Emma Jean's Guitar - Chely Wright

(Matraca Berg/Gary Harrison/Jeff Hanna)

I found it in a pawn shop in a ragged cardboard case 
With the guns and dusty watches it looked so out of place 
With a Trailways baggage sticker yellow frayed and torn 
Destination Nashville September '64 

And you could tell by the fingerboard her painted nails were long 
She only needed three chords to play those good ole country songs 
And her name's etched in the finish like a fading battle scar 
And this 1950 Gibson was Emma Jean's guitar 

I wonder if she played it in a small town talent show 
With her hair teased to perfection in a dress her mamma sewed 
And for a little inspiration she pasted on a star 
Here up on the head stock of Emma Jean's guitar 

And you could tell by the fingerboard her painted nails were long 
She only needed three chords to play those good ole country songs 
And her name's etched in the finish like a fading battle scar 
And this 1950 Gibson was Emma Jean's guitar 

I wouldn't even know her if I saw her face to face 
But there's a little bit of Emma Jean in every song I play 
She passed along these hopes and dreams cradled in my arms 
And I am just a guardian of Emma Jean's guitar 

You could tell by the fingerboard her painted nails were long 
She only needed three chords to play those good ole country songs 
And her name's etched in the finish like a fading battle scar 
And this 1950 Gibson was Emma Jean's guitar