About the song
Jerry Reed and Glen Campbell, two of country music’s most iconic guitarists, joined forces for the classic duet “Guitar Man.” This lively and energetic track showcases the talents of both musicians, with their intricate guitar work and playful banter creating a memorable and entertaining listening experience.
Released in 1973, “Guitar Man” quickly became a popular country hit, cementing Reed and Campbell’s status as musical legends. The song’s upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it easy to sing along to and enjoy, while the guitar solos and vocal harmonies add depth and complexity to the arrangement.
The opening lines, “Well, I’m a guitar man, that’s what I am,” immediately establish the song’s theme and introduce the two main characters. Reed and Campbell take turns showcasing their guitar skills, trading licks and playful banter throughout the song. Their camaraderie and mutual respect are evident in their performance, creating a sense of fun and excitement.
“Guitar Man” is more than just a showcase of guitar virtuosity; it is a celebration of the power of music and the joy of performing. Reed and Campbell’s playful and energetic style makes the song a delight to listen to, while also serving as a reminder of the enduring appeal of country music. This classic duet continues to inspire and entertain audiences of all ages, making it a timeless and beloved piece of country music history.
Video
Lyrics
Well, I quit my job down at the car wash
Left my mama a goodbye note
By sundown I’d left Kingston
With my guitar under my coat
I hitchhiked all the way down to Memphis
Got a room at the YMCA
For the next three weeks, I went huntin’ them nights
Just lookin’ for a place to play
Well, I thought my pickin’ would set ’em on fire
But nobody wanted to hire a guitar man
Well, I nearly ’bout starved to death down in Memphis
I run outta money and luck
So I bought me a ride down to Macon, Georgia
On a overloaded poultry truck
I thumbed on down to Panama City
Started pickin’ out some o’ them all night bars
Hopin’ I could make myself a dollar
Makin’ music on my guitar
I got the same old story at them all night piers
There ain’t no room around here for a guitar man
We don’t need a guitar man, son
So I slept in the hobo jungles
Roamed a thousand miles of track
Till I found myself in Mobile Alabama
At a club they call Big Jack’s
A little four-piece band was jammin’
So I took my guitar and I sat in
I showed ’em what a band would sound like
With a swingin’ little guitar man
Show ’em, son
If you ever take a trip down to the ocean
Find yourself down around Mobile
Oh make it on out to a club called Jack’s
If you got a little time to kill
Just follow that crowd of people
You’ll wind up out on his dance floor
Diggin’ the finest little five piece group
Up and down the Gulf of Mexico
Guess who’s leadin’ that five-piece band
Well, wouldn’t ya know, it’s that swingin’ little guitar man
Yeah yeah, guitar man, hahaha