Figured this would be a good place to put this, an opinion in song. Couldn't locate my CD to check it out, but I figure this is pretty close.


The D-18 Song (Thank You, Mister Martin)
Jerry Faires (as sung by Norman Blake)

In a pawn shop in Odessa in the fall of '64
The pawn shop man was leavin', he was lockin' up the door
I ran up just in time and I hollered through the screen
Hey, man, you got any good guitars in here,
he said, "I got this D-18."

So I gave him a hundred dollars and I took that sucker home
I cleaned it up and strung it, hit a chord, and heard that tone
It was crisp and clean, rich and full, all a guitar ought to be
I said Thank you, Mr, Martin, you made this D-18 for me.

    Said Thank you, Mr. Martin, I'm all right
    'Cause once again this old guitar helped me through the night
    I'm mighty grateful to you, you know how to make 'em right
    I said Thank you, Mr. Martin, I'm all right.

If I'm feelin' down and worthless and I haven't got a dime
Wonderin' if I spent my life just wastin' my time
I pick up that old guitar, some paper, and a pen
I say Thank you, Mr. Martin, you saved my life again.

I've written songs about my lovers, my family, and my friends
My wife, my child, the old home place, and the road that never ends
Heroes, hobos, rock n' roll, and a honky tonk queen
I wrote 'em all without exception on my Martin D-18.

Now It was made way back In '43 when I was just a kid
I believe it's about the best thing Mr. Martin ever did
It plays real good, stays in tune, and never treats me mean
Thank God for Mr. Martin and that fine old D-18.

Well there's your Gallagher, your Gibson, your Goya, Gretch, and Guild
I've played every kind of guitar that them guitar makers build
I've picked on a lot of axes but the best I've ever seen
Is my funky, beat-up, wonderful old Martin D-18.