Tom Petty and the Old Black Autoharp

Tom Petty died the other day,
drifted away suddenly, leaving us stranded
in our gun-metal blue world.

Petty never made much of an impression on me,
but my musical friend told a poet in the community
that she and I might sing Wildflowers at Tillie’s.

“OK, then, we’ll do it,” I said.
Coffee payments for an old black autoharp I’d wanted to give her,
but it was too musty—I had to air it out for months

on my upstairs screened back porch.
Worked on tuning it when I first got it,
so it was somewhere not too far from standard.

Run away,             let your heart be your guide.
You deserve           the deepest of cover.      
You belong            in that home by and by.

When I listened to the Youtube clip, what should I hear
but that Wildflowers has autoharp on it? Then, what did I discover
but that Petty plays Wildflowers in F—THE autoharp key. So,

I tuned the old black autoharp as well as I could to the Petty clip.
There’s an elaborate-sounding solo, played
by running through the chords: Bb Dm G7 G C     Bb Dm C  

then again: Bb Dm G7 G C     Bb Dm C    
You belong            among the wild flowers.     
You belong            in a boat out at sea.       

Far away               from your troubles and worries
You belong            somewhere you feel free.
Recorded me singing Wildflowers on the old black autoharp

and emailed the recording to my friend.
“You, that kicks a**!” she replied, making me so happy!
I’m hoping to help her play that autoharp part tomorrow