Joe Strummer’s Guitar

Words and Music by Brian Griffin (10-7-07)

“This is a Public Service Announcement…WITH GUITARRRRRR”

I went to the Clash Exhibit
at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
To see and hear with my eyes and ears
All the history that they made

There was all the artifacts
From their place in time
Displayed chronologically
For all the visitors to find

Their story written on the wall
Told the basic facts
About how they rose and how they fell
Then I was taken aback

I saw there in the corner
Behind a plexiglass shell
Joe Strummer’s ‘66 Telecaster guitar
I felt I knew it well

The “IGNORE ALIEN ORDERS” sticker is still there
Over the primer grey and black paint
The strings and hardware rusted
Made me never feel the same

I saw it in all the photographs
Over all of the years
I remember Joe playing it on the stage
The image still burns clear

Because I was a lost kid
With no future that I could see
Then I heard the music made by this guitar
And I began to believe

That the Future is Unwritten
It is ours to write
A chance to overcome the gloom
and try to make things right

As my feelings overcame me
I took a look around
Then I smashed open that plastic tomb
And played Joe’s guitar LOUD

I was swarmed by the guards
And taken away
I was asked why I did it
This is what I had to say:

This guitar stands for Justice
This guitar stands for hope
This guitar stands up for those
Who cannot stand alone

This instrument and its owner
Was never quiet and meek
That’s why I took it in my hands
Give it another chance to speak

For the battles that Joe fought
Are being battled still
Evil twists and has grown
Innocents still being killed

Now is the time for action
Things have gone too far
Joe Strummer lived and understood that
As he played that guitar

So if you are up in Cleveland
And see a beat-up Fender Tele
Trapped behind a plexiglass case
Remember this story
And think about Joe and the Clash
And the way things are now
Then smash the case and play the guitar
I think Joe would be proud…

copyright 2007 BDG Music