guitar. He made nearly all his popular recordings with his Martin. The guitar is now on display in the Hank Williams, Jr., Family Tradition Museum in Nashville.

MikeInNOLA wrote:

phenwayparrothead wrote:Im pretty sure it was Hank Williams

From MartinGuitar.com:

The original Hank Williams, Sr., D-28 Martin is one of the most valuable (if not priceless) guitars ever made. Its worth is certainly affected by the fact that it was Hank Williams' favorite personal guitar. He made nearly all his popular recordings with his Martin. The guitar is now on display in the Hank Williams, Jr., Family Tradition Museum in Nashville.

Yeah, yeah...I know, that museum wasn't around when the song was written...but, you have to figure that guitar was displayed somewhere.

Stories We Could Tell was actually written for The Everly Brothers by John Sebastian. It was on their album Stories We Could Tell in 1972 before John Sebastian put it on his Tarzana album in 1974.

Still doesn't say who JB was writing about in the song.

Jimmy and Jerry Jeff did a great version of the song at Jerry Jeff's 60th BDB back in 2002 in Austin. (Jimmy said to Jerry Jeff...you really fell, huh? Jerry Jeff said...a couple times.) Stories We Could Tell was the theme of the night.

"And if you ever wonder why you ride this carousel...you do it for the stories you could tell."

Jimmy also did the song live in 1974 in Philadelphia playing with Roger Bartlett. He introduced it as a new song by John Sebastian back then, with no story about which guitar they were all singing about. It was then released on his A1A album.

Thanks for pointing out the lyrics on "Live In Hawaii." It's so nice to have those live shows with all of Jimmy's comments about the songs. It's time to listen to that one again.

In another thread about this very same subject somewhere on this board it was determined the person in question was indeed Hank Williams, Sr.

conched wrote:Thanks for pointing out the lyrics on "Live In Hawaii." It's so nice to have those live shows with all of Jimmy's comments about the songs. It's time to listen to that one again.

No problem. Just don't ask me to interpret what the heck JB is talking about when he says, "As we sit upon the stage in some guitar in some motel." LOL--A classic senior moment

Gypsy In The Palace wrote:

conched wrote:Thanks for pointing out the lyrics on "Live In Hawaii." It's so nice to have those live shows with all of Jimmy's comments about the songs. It's time to listen to that one again.

No problem. Just don't ask me to interpret what the heck JB is talking about when he says, "As we sit upon the stage in some guitar in some motel." LOL--A classic senior moment

I noticed that...uncut, and uncensored!! Gotta love Jimmy --even with his senior moments. Sometimes...especially WITH his senior moments.

I also recently watched Tales From Margaritavision and love the end with all the outtakes from the taping.

Fins21 wrote:I was listening to this CLASSIC Buffett album the other night and was listening to "Stories We Could Tell", and the 2nd verse left me dumbfounded. I was just wondering if anyone knew who Jimmy was talking about in the verse where he states:

"Stared at that guitar in that museum in Tenn.
Name plate on the glass brought back 20 melodies,
Scars upon your face, told of all the times you fell,
Singing all the stories he could tell..."

The first person I thought of was Elvis, but I was just wondering if anyone knew for sure who he is talking about in this song...just something I've always wondered...
PHINS UP!

WOW....when this was posted, I dropped John Sebastian, the writer of SWCT, an email asking him about this verse...here is his reply:

"Mike,
As usual with songs the reference to the guitar in "Stories" is a kind of smear of multiple guitars- the one in Tennessee was Chet's first guitar- but I was also thinking of Fred Neil's. John Sebastian "

Pretty cool since I think Chet Atkins is one of the greatest guitarist ever!

MikeInNOLA wrote:

Pretty cool since I think Chet Atkins is one of the greatest guitarist ever!

Even cooler that he wrote back!

Now THAT's good info right there...

Thanks Mike