This song has a really cool story. You know, the kind of story where you meet your hero, acquire their guitar, and write a song to commemorate what their music has meant to you. Normal everyday stuff.After a few run-ins at Boise’s River City Guitars, I have long since decided that I wanted to buy an Eastman guitar for their sound, quality, and price-point. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t get much better!
So I did a little research. I looked for new and used just to see what was out there from this relatively obscure guitar company. I could never have fathomed what I would find.
On Ebay, I found “somebody” selling a Chuck Ragan signature model guitar – only 12 ever made. They lived in Grass Valley, CA and I remember thinking to myself, “Chuck lives in Grass Valley…” So I inquired into what that person was selling…nothing but music equipment and carpentry tools. So I said to myself, “Chuck was a carpenter before he was a musician…” See where this is going?So I contacted Chuck and, coincidentally, had already planned to go camping right outside Grass Valley the following weekend. Instead of purchasing the guitar on Ebay, Chuck and I shared a pint of Guinness at a local pub and chatted for an hour before we eventually shared a couple songs outside his tour bus, and I went home with what is now my favorite guitar!
Originally called “The Hammer Song,” this was the first song I wrote on my (then) new Eastman guitar. While hammers very little to do with the lyrics, I called it “The Hammer Song” because the guitar has a beautiful hammer inlay on the 12th fret - and you can see it in this video if you look close! Basically the song is about mediocre work experiences and following your passion, whatever it might be! So cheers to Chuck, for inspiring me to chase what it is that I love!
~Liam Kyle
