Lyr Req: The D-18 Song / Thank You Mr Martin

Subject: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 11:37 AM

I have heard Norman Blake sing this song and would like to know the author. Thanks

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 12:54 PM

Jerry Faires

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: PoppaGator
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 01:27 PM

I had been hoping that more information than just two words (first and last name) would appear in this thread. Yes, it does answer the original question from GUEST, Jim, but I have addtional questions now that I've stumbled upon this discussion, and I'm sure that I'm not alone in that regard.

I've never heard, or even heard of, this song before, and would be glad to see lyrics, hear an MP3, see & hear a YouTube video, or anything.

I might well learn it and sing it. I'd be glad to thank Mr. Martin for my D-18!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE D-18 SONG / THANK YOU MR MARTIN
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 01:47 PM

Poppagator,

Never heard this song, but I googled the lyrics for you.

D-18



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 just 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 alright
    '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 alright

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


Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 01:49 PM

There's a 30 second sample on this page (down a ways)

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 01:51 PM

Rhapsody has a free download, but you have to download the Rhapsody software. It is Tony Rice and Norman Blake.

www.rhapsody.com/norman-blake/norman-blake-tony-rice-2

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 04:16 AM

On the album Rice & Blake 2...

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 05:42 AM

I'm a bit surprised by that price. I can't readily find details of 1964 Martin guitar prices, but in 1964 the list price of a Gibson J-45 was $175, and if the Martin in the song was really then beat up and old I would have expected the pawn-shop price to be well under half the list price.

Incidentally, if I read the US inflation tables correctly teh inflation in the US from 1964 to date has been 690%, which would make the equivalent new price today of a Gibson J-45 about $1,200 whereas it is in actuality $3,072 on the Gibson site.

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 05:53 AM

And a Martin D-18 is now $2,599 (list).

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: GUEST,TomC
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 07:06 PM

I saw Jerry just over a year ago and he still has the guitar. He used to perform and book music in Santa Fe. I believe he still lives in New Mexico.

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: GUEST,Guest,RogerMac
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 11:35 PM

Jerry, -Jake-, does indeed still perform, check out his website by googling Jerry Faires, Silversmith or Silversmith Music out of Santa Fe.....he offers, as he says, "handmade words, Music & Jewelry..."

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: GUEST,Karl
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:13 PM

anyone have the chords figured out? or know where to get them?

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 09:01 PM

Hey, guest Karl, I'll work 'em out for you. Give me a day or two, 'cos it's my wife's birthday tomorrow, and I'll be tied up, but I'll get back to you.
What key have you got in mind?

Roger

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: Midchuck
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:27 PM

When my parents got me my first Martin for Christmas in 1962 (my senior year in college) I kept the catalog and price list supplement. The retail list for a D-18 in 1962 was $210.00. And at that time it was much more likely that you'd pay list price than it is now. Assuming no significant change in two years, the price in the song would have been just under 50% of the new price.

I couldn't talk my parents into paying that much, I had to settle for a 00-18 for $155.00. I paid about twice that much for extensive repairs before I gave it to my daughter in '01. I would think it's worth about $2000 now.

If only I had known - and been able to convince my parents - what would happen to the prices of the D-21 ($265) and D-28 ($335) when Brazilian Rosewood became so scarce....

Peter

Subject: RE: Thank You Mr Martin - The D-18 Song
From: open mike
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:06 PM

i am interested in finding out more...my Martin has definately helped me thru some hard times!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The D-18 Song / Thank You Mr Martin
From: PHJim
Date: 22 Mar 11 - 01:23 PM

I have performed the song many times on my D-21. I always admit to the audience that it's not a D-18. I've heard Norman play the song on a Gibson - For shame!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The D-18 Song / Thank You Mr Martin
From: GUEST,Jerry Faires
Date: 18 May 12 - 12:05 PM

Well, y'all...It happened just as I wrote it in the song...except I paid $105.00 for it, but couldn't fit that into the meter of the lyric. And, mine was made in late 1953...Norman's version has it a '43, but he's got more and older gittars than me.
You can see photos of the D-18 on my website,   www.jerryfaires.com
Don't be thrown off by the inlay I did on the neck...the heel is carved, also, by "Tommy from Chattanooga". It actually has more finish on it now than when I bought it, but decades in the honkytonks of northern New Mexico playing rhythm in a remarkable bluegrass/boogie/jazz band have left their mark. I'm glad y'all like the song, and, that Mr. Martin has been making those fine old D-18's for us since 1934.
Watch yer back trail...Jerry Faires