He Don't Play the Banjo Anymore

Story Behind The Song

My grandfather would play his banjo in the evenings and my grandmother would sit and sing with him. When she passed away, he put his banjo away and no amount of pleading or encouragement from his grandchildren or anyone could get him to pick it up and play again. As I grew older he explained to me that she was the true music in his life and she was gone.He just could'nt bring himself to play anymore............ True story. end

Song Description

A balladeer tells the story of a man who would play his banjo every evening while his true love in life would sit on the steps with him and listen to the music. They were a perfect match for each other and had been for a long long time. When she leaves forever, the man can no longer bring himself to play his music anymore. She was the music and the harmony in his life, his one true love, and tragic true loss. He'll never love another in this life......his loyalty and her memory will sustain him until his end.

Song Length 4:25 Genre Folk - Rural
Tempo Slow (71 - 90) Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Mood Passive, Moving Subject Lost Love, Sadness
Similar Artists Jim Croce, John Denver Language English
Era 2000 and later

Lyrics

Played his banjo every evening as the sun was going down
She sat there on the wooden steps and listened to the sound
They were to each other, what the sun is to the moon
When one went down, the other rose carrying the tune
Her voice and her laughter was the music he adored
He don't play the banjo anymore
He don't play the banjo anymore

Well he don't get up as early, as we all used to see
And he ain't never happy where as he always used to be
He just sits there on his porch says he's carrying the torch
For the missing part and broken heart of when she went away
He won't play his music says that he forgot the chords
He don't play the banjo anymore
He don't play the banjo anymore

She was all he lived for and I would say if ever
A match was truly meant to be, theirs was made in heaven
Everywhere they went, for every hour they spent
Their wealth and worth here on earth, they found together
The five steel strings no longer sing; once again he's poor
He don't play the banjo anymore
He don't play the banjo anymore

Well he says a broken heart won't heal when you're as old as I
Without regret he speaks of her and tears come to his eyes
He can't bring her back, though the memory's so alive
He won't love another I suppose until he dies
He talks to her picture and puts flowers on her door
He don't play the banjo anymore
He don't play the banjo anymore

Played his banjo every evening as the sun was going down
She sat there on the wooden steps and listened to the sound
They were to each other, what the sun is to the moon
When one went down, the other rose carrying the tune
Her voice and her laughter was the music he adored
He don't play the banjo anymore
He don't play the banjo anymore

Lyrics Jack Gaby Music Jack Gaby
Producer Jack Gaby and Gary Smith Publisher Jack Gaby
Performance Jack Gaby -studio performer

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