Rosedale Junction

Rosedale Junction Rosedale Junction Rosedale Junction
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • MUSIC
  • VIDEOS
  • LYRICS
  • MERCH
  • CONTACT
  • More
    • HOME
    • ABOUT
    • NEWS
    • MUSIC
    • VIDEOS
    • LYRICS
    • MERCH
    • CONTACT

Rosedale Junction

Rosedale Junction Rosedale Junction Rosedale Junction
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • MUSIC
  • VIDEOS
  • LYRICS
  • MERCH
  • CONTACT

LYRICS

"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

chicken man blues

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   

LITTLE LONG HAIRED ANGEL

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  

HARD ROAD BLUES

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

THE BLIZZARD OF '73

                                                                                                                                                     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

RHYTHM IN THE SKY

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 

SLEIGH BELL BLUES

                                                                                                                                                     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

Copyright © 2022 Rosedale Junction - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by