"All is fair in love and songwriting." - Norah Jones
“It’s very helpful to start with something that’s true . . . something simple and true, that has a lot of possibilities, is a nice way to begin.” - Paul Simon
“You can go anywhere in daily life and have your ears open and hear something, either something someone says to you or something you hear across the room. If it has resonance, you can use it in a song.” - Bob Dylan
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Walkin’ home one cloudy day
My dog just up and ran away
Walkin’ home one cloudy day
My dog just up and ran away
Dug a hole under the fence
Had no idea where he went
Looked all round, up and down
Drove every road all over town
Looked all round, up and down
Drove every road all over town
Didn’t see or hear a thing
Just knew what trouble that would bring
Chicken man don’t shoot my dog
Put away that gun
Chicken man don’t shoot my dog
He only ate one
Chicken man don’t shoot my dog
Well maybe he had two
Chicken man don’t shoot my dog
One got away and flew
Chicken man don’t shoot my dog
I swear he’ll stop at three
Don’t shoot my dog
Go on and shoot me
Ya see my dog likes to eat big chickens
The kind ya fry for finger lickin’
Ya see my dog likes to eat big chickens
The kind ya fry for finger lickin’
That’s how it goes what can I say
Chicken man sent me a big ole bill to pay
goin' off the rails
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
I’m goin’ off
I’m goin’ off the rails
I’m goin’ off
I’m goin’ off the rails
Not gonna lie
The pressure’s real high
I’m goin’ off
I’m goin’ off the rails (Goin’ off the rails)
I’m goin’ off
I’m goin’ off the rails (Goin’ off the rails)
I got to move, (Got to move)
I got to groove (Got to groove)
I’m goin’ off
I’m goin’ off the rails (Goin’ off the rails)
I’m goin’ off
I’m goin’ off the rails (Goin’ off the rails)
Not gonna last
I’m movin’ too damn fast
I’m goin off (I’m goin’ off)
I’m goin off the rails (Goin’ off the rails)
I’m goin off (I’m goin’ off)
I’m goin off the rails (Goin’ off the rails)
Day or night, (Night or day) rain or shine (Shine or rain)
junkin' down and funkin' up
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Walkin’ like your dead
Nothin’ in your head
Eyes cold as glass
Rolling in the cash
Ya junkin’, junkin’, junkin’ way down and funkin’ up
Leather pulled so tight
Drinkin’ every night
Crossin’ every lane
Got to be insane
Ya junkin’, junkin’, junkin’ way down and funkin’ up
Junkin’
Junkin’ left and right
Funkin’
Funkin’ day and night
Watch me now
Watch me then
Watch me comin’ round the bend
Ya junkin’ , junkin’, junkin’ way down and funkin’ up
Sand in your shoes
That’s the life ya choose
Hair white as snow
Almost time to go
Ya junkin’, junkin’, junkin’ way down and funkin’ up
Junkin’
Junkin’ left and right
Funkin’
Funkin’ day and night
Watch me now
Watch me then
Watch me comin’ round the bend
Junkin’
Junkin’ left and right
Funkin’
Funkin’ day and night
Watch me now
Watch me then
Watch me comin’ round the bend
Ya junkin’ , junkin’, junkin’ way down and funkin’ up
Ya junkin’ , junkin’, junkin’ way down and funkin’ up
quarter mile blues
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Old Man Tiggett drove a mean quarter mile
Burned up rubber and won with style
Smokin’ the bleach and droppin’ the clutch
That jacked up pony packed a powerful punch
Pedal to the metal when that tree turns green
That dude hit speeds that were so obscene
Haven’t seen him in a long, long while
Never forget his big ol’ smile
Only after he crossed that finish line
He’d crack a beer and drink his wine
Pedal to the metal when that tree turns green
That dude was a nasty, a nasty speed machine
Go Tiggit go, you in the groove
Go Tigget go, show em how you move
Got Tigget go, you know what to do
Go Tigget go, you a real shoe
Real racers, live life to the max
Party hard and that’s a fact
When they’re in the groove, they can really move
They always got something, something to prove
Pedal to the metal when that tree turns green
When ya got the bug, there ain’t no vaccine
momma sure was right
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
You dress like trash, like a lady of the night
Walkin’ down the street, stoppin’ traffic like a hot red light
Momma done warned me don’t buy what she sells
Momma done warned me your life ‘ill be hell
What did I know
Momma sure was right
Ya ain’t got no friends, always startin’ fights
like a junkyard dog, ya bark and bite
Momma done warned me don’t buy what she sells
Momma done warned me your life ‘ill be hell
What did I know
Momma sure was right
Back off woman, go away
Not much else for me to say
Get away, away from me
Time to go just let me be
Close the door, throw away the key
Ya just don’t care, that the money’s tight
Try and keep ya from spendin’ try with all my might
Momma done warned me don’t buy what she sells
Momma done warned me your life ‘ill be hell
What did I know
Momma sure was right
309 buckland street
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Now son, I’m gonna tell ya a story
You sit right down here and lend me your ear for a spell, G’on now, just like that
It’s not a story my daddy or my granddaddy told me, uh, uh
It’s a story a nice old man told me, a long time ago
Ya see, this nice old man used to sit outside a little old package store when I was real young just like you
What’s a package store you say? Well, you might know it as a liquor store, a spirit shoppe. You get the idea.
