Tilt Billings and the Student Prince



by Leo Kottke, Ron Nagle

Copyright 1973 Overdrive Music/ASCAP

recorded by Leo Kottke on:

1973 "Ice Water" (Capitol)

1978 "Leo Kottke The Best" (Capitol)



Tilt Billings saw a guitar in a pawn shop window

Not much to look at but he knew that he'd found

That old Student Prince that they made years ago

So easy to play - what unbeatable sound!



Paid twenty bucks and grabbed his guitar

Still be a steal at ten times the dough

It was amazing how a mere beginner

Could play just a few notes and sound like a pro



He'd play his heart out when he was at parties

Guys would get jealous - but girls were impressed

They'd ask how he did it he'd say

"Nothin' to it, with this kind of guitar it brings out my best."



One night when he had the room captivated

He took five and set down his prince

When a drunk stumbled by and sat down where he laid it

And he's never sounded quite the same since



Ron Nagle's House Party:



So Tilt's still upset but he's givin' up crying

Just can't lift his eyes from the sad, sad ground

Time marches on with its fingers still trying

To find, once again, that Student Prince sound