Song Description

Story song about a young guitar player who wants to be famous, and turns out to be an unlikely hero.

Lyrics

FIFTEEN MINUTES
He wanted to be famous, but he couldn't dance at all,
Too tall to be an astronaut, too short for basketball.
Too homely for a movie star, or television news,
He bought himself a red guitar, and learned to play the blues.
He's gonna win the TV talent search, he dreams it every day,
But even if they vote him number one, the toughest judge will say:

Fifteen minutes is all you get,
Fifteen minutes on a TV set,
Fifteen minutes is all the fame you get---
All the fame you get.

So he practiced in the woodshed, he practiced day and night,
The neighbors say he's crazy, his parents say they're right.
He plays for tips in Tiki bars, and dreams his fantasy,
A chance to play his red guitar on national TV.
But fame is a fickle accident, it never lasts for long.
The famous are forgotten in the time it takes to sing this song:
(REPEAT CHORUS)

He's playing in a honky-tonk, a stage with chicken wire.
He stepped out back at breaktime, and saw the roof on fire.
The exit doors were locked and trapped two hundred souls or more.
He ran back in for his red guitar, and opened up the door.
Now they want an interview, for the six o'clock news,
He's the hero of the day.
But they don't wanna hear no red guitar,
They ain't got time to let him play.
(REPEAT CHORUS)

Fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes,
Fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes.
(REPEAT CHORUS)