Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
Composer(s): Merle Haggard
First recording/First release by: Merle Haggard - 1971
Covered by multiple other artists



Daddy Frank played the guitar and the french harp
Sister played the ringing tambourine
Mamma couldn't hear our pretty music
She read our lips and helped the family sing
That little band was all a part of living
And our only means of living at the time
And it wasn't like no normal family combo
'Cos Daddy Frank, the guitar man, was blind

Frank and Mamma counted on each other
Their one and only weakness made 'em strong
Hey, Mamma did the driving for the family
And Frank made a living with a song
Home was just a camp along the highway
A pick-up bed was where we bedded down
Don't ever once remember going hungry
I remember Mamma cooking on the ground

Daddy Frank played the guitar and the French harp
Sister played the ringing tambourine
Mamma couldn't hear our pretty music
She read our lips and helped the family sing
That little band was all a part of living
And our only means of living at the time
And it wasn't like no normal family combo
'Cos Daddy Frank, the guitar man, was blind

Don't remember how they got acquainted
I can't recall just how it came to be
But there had to be some special help from someone
And blessed be the one who let it be
Fever caused my Mamma's loss of hearing
Daddy Frank was born without his sight
And Mamma needed someone she could lean on
And I believe the guitar man was right

Daddy Frank played the guitar and the French harp
Sister played the ringing tambourine
Mamma couldn't hear our pretty music
She read our lips and helped the family sing
That little band was all a part of living
And our only means of living at the time
And it wasn't like no normal family combo
'Cos Daddy Frank, the guitar man, was blind