That’s what we call ‘em up by where I’m from. A package store. Where ya buy beer, wine, hard alcohol. Smokes, too.
Now this old man stopped me one summer night and just like I’m tellin’ you now, he said, son, you sit right down here for a spell so I can tell you a story. And this is what he said.
It’s a long hard road
When you drink to survive
It’s a long hard road
When you're barely alive
Ya keep comin’ back
Night after night
It’s a long hard road
‘fore ya, see the light
Take my word
It’ll tear ya right down
Take my word
Spin ya, round and a round
Ya swear just one more
When ya, drink that last drop
Take my word
Ya just know ya can’t stop
Help me Lord
Help me Lord
Save me Jesus
Save my soul
Mother Mary
Mother Mary Grace
Save my Soul
Save me from this place
Day gonna come
When it’s, all said and done
Day gonna come
When it, just ain’t no fun
Ya throw in the towel
And walk, right out that door
Day gonna come
But for now pour one more
THE LAST RODEO
“THE GRANDADDY OF EM ALL!” by Tim Haas and Linda Cassels-Hofmann
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Thought I’d call you tonight
Oh, I just don’t know
Thought I’d call you tonight
Oh, I just don’t know
Wanna hear your sweet voice
Before it’s time, time to go
It’s been a long, long time
Since I’ve been down, down that road
Been a long, long time
Since I paid that debt I owed
Time to come home
Come home for one last rodeo
Hills are steep
And hard to climb
Poems are sweet
And always rhyme
Regrets in life
Live on, Live on for all time
Now the clouds have all passed
And I don’t, No I don’t see a trace
Sun shinin’ down
Sun shinin’ down, on my face
It’s the same old town
It’s the same, same old place
There ain’t no bright lights
On this old highway
It’s dark and it’s cold
And it’s a cold dark day
And the last stop on this train
Lord, is gonna take me away
Thought I’d call you tonight
Oh, I just don’t know
Thought I’d call you tonight
Oh, I just don’t know
Wanna hear your sweet voice
Oh babe, I love you so
THE LEGEND OF DOG CAT ELLIOT
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Dog Cat Elliot was a dude I used to know
A drunken old man who liked his blow
Couldn’t read or write his name
Didn’t matter much to me, it was all the same
Dog Cat where are you son
Bet you be lookin’ down the barrel of a gun
Said he had a stroke from workin’ in the heat
Invited him to take a seat
Claimed it was hot as hell outside
But I knew his story was a big fat lie
Dog Cat where are you son
Bet your wife said it was one and done
Ya see, that old fool kept a still in the woods
Possum jumped in and burned up real good
Didn’t stop him from drinking that mountain dew
What else for a broken down lush to do
Dog Cat where are you son
Lawman be comin’, you better run
Now one thing I learned a long time ago
Drinkin’ poisoned whisky is a big fat no
It’ll eat up your innards and go straight to your head
Next thing ya know you be sweatin’ in bed
Dog Cat where are you son
Preacher man said you ain’t no nun
And that’s where this miserable tale ends
Dog Cat Elliot, cold and dead
Prostrated himself right there in the grass
Stiff as a board out flat on his ass
Dog Cat where are you son
Sure bet you be havin’ lotsa fun
goin' down to walpole
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Take, take me down
Momma, take me down
Shake, shake me down
Brother, shake me down
Nothin’ you can say or do
Gonna make me stop feelin’ blue
Take, take me down
Momma, Momma, take me down
Never did a lotta good
Never read the holy book
Lived my life my own way
Watchin’ long nights turn to day
Angels, demons come and go
They’ll take you where you wanna go
Take, take me down
Momma, Momma, take me down
Walpole gonna take my soul
To have and to hold
I’m on my knees hear me shout
I pray to God they let me out
Take, take me down
Momma, take me down
Devil gonna make me pay
Waitin’ round for judgement day
Dark clouds passin’ overhead
Wonder if I’m alive or dead
Take, take me down
Momma, Momma, take me down
Walpole gonna take my soul
To have and to hold
I’m on my knees hear me shout
Gonna pray to God they let me out
DANCING DEVILS
DANCING DEVILS
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
