Vagabonds: Anthology of the Mad Ones Vagabonds Vol. 3 | Page 32

managed a taste of mainstream success and established a wide ring of
dedicated fans in only a couple years – a feat MUSICIAN A is still
struggling with. He has also progressed into other genres of music beyond
the folk-punk roots that attracted him to MUSICIAN A in the first place.
When MUSCIAN B was just starting his career, he sought MUSICIAN A
for advice. They became friends, but differences in artistic concept and
MUSCIAN B’s success drove them apart. They have not spoken for a long
time. MUSCIAN A still holds some bitterness.
On the radio a cover of “All Along the Watchtower” begins to play.
A: I hate it when a band makes it off a song they didn’t write.
B: You got something to say?
A: I don’t get it. I’ve spent my career writing my own music. Then some
rebel with a six-string comes and rips-off one of my licks. BAM!
Suddenly he’s a star… and I did all the work.
B: Maybe it isn’t the content of the song, but the presentation that
mattered.
A: You trying to say something?
B: Only if you were. (Beat. A lights a cigarette and pours a cup of coffee
while glaring at B.) You sure you wanna have this talk?
A: Spare me, junior.
B: Well, alright then – have it your way gramps. … Your music is stale.
You’ve been singing to the same rhythm ever since you signed onto the
band-wagon.
A: (Grunts.) At least I write my own music.
B: You know, I was famous before I covered your song –
A: This isn’t about that…
B: Then why’d you bring me out here?
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