A couple of pandemic flare-ups on Maui scuttled our plans to get there for the past couple of years. As I was missing our time there, I started thinking about Bounty Music. This is a fine music store in Kahului. Whenever I am on the island, I rent a guitar from Bounty Music. They're great people, and the guitar plays pretty well.
That got me thinking about playing that rented guitar, and some of the things that might mean. And all this led to "Rented"
Lyrics
Rented
There’s a music store in town
The only one, near or far
Whenever I am on the island
They rent me a good guitar
I take it out onto my balcony
When it’s finally bathed in a little shade
There I play the latest melodies
That my singin’ heart has made
It’s rented, it’s rented
It doesn’t come with any guarantee
It’s rented, that guitar is rented
It’s mine temporarily
That old guitar has seen some things
Through many hands and many days
It’s got its scratches and it dings
From the ones who’ve made it play
But it’s stood up pretty well
As it went from home to home
As I hold it I can tell
People played it like their own
Though it’s rented, it’s rented
It doesn’t come with any guarantee
It’s rented, it’s rented
It’s theirs temporarily
I have to make a promise when I pick up that guitar
That I’ll bring it back with its same old shine
That I’ll treat it like an old friend
with gentleness and care
Like that old guitar was mine
BREAK
All this land and sea and sky
It’s like the guitar in this song
It’s only ours for a while
Then we pass it along
Because It’s rented, it’s rented
It ain’t our private property
It’s rented, it’s rented
It’s ours temporarily
I need to make a promise to those who follow me
That I’ll pass things on with their same old shine
That I’ll treat things like an old friend
with gentleness and care
Like that earth I walk was mine
Though it’s rented, it’s rented
It ain’t our private property
It’s rented, it’s rented
It’s ours temporarily
It’s rented, it’s rented
It ain’t our private property
It’s rented, it’s rented
It’s ours temporarily
© Gary Poole 2021