Merle Haggard – Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man), is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in September 1971 as the first single from the album Let Me Tell You About a Song. The song was Haggard and the Strangers tenth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles. The song topped the chart for two weeks around Thanksgiving 1971, and spent 13 weeks in the chart’s Top 40.
The song’s values come from how Frank and Mama use their respective handicaps to become strong together. In the song’s second verse, Merle says he doesn’t know how Frank and Mama met, but he blesses whoever it was that brought the two together.
Merle Haggard – Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
From the album Let Me Tell You About a Song
B-side «My Heart Would Know»
Released September 27, 1971
Recorded August 30, 1971
Genre Country
Length 3:20
Label Capitol 3198
Songwriter(s) Merle Haggard
Producer(s) Ken Nelson
Merle Haggard – Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
[Chorus]
Daddy Frank played the guitar and the French harp
Sister played the ringing tambourine
And Mama couldn’t hear our pretty music
But she read our lips and helped the family sing
That little band was all a part of living
And our only means of living at the time
And it wasn’t like no normal family combo
Because Daddy Frank the guitar man was blind
[Verse 1]
Frank and Mama counted on each other
Their one and only weakness made ‘em strong
Mama did the driving for the family
And Frank made a living with a song
Home was just a camp along the highway
A pick-up bed was where we bedded down
Don’t ever once remember going hungry
But I remember Mama cooking on the ground
[Chorus]
Daddy Frank played the guitar and the French harp
Sister played the ringing tambourine
Mama couldn’t hear the pretty music
But she read our lips and helped the family sing
That little band was all a part of living
And our only means of living at the time
And it wasn’t like no normal family combo
Because Daddy Frank the guitar man was blind
[Verse 2]
Don’t remember how they got acquainted
I can’t recall just how it came to be
There had to be some special help from someone
And blessed be the one who let it be
Fever caused my Mama’s loss of hearing
Daddy Frank was born without his sight
And Mama needed someone she could lean on
And I believe the guitar man was right
[Chorus]
Daddy Frank played the guitar and the French harp
Sister played the ringing tambourine
Mama couldn’t hear the pretty music
But she read our lips and helped the family sing
That little band was all a part of living
And our only means of living at the time
And it wasn’t like no normal family combo
Because Daddy Frank the guitar man was blind
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