Best Banjo Poems
A Tribute to Banjo Pattersons, Road To Old Mans Town
by Robert (Bob) Moore
I read a poem when I was young, by Banjo Patterson
called “The Road To Old Mans Town” about a life near done
I did not understand back then, the meaning was obscure
but as the years go passing by, I understand it more
He spoke of youth, and freedom, of time that had no end
of doing what we wanted, the future ours to spend
time to waste if that’s our want, not count hours as they fly
days that stretch into the distance, don’t yet go rushing by
But as the days grow shorter, and we begin to see
our life is not forever, and what will be will be
and we are sadly looking back, and slowly drifting down
the lonely road we all must tread, to Banjo’s Old Mans Town
He also makes a hope, that we are not alone,
that someone walks beside us, a love whom we have known
that God may not allow us, this dusty road go down
With faltering steps and whitening head,
on the road to Old Man's Town!
When I sit alone with my memories
My mind drifts back to the early 60s
When folk music was all the rage
The New Christy Minstrels, Peter Paul and Mary
The Brothers Four, The Limelighters, The Kingston Trio
The Canadiana Folksingers... who?????
A six member group called The Canadiana Folksingers
Included myself and my first wife Linda
Along with two guitar players and and a one-string bass
And I played the five-string banjo
Did we have a blast? Oh yah!
Made an album called “This Land Is Your Land”
And a 45 rpm single called, “Hi Jolly!”
Along with appearances on both
Of the only two Canadian TV Networks at the time
My memories of those days long ago fill me with pride and tears
We can't go back but we can dream
About when we were young
And the world was ours to explore!
© Jack Ellison 2014
There lived once a banjo boy
A blue-sky eyed banjo boy
who played his banjo every night.
There lived once a brown eyed girl
with her skin so smooth and fair
who sang always by his side
A duet they were, with music to share
and young love upon their mind.
All the crowd gathered
to their tunes they cheered
with a message to the world.
Eves could be so warm
when the banjo-boy
placed his fingers on each chord
Days could be so bright
with the girl's soft voice
like the sun 's solacing light.
What a bliss on earth
Lifted spirits heard
and gestures ever kind.
There lived once a banjo boy
a blue-sky eyed banjo boy
who played banjo every night
There lived once a brown -eyed girl
with her skin so smooth and fair
who sang always by his side.
Just a light -lyric fun poem... :)
PS- Inspired by a comment on my Guitar Boy's poem
where Someone :) Suggested Banjo music is better than guitar's.
So to all music and Banjo fans..A little scribble ...that rolled on my mind.
What is it about a bluegrass banjo solo
That turns my crank and drives me loco
That foot tappin' beat
Can't control my feet
I freak out, guess I'm just a bluegrass banjo bozo
© Jack Ellison 2015
Now gather round this here campfire
y'all kind good folk
Sit down get and make yourselves
real comfy and toast a marshmallow
Because this is a Freestyle Hoedown
ain't it all of us here have come to see
and i am about to get this party started
So here's a little ditty im about to spit
if you follow my flow and catch my drift
please feel free to join in and sing along
Hey- Diddle - Dee
Slap a my thigh
Fiddle - Dee- Dee
I'm a simple country boy at heart
not 1 of them city slicker
Who enjoys the simple things and
pleasures of the outdoors life such as
My shack and outhouse I constructed
myself with my own bare hands that
provides me shelter when I am not out
roaming the plains
A cowboy hat tin of beans cup of coffee
whiskey bottle and thick warm blanket
to sleep under the star's at night
I live off the land and anything else I
need it can't provide all I have to do
is take a ride into town I can purchase
from the supplies store
And my mode of transportation I use to
get there is my trusty Mustang of the
four legged type 1 B.H.P under the
hood that comes with a saddle
not 1 of the modern day muscle car variety
You see I'll take my chances all day long
Dancing with these Wild Wolves rather
than the one's on Wall street
Because at least there was some form
of law and a Sheriff in Dodge
Whereas
Wall street is totally and utterly lawless
run by cowboys who have the Sheriff's
and the Judge on their payroll
Who will railroad you straight to jail
choose to throw away the key or
hang you
Music Score provided by
( Deliverance Banjo )
&
( A Fistful of Dollars More )
&
( The Bad & the Downright Ugly )
There’s a load of dust and sweat pulling my ole tired mussels
down
These two old warn out feet get a little draggy, the way I get around
I’m just a bunch of tired bones tripping over burdens and stress
Yet, there are times when I find that cottonwood tree and get my
evening’s rest
From the cool restful shadows that hide the setting sun
I can hear the sad ole Whip-poor-will as he starts his evening run
I get a little sleepy and my hat droops over my eyes
I hardly even notice, the troubles of a pesky fly
My old hound dog lies asleep, his eyes casting a downward pose
And there’s smells trotting from the kitchen stove, to tease his
twitching nose
Then there’s a coffee pot percolating, I can hear its happy song
And the wife calls the family in, for supper in our country home
But, as night time wins its daily fight, causing the sun to flee
Shadows dancing with the moon, to the tune of a cottonwood melody
I find my mind has recovered as I hear the cricket’s call
It’s then, I see that proud little banjo propped stately against the wall
The folks gather around me, in the glow of the lamp’s little light
I strike a note in the cord, of G, and it seems to sound all right
Little sister’s voice is soft and pure as I pluck the banjo strings
And the music from our country choir, makes the windows ring
Mom and Dad and all the others, kids everywhere from small to big
Even old Gray Hair Granny’s toes are tapping out the banjo jig
Old Luke limps from under the house and settles in his favorite spot
and that banjo rings all over the house and down the wide dog-trot
All to gather, we lift our voices in tune with my little banjo
Its the best country pleasure this little home will ever know
That banjo’s lively notes, lifts our voices in a roaring tone
A banjo music serenade “An ode to our country home.”
Banjo man
I'm a banjo man
In banjo van
Around the town
I play
Picking strings
Singing things
In my banjo way
I play so fast
The strings go twang
Sometimes they even snap
But I just chuckle
As I play
Cause I's a banjo chap
I once was in a dueling fight
I played but I forgot
The strings I played
Began to glow
And the banjo got quite hot
I threw it down
And watched it burn
The devil came to see
I think you're great
Old banjo man
And new one gave to me
Now when I play
The strings stay cool
And people shout and cheer
I sing all day in Freddie bar
And drink a pint of beer
I have travelled
Round the world
I've even got a tan
So come and see anytime
Your friend the banjo man
I Love
music
love to listen
rock, folk, blues, bluegrass, jazz
poetry and music share the
same roots
music
I love to play
banjo and mandolin
I’m not very good but it soothes
my soul
What is it about a bluegrass banjo solo
That turns my crank and drives me loco
That foot tappin' beat
Can't control my feet
I freak out, guess I'm just a bluegrass banjo bozo
Banjo Bobs Barber Shop
Ill meet you there he’s open eight till late, right off hope street down dead end lane,
It can be quite a journey his reception worth your pain, no matter your passion, ignore there shame, you see the wood you can see the tree’s, at Banjo Bob’s they love to please.
The light’s are bright, they can suck you in, there’s nothing left so im off in-side-out, Round the back, to go see Bob n his chemical shack, the smile of shark beacons us in lining us up. . . Lining us in.
Pleasant conversation, all the faces you know, feelings inside give your shadow a glow
The music’s loud, the beers are cold, a thoughtless journey so you better take hold,
Time speed’s up, but the second hand stops, quarter bag of high, and single malt double shots.
The light’s are bright, they can suck you in, there’s nothing left so im off in-side-out, Round the back, to go see Bob n his chemical shack, the smile of shark beacons us in lining us up. . . Lining us in.
Now were regulars, we’ve been here a while, were seeing grey face’s missing there smile
There welcome stretched, been here too long, forgotten lyrics to there very own song.
With a glance from Bob, as he cleans a glass, a weathered smile for this familiar class.
The light’s are bright, they can suck you in, there’s nothing left so im off in-side-out,
Round the back, to go see Bob n his chemical shack, the smile of a shark beacons us in lining us up. . . Lining us in.
Rose glasses gone, now i see sin, nicotine walls served with chloroform gin, don’t know my neighbour, my reflection got old, moved from the fire pushed into the cold, my pockets are empty, no storey to share, i am all on my own. . . Bob just don’t care.
The lights have dimmed, they sucked me in, i got nothing left and i want in-side-out, round the back, need to see Bob n his chemical shack, was the smile of a shark that beaconed me in. . . Lined me up. . . Lined me in.
I hear music in the trees,
filtering down from the sky.
It sounds like Daddy's banjo
serenading Angels on High.
I smell Prince Albert tobacco
as Daddy smokes his pipe....
Rings of smoke twirl around.
as he adjusts the strings just right.
Carving wood for his banjo,
I watched it came alive.
I still wonder about the strings.
The head was from dried cowhide.
My memory was real for a time
but the past just can't stay.
The future stands before me.
I will see him again one day.
Metronome heart beats in 4/4 time while mandolin chimes in staccato voice. In the background, guitar hums and banjo sings. Bluegrass echoes across southern winds; blues and mountain music force a dance from tranquil feet; it’s a concert fit for country royalty, at the Opry. The East coast clogs and smiles.
On the rolling winds,
Echo strains of the southland;
Gaia’s toe tapping.
Banjo
if you want to bruise your ego
try to learn the 5-string banjo
I’m trying to learn Scruggs style
and it definitely is a real trial
three fingered right-handed rolls
is a complete shock to my soul
getting the timing down
so, I don’t sound like a clown
somewhere old Earl is having a laugh
at every time I make a gaffe
if ever I get on stage to play
I would suggest everyone should pray
He goes by the name of Dizzy, for he is a dancing dervish
On the banjo his fingertips always pick’n a lively tune
His mama was from Dixie and his papa was a busking man
They lived a simple life sharing music on the streets
Or playing the lowland bars on a rowdy Thursday night
Now Dizzy is bent and even a bit stooped, all grizzled with grey
A slow shuffling man whose hard luck never got him down
Every Friday noon you’ll find him sitt’n with the AA folks
Following along and do’n the steps, his banjo playing a song
Then he heads off downtown to his favorite corner spot
Dizzy remembers his papa preforming here not many years ago
As his fingers tingle to feel the vibrations on the strings
He releases the notes of the banjo’s twang and his little jig step
He bows to the memory of his mama, blowing her a little kiss
He’s the last of his family and his name is Dizzy Danny Dubois
What is it about a bluegrass banjo solo
That turns my crank and drives me loco
That foot tappin' beat
Can't control my feet
I freak out, guess I'm just a bluegrass banjo bozo