I could be totally off the mark on this. It wouldn’t be the first time for sure, but the story I got was that Troy came across this old piano and started tinking about with it. He looked up the instruments manufacturer and discovered a bit about them, and the business of making pianos, and obviously a bit about how so many of these proud companies eventually went broke. All that research is just a small part of this song, that reaches much deeper and touches what no doubt will be different chords in every listener. For me, this touches a deep spot I’m not sure I have yet fully plumbed. Maybe I’ve just become an old softie. This was submitted to the Tiny Desk competition in 2018.
Performance by Troy Crossley.
Thanks to Daniel Earle for filmography.
This audio is a studio cut. The youtube vid below is a one shot rough cut. Enjoy both!
LYRICS -Material and workmanship
Material and workmanship, fully warranted.
Werner piano co, located in Chicago
Material and workmanship, fully warranted
oh They said they’d always be there, making sure your shit don’t slip
Now where have you gone
left to crumble midst the dust of time
and you were swept up in the tides of the depression
Now the chiming through the halls don’t guide your days anymore
No songs to welcome the sunrise or end out your night
No melodies to keep your spirits high
Where are you now?
You know the keys don’t play themselves like before
up there in Chicago — ooo ooo
——
but I follow every time my mind catches on the breeze
your words they echo, your memories cut through like a knife
but you never would have made it in this life
where are you now
nobodies buying player pianos anymore
they should have switched to the banjo
— switched to the banjo… ooo
— Music, lyrics, & performance by Troy J. Crossley – All rights reserved.
Title: Material & Workmanship
Class: Nonfiction
Type: Music
Media Audible and Video
Genre(s): Anthology, Biography, and Philosophy
Author: Troy J. Crossley
Publisher: Troy Crossley thru Crossley Endeavors
Published Date: 11/01/2018
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This should really be somewhere prominent. I have never heard it before and it is just beautiful.