Story Behind the Song
Mike Barton was a 6-foot-10 guitarist in Lincoln, Nebraska in the 60s & 70s. When he died at age 27, he left a legacy of friendship & great western swing guitar licks. The guitar take on this cut was the first take, hopefully in his style.
Lyrics
The Barton Way
Mike was tall and lanky, and he towered over me,
He was such a skinny, funny, friendly old oak tree.
He played that Les Paul just like it was goin’ out of style,
And it’s too bad he only hung around a little while.
If you do it with a smile, and you do it for a pal,
You’re doing it in the Barton Way.
When you catch a friend who’s falling and you get ‘em to stand up,
You’re a keeper of the Barton Way.
His fingers were so long and lean, he’d play while we’d all fret,
And he liked each kind of music that he’d ever met.
If he’d gotten any taller then he would have hit the roof,
It’s just too bad his body wasn’t built so very tough.
If you like to keep on learning more and more about your art,
You’re learning it in the Barton Way.
If you’re never in a hurry, but you always want to grow,
You’re a student of the Barton Way.
He lived up in the attic near the top of brother tree,
And he came down every day to spread some musicality.
He always flashed a crooked grin, he never wore a frown,
And there never has been any other like him in this town.
If you take life by the hand and you take it where it goes,
You’re doing it in the Barton Way.
When you find a riff that’s magic and you play it one more time,
You’re a player in the Barton Way.
If you like good bouncin’ rhythms and a melody to boot,
If you like a fast guitar that rides a bluesy jazzy route,
You’d have really loved the man because he’d give you all those things,
It’s a shame his heart gave out so soon and quieted his strings.
If you do it with a smile, and you do it for a pal,
You’re doing it in the Barton Way.
When you catch a friend who’s falling and you get ‘em to stand up,
You’re a keeper of the Barton Way.
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