This is from a year ago, and it came out of the frustration and gloom of a cold rainy winter day.  It's another one of those days, and there's a whole lotta other shit going on that makes medicine like this necessary.  Maybe it can feel like a loud FU to Putin.  I'm having coffee and moaning about the groundhog day feeling of late winter.  People in Ukraine are facing a large army led by a madman.  I reached out to a former work team mate in Kyiev yesterday and she said: "We will stay strong no matter what that old psychopath tries to do."

Blue Monday

This is a tune from almost four years ago that received a hearty round of crickets at the time.  I just remixed/mastered for a project and thought I'd run it up the pole.  It's written from the imagined perspective of someone with regrets...

regret clings like a wet wool sweater
to the back of your mind
when you forget for a moment or two
that suffocation leaves you behind
I know things could've been a lot different 
with what I know now
I know I've just gotta learn to live with it somehow
regret I can still see your face
twisted with words so unkind
and yet there's so much I'd like to say 
if I could see you one more time
I know things could've been a lot different with what I know now
I know I've just gotta learn to live with it somehow
it's a one way street fool that you are you're not listening
you've got to walk with your feet and spit at the stars
there's no destiny
regret I know who you are
you're a hound mouthed shadow that dogs my waking days
with my last breath I’ll rise again
and curse you to the hole where you came

Regret

Going into the vault again. This one's from about seven years ago, and it's one written in honor of a friend's mother at her passing.

The Johnson City Jitterbug Queen

fellas I hate to say it but I think we've seen the last
of the Johnson City jitterbug queen
life can be so long but then it's over in a minute
but I hear a voice start to sing  

thank you Jesus thank you Lord
I'm over Jordan and the pain is gone
thank you Jesus thank you Lord
now I'm waiting on the other shore

you should seen me back in the day
I could tear up the rug while the jazz band played
but that was before the children you know the Lord is so sweet
now sit down honey let me get you something to eat
you know doesn't matter, the things that we do
except for the love between me and you

now I know what words can't say 
and my burdened heart has been lifted today

well it all goes by so fast
and we say goodbye too soon
I'll miss that laugh that could fill a room
but I know what she'd say
don't you worry about a thing 'cause the Lord will make a way
it'll be  your turn to sing

The Johnson City Jitterbug Queen

Another biscuit from the private stash, written for a friend's 60th birthday.  This tune is trying to capture the eternal frat rock energy of the band NRBQ, led by Terry Adams, perhaps the coolest old man on the planet.   Also it borrows heavily from Flaco Jimenez the king of the Norteño accordion.

If you've never heard (or of) NRBQ, do yourself a favor and get busy.  
NRBQ on Conan rocking the McF**K out: https://youtu.be/t8WZDWi30Fg

And check out Flaco Jimenez with the Texas Tornados.  It got this good but it won't again as Freddy Fender and Doug Sahm have gone across the last border.  This is a jam kids:    https://youtu.be/uR7h_LAo3RA

Oh just look those old men acting like young fools all over again
but who's gonna tell 'em that the game is over?
not me I wanna be out there with them playing the fool with my friends

so where does our story begin
like most somewhere before the end
now I'm trying to call to mind just where it was when I saw them first time

how could so many years have gone by
it really blows my mind
without my friends I'd be brokenhearted
no it's not the end of the good times
seems like we're just getting started

Look At Those Old Men

This is a reprise of something tossed out a few months ago.  It was born out of a drum, bass, and guitar track that Thomas https://soundcloud.com/omcb had put out for collaboration.  It's still a rather rough, linear piece but now with some proper mixing (maybe to its detriment).  Words have replaced gibberish syllables.  Not sure about this mix, but not sure I'm gonna worry about it either, I've got chakras that need work in the meantime.

Ahhh
the persistent horizon is all that we have for our guide
lost in dreams and reverie and remembered faces from the night

she said i'm only the creation of the restless desires of your mind
and this emanation--it's time to leave it behind

how do persons face their weighted time
I've been waiting to change the fate of mine

we are only restless for our tide

Oh yeah I should know better, but I think you know by now that I don't.  Another dodgy effort from the trunk in the attic. This tune started life as a collaboration with Nick Lexington https://soundcloud.com/nick-lexington in Heidelberg in 2007.  It's his verse, but a few years later I added some very politically incorrect catfishing, I mean, romantic dialogue at the end.  I've been invited to present this at a UN conference later this year so I wanted to give it a dry run here.

Nick's much more innocent original:  https://soundcloud.com/nick-lexington/nick-lexington-give-me-a-kiss-preview

Give Me a Kiss

Don't you think it's time to put your shiny toys away?


