HOW DOES AN UNKNOWN ARTIST HAVE A SIGNATURE SONG? 

In 1998, I Was The Opening Act On 'Mountain Stage'  
A 'Live', Weekly, Nationally Syndicated, Public Radio Program  
And Still On, I believe... 
My Brother Don, Who Lived In France 
Happened To Be In DC
And Drove To This Fabulous Old Theater 
In Charleston, South Carolina... 
And Watched Me 'Kill' On the Radio 
But Later... After This Show
I Was Invited To A Lesbian Bar 
Where An Audience Of About 12-15 Women Hated Me 
it Was Way Cool To Have A Family Member 
Experience That With Me
-----
The Song Itself Has Evolved  
I Made Up The Title 
While Writing A Question 
For A TV Game Show 
Then, Later, When Courting My Wife 
& Making Up Songs On The Uke 
This Evolved ... 

#photo is me about to go on '98  
the comedy act really doesn't have a lot to play with... 
STYLE-WISE - I was 48... With an LA Tan - 
But I do look very confident...  
My Mother was listening in Florida
My Father In Michigan

THE GOOD YEARS

Don’t talk to me about the good old days
I can’t remember me one
Our love was more like a nuclear war
Be thankful it’s over and done
If you don’t recall when my head hit the wall
Allow me to show you the scar
The only good years that we had                                                      
Were the tires on the car

Mounds of kisses, fields of love
We never had none of that
We broke our vows a thousand times
Each year was the year of the rat
Comfort and bliss and true happiness
Were strippers i met in a bar
The only good years that we had                                                      
Were the tires on the car

So how can you say we should try it again
We never did do it well
The courtship was wrong, the marriage too long
The divorce was a glimpse into hell
It may be perhaps just a memory lapse
From too many sips at the jar
The only good years that we had                                                      
Were the tires on the car

®rgoldman dragbunt music

Richard Goldman's Album

THE GOOD YEARS 'LIVE' @mountainstage '98

Lenore

Never Ends by Sky Nova

1994 - Clearly It's June - Wedding Month...
And If You're In Search Of An Indie Pop Wedding Song...

Much Like 'Bless Their Hearts'
I Wrote & Recorded This As My Wedding Present 
To A Close Friend
And Decided It Was More Up My Alley Than Theirs 
And Wrote Another
Over The Years 
I've Fallen Madly In Love With This Recording
The Song - The Casual Personal Delivery
The Track - The Cool Sounding Guitars  
#Everlys "Walk Right Back" Was A Big Deal 
Around These Parts 
Bkgd Vocal Mistake At 1:56 - Kinda Beatlesque
 
THEY’RE GETTING MARRIED TODAY

The day arrives and the date’s been set
I’ll be surprised if they don’t get 
A little carried away
They’re Getting Married Today
It still seems strange that once they were strangers
Now they’re joined for all of the ages  
Man what can you say
They’re Getting Married Today
Marching to the tune of
Something known as true love

For some it’s such a common occasion
For these two it’s the birth of a nation
If they cry it’s okay
They’re Getting Married Today
Skip the vows hey it’s just a suggestion
I don’t know why they even ask them the question
You know what they’ll say
They’re Getting Married Today
Marching to the tune of
Something known as true love
If they cry it’s okay
They’re Getting Married Today
The day arrives and the date’s been set
I’d be surprised if they don’t get 
A little carried away
They’re Getting Married Today

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THEY'RE GETING MARRIED TODAY '94

1967 - I Was A High School Senior  1967/'68
Rosebeth was fascinating  
She was the 'grown-up' in the room 
How did Alison's nickname end up on Rosebeth's love song?
yow...
But I did briefly enjoy being the 'pretty one'... 
Rosebeth was mathy smart & sensible 
A Half-Century Definitely Gives You Context 
This song is a giant 'Humble-Brag'
And displays a cluelessness 
that's... a little disturbing

FISHOOKS

And Hello Friends
Glad To Be Here Again
And Jello friends
Are You Ready & Are You Set
To Hear My Crimes
Eat My Music And
& Rose & Rose & Rose
I Need I Need I Need 
And Ivy’s Gone
But that was some months ago
And Ali’s gone
But That’s Been A Day Or So
And I Am Here
But That Was A Verse Ago
& Rose & Rose & Rose
I Need I Need I Need 
And Fishhooks & Me Are Friends

And Rose Bet-ter Not Move
Or Else I’ll Fall
Right Off The Wall
The Great Wall Of China Is The One I Mean
And My Eyes Don’t Bite
As I Nap Upon Her Lap
& Rose & Rose & Rose
I Need I Need I Need 
And Fishhooks & Me Are Friends

So, So Long Friends
T'was Nice Seein' You Again
Who's Rose You Ask?
She's A Person & She's Got A Name
And The Name You Know
But The Person Is Who I Need
I Need I Need I Need 
And Rose & Rose & Rose
And Fishhooks & Me Are Friends

