Depression Musician

By Ken Ainsworth

© 1976, Night Whale Productions

Depression musician, your picture’s on my wall

From some old hall where you were playing

In some hotel where you were staying back in 1932

It looks like you’re aching to play another song

There’s nothing wrong with what you were doing

Or the profession you were pursuing

‘Though I know the times were hard

Depression musician, how did it feel

When you had only your music to keep you warm?

You know I remember the stories that you told

About the times when you were playing

Hanging on the words that you were saying

Thinking I’d like to do the same.

And now that I’ve played these bars, I know what you were about

Felt the abuse you must have taken

Had all the dreams you had forsaken

When you never made it big

Depression musician, how did it feel

When you had only your music to keep you warm?

Seems like such a long time ago, I heard you passed away

But it seems like only yesterday when you taught me how to play

Depression musician, you picture’s on my wall

But that ain’t all that you have left for me

You are the roots I have in melody

You are the music in my soul

I can’t help believing that you still know who I am

I feel you close when I’m playing

And when I hear my guitar ringing

I see your fiddle in your hand

Depression musician, how did it feel

When you had only your music to keep you warm?

Depression musician, how do you feel

Now that you have His music to keep you warm?