I saw devils dancin’ in the oven
I asked mama what they doin’ that for
She said they just tryin’ to get some lovin’
Now go on and bolt the door
Grandma lit a match and tossed it in
Dropped it in a bowl of water and oil
Made those demons pay for their sins
Lit ‘em up and watched ‘em boil
Burn ‘em up, burn ‘em up
Burn ‘em on up
Light ‘em up, light ‘em up
Light ‘em on up
There were devils dancin’ in the oven
There were preachers prayin’ on the porch
There were angels sleepin’ upstairs at night
The choir sang ‘til dawn
There were angels sleepin’ upstairs at night
They were keepin’ us safe and sound
Those angels were tryin’ with all their might
To keep us all lost and found
Burn ‘em up, burn ‘em up
Burn ‘em on up
Light ‘em up, light ‘em up
Light ‘em on up
There were devils dancin’ in the oven
There were preachers prayin’ on the porch
There were angels sleepin’ upstairs at night
The choir sang ‘til dawn
I saw devils dancin’ in the oven
They were swayin’ side to side
I said mama there’s at least a baker’s dozen
She said go on boy now run and hide
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Oh, Carly Jo won’t ya go, go and let me be
Ya see you won’t be here long, not long as me
I’m just stuck in a life, that just ain’t for you, no not for you
It’s been a long time comin’, there’s only one thing to do
Ya tried, tried real hard, to break me from this cage
I fell deeper and deeper, with every turn of the page
It’s a story that’s been told, time after time, a real long time
Just one more before closing, I’m feelin’ just fine
I knew, when you showed up, this might finally end
The sun shined real bright, thought I was on the mend
But I just couldn’t stop, no matter how ya tried, and you sure did try
Even when you sat there, and broke down and cried
My little, long haired angel, you gave me such hope
But I slowly slipped away, I just couldn’t cope
I can’t let you see me, it’s too much to bear, just too much to bear
You’re the only girl ever, that ever did care
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
There’s a long road down south a ways, they call it A1A
The pavement's hot, the traffic’s bad, it’s the same most every day
If you walk all the way to the end of the pier, the sunset is the best
No better place to stop and rest, than a bar in old Key West
I stepped inside a crowded room, I thought I’d wait outside
Before I turned she waved me in, I just about nearly died
Her hair was red, she smiled wide, she said her name was Boo
I stayed a while met her friends, what else was I to do
Spent most my life drivin’ lotsa roads, don’t like sittin’ still
Still got plenty of eight tracks left call me over the hill
No regrets, no second thoughts
Losers lose and winners win
Fun was fun but times are changin’
Lovers love and sinners sin
She said she liked to drink a bit, I told her I did too
It grew late the crowd dispersed, the night just really flew
The next day came, my head sure hurt, decided to sleep in
Knew it was a gamble, but I hoped I’d finally win
I knew her ma would surely tell her, girl that man is trash
We made a plan, we’d hit the road, but first we needed cash
A few weeks passed, she seemed unfazed I hoped she still would go
She quit her job, packed a bag and headed for the show
Spent most my life drivin’ lotsa roads, don’t like sittin’ still
Still got plenty of eight tracks left call me over the hill
No regrets, no second thoughts
Losers lose and winners win
Fun was fun but times are changin’
Lovers love and sinners sin
A train was slow, a bus might work, I knew that wouldn’t do
I hot-wired an old Chevy truck, painted powder blue
We made it to the county line, before the sun had set
Now that’s the story I told the kids of how Mom and Dad first met
Spent most my life drivin’ lotsa roads, don’t like sittin’ still
Still got plenty of eight tracks left call me over the hill
No regrets, no second thoughts
Losers lose and winners win
Fun was fun but times are changin’
Lovers love and sinners sin
Image credit: Scuba Steve
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Winter vacation, seventy-three
Drivin’ to Florida in a used RV
Mom, Dad and my old dog, Big Joe
Didn't think it snowed south of D.C.
