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