®rgoldman dragbunt music

FISHOOKS '67

1967/68
I was 17 when I "Double-tracked" this 
On my Teac reel-to-reel tape deck
It's hard not to smile when I hear this on headphones
Both the Guitar & I very 'present'
Other than my teen-age NY accent 
I still sound like this - 
This was 57 years ago and I remember every bit of it 
------
At Home & At The Dinner Table... 
My Senior Year in High School was no fun
My father lectured  
And even mom knew she'd lost me...
1968 was a weird year 
Two Spring Assassinations - MLK & RFK
And My High School Burned Down in May 
There was a lot of Reality Denying
By the outdated & unforgiving "Greatest" Generation
'Evening Recital' was written a few months before... 
In December, '67  
Dylan had just returned from an 18-Month hiatus with
'John Wesley Harding' - And
My only concern was getting into college & my love life
-----
30 Years later, my kids told me 'I lectured to them'
So clearly, I've learned little in my lifetime
And I do occasionally like the sound of my own voice
Why else would I have taped it & kept track of it for 60 years?

EVENING RECITAL

Evening Recital - Your Main Title
For Words Spoken To Yourself
Evening Recital - Is So Vital
To Existence Of The Dead
Run To Your Bible - Source Of Survival
An Outlet Not Letting In
Run To Your Bible & Reconcile
Years Of Sorrow With One Mouthful

Evening Recital - Your Main Title
For Words Spoken To Yourself
Stand In The Aisle - And Try Hard To Smile
Your Dignity & Pride Is On The Line
Stand In The Aisle & Cry For A While
Backs Are Turned & The Lights Are Out

®rgoldman dagbunt music

EVENING RECITAL '67

It Was 1977 - 47 Years Ago  
Back when I wrote songs about anything & everything
Why wouldn't I write one about a day-trip to Catalina?
With a small-group of friends...
Well there's been 50 years of water under the bridge now so...
I'm gonna hope that no one involved feels used or abused
-----   
ElecGuitars; Me
Spanish Acoustic Guitar; Michael
A week or so after our return 
The 'Catalina' gang "re-gathered" 
For the singing & final recording of the song 

CATALINA

Catalina – Has Nobody Heard The News?
Catalina – Taking A Sunny Cruise
Catalina - Nothing But Time To Lose
Michael – Where Have You Wandered To? 
What Has Become Of You? 
Michael

Catalina – Find Me A Place To Sit
Catalina – Bikini On Every Tit
Catalina – How You Get This Thing Lit?
Michael – He’s Got The Camera & 
We’ve Got The Film For It 
Michael?  

Catalina – Which One Does Wendy Want?
Catalina – Boy I’m So Nonchalant
Have You Seen A Mexican Restaurant?
Michael – She Curled My Hair & Now She Doesn’t Care  
Michael - (She Never Did)

Drugs – On A Glass Bottom Boat  
(Ooh Wappa Hash – Ooh Wappa Grass)
Drugs – On A Glass Bottom Boat  
(Ooh Wappa Hash – Ooh Wappa Grass)
I Used The Very Same Chords 
In The Very Last Song I Wrote
Drugs – On A Glass Bottom Boat 
(Ooh Wappa Hash) D-R-U-G Drugs! 
It Got So Cold That I Needed A Coat 
He Used The Very Same Chords 
In The Very Last Song He Wrote
'Why Don’t We Do What I Want?' 
'I Want To Do What I Want'
I Want To Ride A Bike  
I Want To Have Some Fun
Why Don’t We Go Some Place?  
I Don’t Like Anyone
I Need Ventilation  
Give Me Ventilation
I Need Ventilation When I Eat 
We All Need Ventilation When We Eat

Words & Music
®rgoldman dragbunt music

CATALINA '77

Album art picture of my parents, Forbes and Carol Lapp.

Written, Performed, Mixed and Mastered by Jed Lapp.
Beat by Villatic (modified by Jed Lapp) https://soundcloud.com/villatic

Lyrics:

When you think of your parents
what do you see?
For me, 
shiiittt, they’re the reason I’m free.
I forsee cause of my disabilities
I’d be in jail or dead
if they weren’t there for me.

Forbes and Carol,
born and raised in The Bronx.
Hangin' in the same neighborhood.
But they never met.

Went to all the same schools.
PS 75.
McCombs Junior High,
and Taft High.

Mutual friend Harvey
is how they met.
1962, the start of romancing.
First date dinner and dancing.

My dad, always a hoops player.
3rd team all New York City, senior year.

Lost in the semifinals.
Madison Square Garden...

They were,
regulars at Dr Generosity.
A night club in Manahattan.
In the middle of the city.

Followed Bob Dylan around
when he was itty bitty.
Before he was famous
in the nitty gritty city.

When you think of your parents
what do you see?
For me, 
shiiiittt, they’re the reason I’m free.
I forsee cause of my disabilities.
I’d be in jail or dead.
If they weren’t there for me.

Mom graduated from CCNY.
As a math major while dad was a cager.
5 different colleges as a ball player.
Masters degree at NYU later.

They’d go down to Beaches
and have chicken wings.
Follow musicians
and sing the oldies.

They’d spend time in Central Park.
Hearin' music
even after dark.