Woke up the next morning, what did I see
A blanket of white stuff, high and low
All I could say was how could it be
That snow reached up well past my knee
Parked on I-95 with no place to go
Stuck in Carolina in two feet of snow
Campin' on the highway watchin' it blow
Met some cool folks I'd never see again
Wonder where they went, where they been
"Never Rains in California" playin' on the radio
Even if we wanted, couldn't call for a tow
A line a cars as far as the eye could see
Plows commin’ soon? Cops said no
This was turnin’ into a real tail a woe
Folks might say just not my cup a tea
Army choppers came and went
Said give us a day, help will be sent
Eyes to sky, but notta did we see
A few days passed, folks sure we're bent
Hippies freezin’ in an old green tent
Mom thought how unlucky could we be
We waited and waited with no such luck
Was the first time I heard someone shout, WHAT THE—
I was havin’ fun, but that’s just me
Bad news Charlie brought us updates, none of them good
Bob and his kids kept warm by burnin’ wood
Food was runnin’ low, for big old Joe
Stuck in Carolina in two feet of snow
Campin' on the highway watchin' it blow
Met some cool folks I'd never see again
Wonder where they went where they been
Our beat up RV was like the town green
People started talkin’ real mean
Sounded like things were gettin’ ready to blow
Trucker by the name of July looked under the hood
Said you got the power, breakthrough you should
That Dodge 440 V8 was RARIN’ to go
Pops put the pedal to the metal and plowed straight ahead
That old camper shot gunpowder and lead
Cleared a path right through that wall of snow
A long long time it sure has been
I’d love to do it all over again
Vacations these days just ain’t the same
Here's the moral of the story and lesson to learn
Even if you got money to burn
Travlin’ first class is awful lame
Stuck in Carolina in two feet of snow
Campin' on the highway watchin' it blow
Met some cool folks I'd never see again
Wonder where they went where they been
When hittin' the road in an old RV
Maybe you'll meet someone
Someone . . . just like me
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Dreams began that night in June, 1983
Our hair was long, our cars were fast, we had our MTV
Might’ve been the jokes, the laughs, the way we both loved life
Nothin’ scars you worse than livin’, not the sharpest knife
Thirty-nine short months passed by, it all came to an end
Flyin’ down the road that night, you didn’t see the bend
That winter felt so lost so cold, had nowhere to turn
Who’da known so long ago, how much more we had to learn
I see you in the music, I hear you in the rain
I think about those crazy times, we spent raisin’ Cain
Let’s take a trip and place some bets, down at the Jersey shore
I’ll play a song or two for you
A song for you once more
Think about you every day, think about that ride
Wish I’d been right there with you, right there by your side.
Like a wave upon the ocean blue, I can’t hold back the tears
Not even when I look back so far, back so many years
I see you in the music, I hear you in the rain
I think about those crazy times, we spent raisin’ Cain
Let’s take a trip and place some bets, down at the Jersey shore
I’ll play a song or two for you
A song for you once more
You would’ve soared so high and bright, a bright and shining star
I know you made it all the way, no matter where you are
No one had the sound, the look, the who, what when and why
When I look up, I know you’re there, the rhythm in the sky
I see you in the music, I hear you in the rain
I think about those crazy times, we spent raisin’ Cain
Let’s take a trip and place some bets, down at the Jersey shore
I’ll play a song or two for you
A song for you once more
Every time I sing this song to you, I miss you more and more
Prison Yard blues
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
I only get one
So you know I’ll be makin’ that call
Save me baby
Save me from endin’ it all
Save me baby
Save me like the Lord saved Paul
Life not worth livin’
Shouldn’t have takin’ the fall
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
Done thrown in the towel
Headin’ down that long dark hall
Soothe me baby
Soothe me till the night turns to day
Soothe me baby
Soothe me like you do that way
Come for me now
By your side is where I wanna lay
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
I headin’ straight over
Not payin’ no mind how tall
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
Help me baby
Help me climb over the wall
Wanna see your Cadillac
And then we drive off to the ball
Brass city blues
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Make my mark
Collect my pay
Drinkin’ gin from a Tropicana bottle
On a hot summer day
Married 15 years
To my wife
She been married to me
Her whole god damn life
Got these brass city blues
Don’t know what I’m gonna do
Jive
Jive ass jive
I got guns
Keep me safe
Shot a man dead
Right in the face
I get stoned
Cops give chase
Coke and drink
