5-String Lyrics

Woody Guthrie's ghost and I went out for a walk
And we talked of the world's state of affairs
And we talked of the state of my life's disrepair
"And Woody," says I, "I've got all these songs
in my head that I just can't write.
And tonight all I've got is these 2 or 3 chords
A 5-string guitar and a couple of words."
And Woody he says, "Kid, quit showing off.
In my day that was more than enough."

Me and John Brown's ghost went for a drive past the armory
And he started to smirk, I shook my head I laughed
I said, "Johnny boy, a lot's changed in a century and a half
And besides," says I, "I don't have a family quite like did you."
"Well that's true," he said, "But families are made,
You don't have to get guns, but you can't get afraid.
Ain't nothing different than anything we ever did.
Never stopped us when I was a kid."

Me and my grandpa George's ghost went down to the Delaware shore
And we sat on the porch as the sun went down
I said, "Grandpa, lord we all miss you around.
It seems since you're gone, this town, well this town just ain't the same.
I came here first when I was 9 months old,
And just like you this is where I'm gonna grow old."
And grandpa and me played pennies once more that night
I said, "Grandpa, there's this song I gotta go write."