BLACK DIAMOND STRINGS

This a cover of a song written by Larry Cordle. I changed a few words to fit my experience. My first guitar was an Sears & Roebuck, "Gene Autry" guitar that I bought from my brother for $3.00 ...he needed money for a date. I was 11 years old then, and a neighbor, dear Floyd Sweeney, took me under his wing and patiently taught me how to play the guitar .. I'm not sure I've improved that much in 55 years, but here it is anyway.

BLACK DIAMOND STRINGS (LARRY CORDLE)
KEY OF "B" (CAPO 4TH FRET, PLAY "G")

[G] My first guitar was a loaner an old [G7] off brand my brother let me [C] keep
Back [D] when I was learning how to play like the boys in Tennes- [G] see.
I'd sit up every night and pick it till my [G7] fingers turned [C] green,
And I [D] learned how to make her talk on them Black Diamond [G] Strings.

[G] Well Daddy showed me three chords, but [G7] Floyd Sweeney taught me how to [C] play.
He [D] showed me the G run I'm still using to- [G] day.
I thought it must be magic the [G7] way he made it [C] ring,
But [D] he said it ain't no secret son, it's these Black Diamond [G] Strings.

CHORUS:
Well [D] I don't know if they still make 'em, back [C] then they were the [G] best
And [D] a good time didn't cost much, [C] two ninety-five a [G] set.
Back before I left Faye Ellen to [G7] chase my hillbilly [C] dreams
All it [D] took to make me happy was an old guitar and Black Diamond [G] Strings.

[G] Now I've been to the mountain top, [G7] had my share of troubles [C] too
But [D] if I could do it all again, Lord I know just what I'd [G] do.
Cause if I could have just one wish, [G7] I'd take a trip back in a time ma- [C] chine
To the [D] day I learned to play the Wildwood Flower on Black Diamond [G] Strings.

CHORUS

[G] Yeah, back before I left Faye Ellen to [G7] chase my make-it-rich [C] dreams,
All it [D] took to make me happy was this old box and Black Diamond [G] Strings.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Country
• Bluegrass
• Larry
• Cordle
• Ben
• Wentworth

[julanenova]

Never heard this song before... a delightful tune! (WIldwood Flower was the first song I learned) ... I've been looking for flat-wound strings for a couple of years now, but no luck! Thanks for posting!

[foneczar]

@julanenova Try, juststrings-dot-com

[wtbowden]

Great job, Ben!

Walt

[foneczar]

Thanks, Walt.

[steele917]

I wish I could play, because this is the Song I'd perform. Larry Cordele should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and only because of this One song...Pure Country Soul. Thanks for showing up....on Youtube.

[KC5E]

Oh, Lord! Ain't it the truth. Been there, done that. My first guitar was a Stella by Harmony. As you know Harmony was owned by Sears. Great job. I gotta learn this song. Bet you wish you still had that Gene Autry guitar. They fetch a high-dollar on Ebay.

[baboonhunters]

Really good job man!

[DixieRose1952]

Super job, 5 stars

[ROYS5166]

Anothere golden oldie with memories of when that was the only kind of strings to by. Wore out a bunch of them. I really liked the flat wound they didnt whistle and had a more mellow tone.