Big Bill's Guitar
by 
Hans Theessink 
recording of 1994 resp. 1998 
from 
Hard Road Blues (Minor 801047) 
& Ratzenbeck, Theessink, Langer RTL3, Gitarre x 3, 
The first time I heard the blues 
Some thirty years ago 
The first time I heard Big Bill Broonzy 
On late-night radio 
A total revelation 
I was spellbound 
Just a white boy lost in the blues 
He moved me with his sound 
Echoes from another world 
Fingers dancing on the strings 
One voice and one guitar 
How that man could sing 
"Just a dream" 
"Black, brown and white" 
True sounds full of emotion 
Sent shivers up and down my spine 
Hooked on blues 
And Big Bill is to blame 
Since that night, his music moved me 
My life ain't been the same 
I'm flying cross the ocean 
To bury a friend of mine 
Still can't accept the bitter truth 
Memories keep coming to my mind 
Once he spoke of bluesmen that he knew 
And took me in his car 
Showed me an old 000-28 Martin flattop 
Used to be Big Bill's guitar 
She's in Chicago, old town school of folk music 
In a closet, 'hind a door 
Since Big Bill's dead and gone 
She don't raise her voice no more 
I felt a strange sensation 
When I first touched those strings 
Somehow I still could sense the hands 
That used to make this guitar ring 
Hooked on blues ...