About The Song
John Denver wrote this song about a 1910 Gibson “F-hole” acoustic jazz guitar his grandmother gave him when he was 12 years old. This was the same guitar she used to play, and it became Denver’s prized possession, as he learned to love music playing the instrument. Denver would often talk about the guitar in concert appearances and interviews, as it was such an important part of his development. He was living in Tucson, Arizona when he got the guitar, as his father, who was in the Air Force, was stationed there.
Denver was a shy kid, and was forced to move around a lot because his dad was in the military. He spent a lot of time listening to the radio and playing the guitar, learning to write songs along the way. When he was 13, his music teacher asked him to bring the guitar into class, which he did. After playing some songs for the class, he became much more accepted at the school.
John Denver died on October 12, 1997 and his body was cremated along with this same guitar. The remains were spread over the Rocky Mountains.
“This Old Guitar” first appeared on Denver’s eighth album, Back Home Again, as the last track. It was never released as a single, but was one of his favorites; the song appears on many of his compilations and Denver often performed it live.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlKLtnbU0xE
Lyric
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
This old guitar taught me to sing a love songShowed me how to laugh and how to cryIt introduced me to some friends of mine and brightened up some daysAnd helped me make it through some lonely nights, ohWhat a friend to have on a cold and lonely nightThis old guitar gave me my lovely ladyIt opened up her eyes and ears to meIt brought us close together, and I guess it broke her heartIt opened up the space for us to beWhat a lovely place and a lovely space to beThis old guitar gave me my life my livingAll the things you know I love to doTo serenade the stars that shine from a sunny mountainsideAnd most of all, to sing my songs for youI love to sing my songs for youYes I do, you knowI love to sing my songs for you