The song traces back to an old bit of guitar-world folklore. René Huard explains: "Based on an anecdotal urban legend, jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery replied to a journalist's question, 'Do you find time to practice guitar while you're touring?' Wes quipped, 'I just open the guitar case every once and a while, and toss a chunk steak in.' Ding-a-ling-a-ling, went the Pavlovian songwriter bell in my brain. Life on the road, wearisome, tedious, sometimes perilous! Didn't B.B. King run into a burning building to save Lucille? Guitar man's best friend, sharp teeth and strings that bend."

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dganq-2D_7U