Matt’s Saloon — Photo-artistry by kenne
Matt’s Longhorn Saloon has been a part of Prescott’s famous “Whiskey Row” since the early 1960’s and is still going strong
today as one of Prescott’s last true Honky Tonks. Occupying the historic D. Levy Building, built in 1901 as a mercantile,
then becoming a saloon just at the end of prohibition in 1934, Matt’s Saloon has become an internationally recognized
and highly acclaimed destination place for country music. — Source: mattssaloon.com
When George Jones passed away in late April of this year, I made a note to share one of my favorite songs of his, “Bartender Blues.” Actually it’s a James Taylor song written in 1977.
“It’s hard to describe but it’s so tight and so sculpted. It was just remarkable to hear someone make that sound with a human voice. And it sounded like someone singing who had listened to a lot of steel guitar, the way he bends notes and phrases. To me it sounds like a steel guitar in a human voice.” — James Taylor in Billboard, April 27, 2013
Now, two months out I’m posting my note to share with my music friends. Click here to read a very thoughtful article in The New Republic, “Why George Jones Ranks With Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday.”
Bartender Blues
by James Taylor
Now I’m just a bartender
And I don’t like my work
But I don’t mind the money at all
I see lots of sad faces
And lots of bad cases
Of folks with their backs to the wall
Chorus:
But I need four walls around me to hold my life
To keep me from going a-stray
And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight
To keep me from slipping away
I can light up your smokes
I can laugh at your jokes
I can watch you fall down on your knees
I can close down this bar
I can gas up my car
I can pack up and mail in my key
Chorus:
Now, the smoke fills the air
In this honky-tonk bar
And I’m thinking ’bout where I’d rather be
But I burned all my bridges
I sank all my ships
And I’m stranded at the edge of the sea
(Click On The Image And Watch On YouTube)
