So today, I'm sitting here, listening to the songs of my youth (I swear), and Ray and I are came across "Fools Gold," off of Thin Lizzy's "Johnny the Fox" album. It's a sordid tale of hopes and dream not realized and about how we, as a society have no compassion for our fellow man. I love how Lynott had the ability to write in third person and I also love the lines in this song:
 

Broken Joe just lying in a gutter,
He's gone as low as any man can be.
He calls for wine but they'll only serve him water,
The bartender says, "We don't sell sympathy." <
 

     As we listen, I thought, "Who comes up with lyrics like this?" Well my next thought was, "A man who actually lived it" and yes, I know, this is a strange opening for a write up on a P-Bass, right? Not so, because beyond the lyrical genius of Phil Lynott is the majestic tone of (wait for it) you guessed it- the tone of his mighty P-Bass. Those unmistakeable walking bass lines forevermore endear these beloved classic songs in our hearts. Bass players are indeed the Rodney Dangerfield of the musical world and I'll tell you why; Do you recall the bass line in "Sweet Emotion"? God, that gets me every time and makes the point of my commentary, which is actually about those who are forgotten. Not the Van Halens, the Pages or the Hendrix's of the world, but the supporting cast. Ray calls it "holdin' the bottom end down", but maybe it should really be called "letting the others shine". That's because bass players really do serve sympathy, unless you're Stanley Clarke...