Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues

Subject: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: PHJim
Date: 19 Jan 21 - 10:12 AM

A few decades ago I recall a song printed in Sing Out! (maybe in "The Folk Process" column) called The Fret Buzz Blues. It was about a luthier/repair person trying, unsuccessfully, to find and correct a buzzing fret. It went to the tune of an old folk song, maybe Weave Room Blues.
Sound familiar?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: GUEST,#
Date: 19 Jan 21 - 10:32 AM

The following may help if someone has the particular issue from SingOut.

Fret Buzz Blues ......... v.26#3 ......... p.35 Stevie Beck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: PHJim
Date: 20 Jan 21 - 05:29 PM

Thanks GUEST. That's the one. Is that the same Stevie Beck who played autoharp on Prairie Home Companion? I seem to recall that she was also a luthier.
Any help Joe?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: cnd
Date: 20 Jan 21 - 06:05 PM

If Joe doesn't have it, I can get the lyrics by tomorrow/day after.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: PHJim
Date: 21 Jan 21 - 11:55 AM

Thanks Cnd.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 02:38 PM

Sorry PHJim, I promise I didn't forget about you! The library took longer than expected to get me the book. New covid protocols, etc. delayed things.

From Sing Out! Vol. 26 No. 3 (1977), p. 35:

Michael Cooney just sent us this song by Stevie Beck, an ace repairperson and inlayer. She borrowed the tune from "Weave Room Blues". There must be dozens of recorded versions of this song, but the first reference that comes to mind is New Lost City Ramblers, Volume 3 (FA 2398) available from Folkways, 43 W. 61st St., NYC 10023.

Fret Buzz Blues

Working at the workbench, days are full of strife
Trying to fix those guitars with a chisel and a knife
Some are needing bridgeplates and some are needing glues
But I'm getting nothin' but the fret buzz blues

Chorus:
I got the blues, I got the blues
I got them awful fret buzz blues
I got the blues, the fret buzz blues

With my hammer slamming wood chips falling to the floor
I'll adjust the goddamn truss rod and I'll dress the frets some more
I'm trying to make a living, but I'm thinking I will lose
'Cause I'm getting nothing but the fret buzz blues (chorus)

The lacquer's weather checking and the wood is showing through
And I just can't seem to splint those cracks the way I used to do
I've got sawdust in my eyes and nose and sawdust in my shoes
And I'm getting nothing but the fret buzz blues (chorus)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 02:40 PM

Oops, the 4 lines running from "With my hammer slamming wood chips" to "'Cause I'm getting nothing" should be 1 continuous stanza rather than 4 broken lines. I swear that wasn't like that when I "previewed" it but it's not the end of the world.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: GUEST,#
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 03:23 PM

Excellent, cnd.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fret Buzz Blues
From: PHJim
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 11:45 PM

Thanks a lot cnd. That's exactly what I was after.