FAWM: "Tall Tales or Truths"

Tall Tales or Truths

3 days ago by @berni1954

Skirmish: Tell tall tales (@richardmasters)

Tall Tales or Truths

berni1954

00:00

Liner Notes

It is a bit of a cheek adding this tale to the skirmish because it is the HONEST TRUTH. I really did meet the character in the song and everything I mention here was what he claimed. In fact, he claimed even more incredible stories of his life were true. Too many to fit into a skirmish song. But each time I displayed the slightest skepticism, out came the wallet bulging with clips and photos to prove his veracity.

He was a really interesting character. I suppose he is long gone by now. RIP John

#fuc #guitalle

Chords are the classic (C) (F) (G)

Lyrics

I met him in a theatre club when I was front of house He bought me a drink and started to chat "My life has been interesting!" his opening remark His first story only confirmed that

"Back in the thirties I emigrated to the States I ended up in the newborn FBI I was one of the agents who arrested Al Capone" He must have known I thought that was a lie

He whipped out his wallet and in a newspaper clip There was him and Al Capone on the courtroom steps I gasped and he laughed and said: "Told you so!" I wondered what he was going to tell me next

"I came back to Britain in 1944 I played clarinet in Glenn Miller's band" Out came the wallet and once more I gasped He was in the middle clarinet in hand

The caption on that photo had him as "The Baron" He cleared that up with another tall tale He was in fact a Lord, whose fortune had been spent By his grandfather in gambling, flappers and ale

So when you meet a person with a tall tale to tell What you hear may not actually be a spoof But it's useful if that person has a wallet to hand Full of evidence that proves they've told the truth

Comments

@ltunes 3d

Rip John! This is fantastic story telling. Delivery with gentle picking is spot on. Can’t believe this is true….

@berni1954 2d

Believe it... Because I lived it!

@ericalbert 3d

Great delivery. Strong storytelling. Yes, hard to believe this isn't a tall tale.

@beau_mickey 3d

An incredible tribute to him. Rest in peace John

@berni1954 3d

Thanks

@janeg 3d

Meeting someone like that is a gift! And what he said of Hoover was probably true. Reminds me of the excellent film Bib Fish,

@berni1954 3d

Yes, I was convinced he was telling the truth.

@musicsongwriter 3d

Beautiful story telling. Fun song to listen to :)

@berni1954 3d

Thanks. I have a few songs of mine on my YouTube channel which are basically true stories about incidents in my life.

@raspberry33 3d

Skepticism is usually warranted, but once in a while a seemingly tall tale is true. What a great story, with nicely executed vocals and playing.

@berni1954 3d

On Amazon, I have a trilogy of novels I wrote based on stories told me by ex-combatants of the Spanish Civil War. Those stories often sounded far-fetched, when I was told them, but I am convinced of the veracity of 90% of them. Truth can often be more strange than fiction; which is ironic since I turned those true stories into fiction 😉

@prsongsmith 3d

Amazing stories. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction! "Gambling, flappers, and ale!" Love the way you tie it up with the "moral of the story" in the final verse. I think you have a keeper here! Great skirmish!

@berni1954 3d

Thanks. Yes, if he had told me his tales without that wallet, I'd have put him down as a bullshitter! I always try to polish off my story songs with a moral - like any story teller recounting a fable would.

@unownedart 3d

Very nicely put together tribute to John. I'm glad you shared this with us.

@berni1954 3d

Cheers. He was certainly one of the most interesting people I have ever met. The only thing he didn't ahve proof of, but he told me I had to take on trust was the J.Edgar Hoover, while head of the FBI was also the leader of a Ku Klux Klan Chapter. I'd love to have seen evidence for that!

@richardmasters 3d

Wow, that is a great true, tall tale. Glad you got the opportunity to tell it. I like the character voicing in this - it will help me to remember to take people at their word

@berni1954 3d

A little healthy skepticism can help you avoid being conned, but yes, after that experience with John, I like to give someone the benefit of the doubt, unless it becomes obvious they are bullshitting by their going too far with a tale.

@lyricslinger 3d

Sounds like a great character and led to a very nice song! I particularly liked the bit at the end about it being handy if the person has a wallet with the evidence!

@berni1954 3d

Yes, if you do ever have a tall tale to tell that is true, keep the evidence in your wallet. 😉