Sends me inta space
Got these brass city blues
Now what about you
Jive
Jive ass jive
Woman I love
Don’t love me
Threw her out the door
And took away the key
She got a new man
Dress real fine
Don’t matte’ to me
When I’m drinkin’ cheap wine
Got these brass city blues
Think I might sue
Jive
Jive ass jive
I broke and poor
Got bills to pay
Sweat all night
Sweat all day
High on a hill
It stand real tall
Cross of steel
My name it calls
Got these brass city blues
Bet you do too
Chasin' the devil blues
The ballad of the leatherman french
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Slap that Devil down
Slap him down to the ground
Slap that Devil down
Slap him all over town
Been lost for so long
But now I been found
Slap that Devil down
Slap him with all your might
Slap that Devil down
Devil don’t fight a fair fight
Been standin’ in the cold
Out in the cold dark night
Gimme me once
Gimme me twice
Gimme most every vice
Chase me up
Chase me down
Chase that Devil all aroun’
Gonna be a long, long walk down
Slap that Devil down
Gonna climb that hill
Slap that Devil down
Slap him with all your will
Been tryin’ so damn hard
Goin' in for the kill
Gimme me once
Gimme me twice
Gimme most every vice
Chase me up
Chase me down
Chase that Devil all aroun’
Gonna be a long, long walk down
Gimme me once, gimme me twice
Gimme most every vice
Chase me up, chase me down
Chase that Devil all aroun’
Slap that Devil down
Slap him outta town
The ballad of the leatherman french
The ballad of the leatherman french
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Met a leather man
On a cloudy day
Just walkin’ down the road
Said he’d been here once
But didn’t stay
He was carryin’ a heavy load
We found a rock to rest on
And watched the setting sun
I wondered how long it’d be
‘fore I heard him sing his song
He offered me
His rusty flask
Filled with yesterday’s wine
I asked him why
He roams about
How I see him time to time
He took a drink then bowed his head
Before he told me this
A house just ain’t a home
When you live a life that roams
It’s hard to walk in shifting sand
When you find yourself in no man’s land
But when you’re old and when you’re young
Sometimes, ya just got to, ya just gotta run
Said he tried his luck
Livin’ straight
But the road was what he found
Was tempted by
The hand of fate
It comes without a sound
And when it’s through, we’re often blue
Not much more a soul can do
How many nightfalls can you see
How many lives were meant to be
It’s hard to walk in shifting sand
If you’re lookin’ for a place to land
But when you’re old and when you’re young
Sometimes, ya just got to, ya just gotta run
Told him it was time to go
He tipped his hat and wished me well
there was one thing I oughta know
I told him please do tell
An old man once had this to say
When you’re lookin’ for a card to play
And he said as quite as a mouse
A stacked hand always beats a full house
Bourbon man
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
My woman left home with a bourbon man
Now this man was real slick
My woman left home with a bourbon man
This man knew every trick
I said what you want with my woman
She ugly old and sick
Don’t know why she left me
I always treat her right
Don’t know why she left me
I tried with all my might
She done drink me outta house and home
Passed out drunk every night
My woman left home with a bourbon man
Now I sit round all alone
My woman left home with a bourbon man
Sit ‘round by the phone
Waitin’ for that bourbon man to call
Hear him bitch and moan
Walk me home tonight
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Sun sinkin’ low
Sky gettin‘ dark
It’s been a long, long road
Not a walk in the park
So please, baby please
Darlin’, won’t you please
Walk me home tonight
Days gettin’ short
Nights awful cold
I’m not the young man I was
Never thought I’d feel so old
So please, baby please
Darlin’, won’t you please
Walk me home tonight
Time ain’t no friend
It rolls right along
Take my hand honey
Let me sing you this song
So please, baby please
Darlin’, won’t you please
Walk me home tonight
Mistakes I made in life
Thinkin’ ‘bout them makes me blue
Next time through I’ll think twice
Hope I can do it again with you
So please, baby please
Darlin’, won’t you please
Walk me home tonight
Oh, please, baby please
Darlin’, won’t you please
Walk me home tonight
Image credit: Scuba Steve
Music & Lyrics by Toby Soriero
Been a long, long time
Since I heard, the sleigh bells ring
Been a long, long time
Since I stood in church to sing
Just give me one more Christmas
I’ll earn my angel wings
It’s cold and it’s dark
Think I’ll chop some hickory wood
It’s cold and it’s dark
Shot a brandy would be good
Old Santa, don’t come ‘round here
I sure do wish he would
Party in a barn
That’s what Christmas ‘s all about
Party in a barn
Pray to God, and shout
Pass me that jug a moonshine
Go home and pass out
Gonna make a wish
See that star so bright
Gonna make a wish
On this Christmas night
Jesus, come and save me
Try with all your might