Riding the Tiger

looking outside my window I see the rain coming down
don't wanna let this stuff get to me dammit no not right now

there's got to be some kind of misunderstanding
we're all in need of a bright sunny day
I'll admit it just might sound a bit demanding 
but don't you think it's time to put your shiny toys away

riding the tiger we know not to ever let go
but tonight while we wonder the beast is out there on its own

is this the worst of times or just the constant state of humankind
you know Heraclitus and the Mayans said we're bound to make the same mistakes
all over and over again
(but I do want to be on the good side)

someone is waiting her eyes are the death of winter
I still can't explain it but tonight I know that we last forever

she left a note and said the worst is almost over
the medication on the table should be all that you need
remember to include me in your prayers
we're all subject to the forces of entropy

Riding The Tiger

Sorry I just had to bring this dadaistic disco smash up again, kinda like a lunch that didn't settle well in the stomach.  Only guttural non-verbal grunts capture the essence of the ignorant horde that's no longer just living in wild biker weekend camp-outs but in the halls of government.

The photo is a campaign photo for the *elected* Lt Gov of Virginia.  People we gotta wake the up because this country is on the verge of going to hell.  I'm not gender fluid but you can still call me Cassandra if you like.

PsychoticTribal Love Song

A few of my esteemed peers have been writing some songs about getting older.  Here's one that pretty much shreds any dignity I had but then so does getting old.  There's so much going on to cry, scream, and rage about right now it's probably best just to try and laugh instead.

*For international friends, AARP is  a retirement organization.

ROOTS

Confession to complete theft here
OPP -- https://youtu.be/idx3GSL2KWs

Jimmy Castor The original Funk silliness
Troglodyte --  https://youtu.be/n0zfdptxQvY

James Brown No way of counting the hours spent listening...
My first JB 45, The Payback -- https://youtu.be/istJXUJJP0g

Chuck Brown The Godfather of Gogo Music (a Washington DC thing)
There might even be a sample of his gogo groove in here...
Wind Me Up --  https://youtu.be/JM1vSfrQQgQ

Parliament Scurrilous irreverence raised to an art form
Undisco Kidd -- https://youtu.be/Jc4kFz4d4-g

Just realized the outro is channelling a bit of one of the coolest Soul/R&B tunes ever:  The Dramatics / Whatcha See is Whatcha Get --  https://youtu.be/PgG6SU8L-dI

Reverend Billy C Wirtz  The master of pseudo-intellectual trailer park Boogie Woogie
Roberta -- https://youtu.be/tiILsivZ44A
Hey You Little Bastards Get Off My Lawn -- https://youtu.be/Ltexj_2UTQo
I'm a Senior -- https://youtu.be/OYaMr7fByhA

gonna take a little walk to the edge of the street
gonna see what the mailman left for me (or the mail señorita as the case may be)
there's a little bit of this there's a little bit of that
there's a whole lotta coupons in the value pack
wait a minute what's this I see?

AARP what does this mean why they looking for me
they wanna be my friend but they charge a fee

you know it's twelve o'clock I'm in the liquor store
the doctor said I shouldn't drink no more
but I got my monthly check and it's party time
there's a fine young she's thing standing over there
hey baby how you doin' I got this liquor to share
she said grandpa you know where you supposed to be

I take medicine in daily doses
I got lumbego, piles, and early onset halitosis
I'm stiff in every part of my body but the one
so it ain't much chance of me getting lucky
 I'm gonna take my rubber ducky
hang out at the swimmin pool like a turtle in the sun

I look over what do see there's this big woman waving at me
she got a nurse's uniform on she got her hair all tucked up in a regulation bun
Pops I'll take care of you I'll work you up and down and then I'll change your drawers when we're through
whew Glory be from whence comes thou angel of mercy

AARP how can this be so doggone sweet 
you came to me in my time of need how could I cope if you ever go 
oh yes I'll gladly pay the fee

How could I ever live without you baby?

AARP

As the end times approach us in our political, environmental, and viral contexts let me say how much I enjoy sharing the gifts of your music, friendship, and listening ears here on SC!  There are so many prodigiously talented and collegial souls in this forum, and it's a privilege to be here witchall.

My complete catalog (downloads if you wannem):  https://soundcloud.com/user-524270996

What you're still reading?  OK  here are some worthy music blogs to visit:

https://www.derringerdiscoveries.com/
https://poprockrecord.com/
https://eclecticmusiclover.com/
https://fogsongs.blogspot.com/

Popular tracks by Jeff Roberts