song for richard collopy

he worked from morning to ten at night sometimes three am

fixing guitars for a living honing and polishing frets

setting the intonation and action good

carving saddles from ox bone

bridges from brazilian wood. he fixed my old gibson l double o

he reset the neck

used a patch of bondo

near the sound-hole where the wood wore away

from many years of age and hard play. sometime he'd leave without warning and just close up shop. no sign

no message

no call

no nothing

he just stopped

coming to work and picking up the telephone

i left more than a few messages for him after the tone

all summer he wouldn't return my calls

'hey richard i'd like my guitar back by fall

got a record to make and a promise to bring

a tour in england a smile to feign'. september

october he called and said it was done. i got in the taxi and got my guitar and man that thing sung

like a choir of angels and the neck it felt great

and that was the last time i saw him

late 2008. why richard collopy? why richard? why

did you have to off with the birds in the sky?

you were the best guitar guy out west. i cherish your work and wish you good rest. why richard collopy? why richard? why

did you have to lie down and close your eyes?

close down your shop and not say goodbye. i'll own this guitar for the rest of my life. i'll play this guitar for the rest of my life. why richard collopy? why richard? why.