A few years later came me and my sister
as my mom became a computer programmer.
We followed Dad around the country
and his D1 college coaching career.

Stops in Kansas and Little Rock,
we ended up in Portland.
This is where we rock.

It’s been 35 years on the west coast.
But for my parents,
it’s New York the most.

My dad never misses a Yankee game.
My parents New York accent never faded.
We love it in the Pacific Nortwest.
Our roots into New York aw yes.

When you think of your parents
What do you see?
For me, 
shiiiittt, they’re the reason I’m free.
I forsee cause of my disabilities.
I’d be in jail or dead
if they weren’t there for me.

I’ve had a lot of issues in my life.
Like everyone, I deal with the strife.
With all the trouble that I’ve been in.
Without my parents, I can’t even begin,

to imagine where I would be,
in the streets or jail or dead you see.
They’ve gotten me through despite disabilities.
With out them life would be scary.

My dad not the greatest communicator.
When push came to shove
he was always there.

And my mom,
The glue that held us together.
Weathering the storm,
she did it all.

In the twilight of their lives,
I want them to know,
I’m fine and they are why.
I made it through to have a happy life.
They did a fabulous job,
To me they’ll always be larger than life...

The Reason I'm Free (beat. Villatic)

2015 - 
A Birthday Song for the fabulously talented #michaelarata 
A nod to my '80s rubber-band guitar sound 
I had a blast making this... 
Michael is a spectacular human
And most certainly deserved the coolest surf-rock I could muster

SHOOT THE CURLS

He Got A Surfboard At The Surfboard Store
And Then He Surfed A Lot
And Then He Surfed Some More 
You Can See Him On Every Shore
They Say He’s Surfing Now
They Say He’s 64
Shoot The Curls & Ask Questions Later
Shoot The Curls & Ask Questions Later
Shoot The Curls & Ask Questions Later

I’ll Bet He’s Going On A Birthday Ride
He’s Got His Surfboard Right
By His Side
Some People Think He Does It For The Rays
I Think It’s More About Making Waves
Shoot The Curls & Ask Questions Later
Shoot The Curls & Ask Questions Later
Shoot The Curls & Ask Questions Later
You Say Arayta & I Say Arahta

®rgoldman dragbunt music

SHOOT THE CURLS '15

Here’s a version of my song 2 sick 4 u :) hope you enjoy
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Andrei Sora

2 sick 4 u

ALERT! 
This is a mid-recording take-home mix 
of mandolin & slide guitar overdubs  
FROM 1972 - the original as heard here...
https://soundcloud.com/richardgoldman-music/sweethearts
Is one minute shorter - That version from #sweetheartsdeluxe by #numerogroup clocks in at 2:41 
As opposed to this at 3:44
Really nice to hear a minute more 
Of Marvin Goodfriend's #Bass at the end  
Marvin passed away a few years ago 
He'd outgrown pop music at a young age 
& grew -up to become an influential economist
But back then, I'm afraid he took the 'prancy' cue 
From my "galloping" up-stoke rhythm guitar 
I think hearing the full 'Tail' section
Takes the song to another place
With special thanks to #peternoah
Who became & still is a remarkably talented television writer/producer  
But back in 1972, my former New Rochelle, neighborhood music buddy 
Playing some very cool #guitar & #mandolin parts on "Sweethearts"  
I'm playing #acousticguitar & #slideguitar 
& often singing bkgd vocals with Peter
Along with Marvin's remarkably melodic bass parts & velvet voice 
We sounded pretty damn good together 
PS: Joni was the 'Sweetheart of the Radio' 
I loved hearing "Carrie get out your cane" 
On my VW Bug's AM Radio ...
I'd literally pull over & car dance

SWEETHEARTS

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo 
Your Love Was All I Ever Had To Know
You’re Tryin’ On Another Glow
But Your Love Was All I Ever Had To Know
It Almost Didn’t Matter That Time Had Taken Sides
It Never Hurt As Much As It Showed 
We Hardly Ever Talked & We Rarely Ever Loved 
And Never Really Came In From The Cold 

Sweetheart In The Second Row
You Pay To Come & Listen To My Songs
You’re Staying For The Second Show
And Listen Over Lightly To My Songs
It Almost Didn’t Matter That There’s 
Space Between Us Babe
It Never Hurts As Much The Second Show
You’ve Gotten Out Of Me 
More Than I’ll Ever Get From You
It Never Went Beyond The Second Row

Sweetheart On The Radio 
I Turn You Up & Drive You Home Real Slow
You’re Sweeter Than A School-Night Snow
But Your Love Was All I Ever Had To Know
You’re My Sweetheart… 

®rgoldman dragbunt music

SWEETHEARTS '72 (xtnded tail)

There are about 200 Tracks here
My favorite home recordings 
From 1964 to 2024
For Lyrics & Stories surrounding songs
I encourage reading the 'Behind This Track' or 
'Description' (Pencil Icon)
This is completely curated by me

THE GOOD YEARS 'LIVE' @mountainstage '98

Richard Goldman

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