Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known … Read Full Bio ↴Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He overcame a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. He currently resides in the Minneapolis area with his family.

Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".[1] In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on 6- and 12-string guitars.

Poor Boy
Leo Kottke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

Fahey-White

(Instrumental)

Overall Meaning

As the title suggests, "Poor Boy" is an instrumental track without any lyrics, and as such, it allows for a great deal of subjectivity in its interpretation. Leo Kottke's acoustic guitar playing is emotive and evocative, and the music speaks for itself. The piece opens with the Fahey-White intro, named after Kottke's influences: John Fahey and Bukka White. The intro is a fast and intricate fingerpicking pattern that sets the tone for the rest of the song.

As the piece unfolds, Kottke's guitar playing becomes more spacious and contemplative. There are moments of tension where the notes seem to pull against each other, almost like a conversation between two voices. Other sections feel dreamy and ethereal, with Kottke using open strings and harmonics to create a shimmering, otherworldly sound.

Contributed by Taylor N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS