Topic: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Song about busing in a bar and life.

Empty Glasses, Empty Tables By Jeff Gilpin


August 12th, 2018




Intro


[G]....[E]..[E7]..[Am]...[G].


Verse 1


I [Am]met a man the other day while busing at a bar.


[G] He [FMaj7]felt we were in common how our [Am]life had led so far.


[G] I [FMaj7]told him it was nice to meet some[Am]one he could relate,


[Am7] But I [D]had to get my busing done and [E]I was running late. [E7]




Chorus 1

Empty [FMaj7]glasses, empty tables means no [C]one’s sitting here,


Or [G]ordering a drink, or two, or [C]any kind of [G]beer,


Or a [FMaj7]friendly conversation had [C]between a group of friends,


Or a [G]look inside yourself, and all the [E]places [E7]that you’ve [Am]been. [G]




Verse 2


He [Am]said, “I was just like you, a working man was I,


[G]And [FMaj7]I did janitorial work for a [Am]city not far away.


[G]Was [FMaj7]in my state capital and I [Am]kept it spick and span


[Am7]Un[D]til I punched my final clock, a [E]tired and older [E7]man.”




Chorus 2

He’d [FMaj7]sweep and he’d mop and he’d [C]shinny up the floor.


Then he’d [G]come on in the next day just to [C]do the same thing [G]more.


While the [FMaj7]various men of power walked a[C]round him without seeing


To [G]them he was nonexistent not [E]really a [E7]human [Am]being. [G]




Verse 3


“But you [Am]see I kept my eyes open and oh the things I saw.


[G] Some [FMaj7]right peculiar relationships met [Am]there as I recall.


[G] These [FMaj7]great men of power had their [Am]women and some men,



[Am7]And [D]all this around me all my life. [E] I took it all [E7]in.”




Chorus 3

“Yes, I [FMaj7]minded my place in life, [C]eyes and ears opened wide.


I [G]kept about my business; I [C]didn’t have to [G]hide,


But I col[FMaj7]lected many secrets from [C]all these powerful men


Until my [G]time had finally come, my [E]next [E7]life to be[Am]gin.” [G]




Verse 4


He [Am]said, “Now I’ll not bore you with every little detail,


[G]But [FMaj7]every other week or two I get [Am]something in the mail.


[G]I [FMaj7]get a little tide sum from these [Am]men I used to see,


[Am7]And I [D]live like I do now on those who [E]never noticed [E7]me.”




Chorus 4

Then he [FMaj7]looked at me with sad eyes that said [C]more than he’d told,


About [G]how he got to where he was so [C]tired and so [G]old,


And I [FMaj7]noticed how he looked around, taking [C]in all he could see,


[G]Thinking about that old man’s life, [E]also [E7]thinking of [Am]me. [G]




Verse 5


So I [Am]thanked him for his story, and I bought him a beer


[G]For [FMaj7]sharing his life’s story, and [Am]how it led him here.


[G]Then I [FMaj7]gave him his cold one, and I [Am]looked around once more.


[Am7]My [D]work was stacking up again so [E]I went back to my [E7]chore.




Chorus 5

Empty [FMaj7]glasses, empty tables means no [C]one’s sitting here,


Or [G]ordering a drink, or two, or [C]any kind of [G]beer,


Or a [FMaj7]friendly conversation had [C]between a group of friends,


Or a [G]look inside yourself, and all the [E]places [E7]that you’ve [Am]been.



J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Jets
great story,really well written.
i`m hanging out for the recording.

The King Of Audio Torture

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

This is one tells a great story and as a poem it is marvelous. I want to hear the recording but just to read it is a treat. Well done and thank you for allowing us to to read it.

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Thanks you two. I'll try and get it up this week. Had some thunderstorms roll through this afternoon so I gave it up for today.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

On Soundcloud now: https://soundcloud.com/jets60/empty-gla … es-scratch

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

6 (edited by Classical Guitar 2018-08-13 09:08:25)

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

I just listened to your song jets60 and you  have a clear, nice singing voice.  Well done and thank you.

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Jeff

Well Done!
An epic life's story !

Thanks for sharing
Jim

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Well done Jeff nice story and song..
Reminded me of a movie I saw recently called "The Butler" about the life of a White House servant played by Forrest Whitaker.
He served Presidents from Eisenhower to Regan and was party to all the major events albeit in the background and confident to most.
great film.

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Thanks you all. Ark, I have heard about that movie but not seen it yet. I'll have to check it out.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Great song. I've unfortunately seen many places like this especially lately as prices are being artificially increased by the government. Also while speaking to the punters I've been privy to secrets that I might never repeat. I think your story revolves around someone with less morals? A great story all the same. Also enjoyed the recording.

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Thank you Phill - I agree with the morals issues he had, but to me it appeared to be effecting his demeanor and health. Seemed a bit bent and not just from the beer.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Just had a listen licked it. Reminded my of the Irish songs my aunt played when I was a child. Good lyrics chords and melody. Played and sung well too.

Hard times create strong men,Strong men create good times,Good times create weak men,Weak men create hard times.Cantwere rice INVICTA!

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Note left on SoundCloud. A very pleasant story to listen to, and to agree with my friend Peatle - very cleverly written. As I wrote on the Cloud, and it is meant as a compliment - this song would fit nicely into either Neil Young's or the late Harry Chapin's repertoire! As for me, while I liked it very much, no way could I cover it. Chord changes would get me, I'm afraid.

Great Job, Jets!

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Thank you ctech and Bill - I have to admit that it is a bit difficult for me to play and sing as well. I also think I could have done a better job, but it was one of those have to work the next day nights so I pushed through and got, in my opinion, a decent enough scratch out there. I am sure that if I polished up the lyrics a bit I could get it to fit a bit better, but I'm going to let it stand as is.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Jets
I`m a great fan of scratch recordings,they capture the soul of a song.
Often a song is so gone over or reworked it loses some of it`s immediacy.
keep up the good work, don`t bother about a few blips in scratch recordings.

The King Of Audio Torture

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Okay, easybeat, now you're gonna have to explain "scratch recordings" to me. I'm sure I have never heard the term used before. smile

Thanks

Bill

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

Strummerboy Bill wrote:

Okay, easybeat, now you're gonna have to explain "scratch recordings" to me. I'm sure I have never heard the term used before. smile

Thanks

Bill

Scratch to me means one take ,no frills.
This is the way i always do it.
I guess thats what Jets means to.

The King Of Audio Torture

Re: Empty Glasses, Empty Tables

easybeat wrote:
Strummerboy Bill wrote:

Okay, easybeat, now you're gonna have to explain "scratch recordings" to me. I'm sure I have never heard the term used before. smile

Thanks

Bill

Scratch to me means one take ,no frills.
This is the way i always do it.
I guess thats what Jets means to.

Yep  smile - Except in this case it meant first take I made it all the way through, still no frills, and I didn't mess it up too much.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C