"Emma Jean's Guitar" by Chely Wright
(written by Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison, and Jeff Hanna)

I found it in a pawnshop
In a ragged cardboard case
With the guns and dusty watches
It looked so out of place
With a Trailways baggage sticker
Yellow, frayed, and torn
Destination: Nashville
September '64

And you could tell by the fingerboard
Her painted nails were long
She only needed three chords
To play those good ole country songs
And her name's etched in the finish
Like a fading battle scar
And this 1950 Gibson
Was Emma Jean's guitar

I wonder if she played it
In a small town talent show
With her hair teased to perfection
In a dress her mama sewed
And for a little inspiration
She pasted on a star
Here, up on the headstock
Of Emma Jean's guitar

And you could tell by the fingerboard
Her painted nails were long
She only needed three chords
To play those good ole country songs
And they were played with tenderness
They were played with heart
And this 1950 Gibson
Was Emma Jean's guitar

I wouldn't even know her
If I saw her face to face
But there's a little bit of Emma Jean
In every song I play
She passed along these hopes and dreams
Cradled in my arms
And I am just a guardian
Of Emma Jean's guitar

And you could tell by the fingerboard
Her painted nails were long
She only needed three chords
To play those good ole country songs
And they were played with tenderness
They were played with heart
And this 1950 Gibson
Was Emma Jean's guitar
This 1950 Gibson
Was Emma Jean's guitar

    Source: geocities.com/gcpdguy/Country/Chely

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