Link to video where I tell the story behind the song : https://youtu.be/cilXaNM0IoI?si=IbBwc2wlxYTwoADH 


In Catholic school, whenever I misbehaved, the nuns used to pull my hair.
If I could go back in time and do it all again, I’d gab some clippers and shave my head bare.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic school
I was never the kid who was considered cool
Eight straight years of Catholic School and somehow, I survived
Eight straight years of Catholic School.  Thank God I’m still alive  
My first-grade teacher was a nun, who if you’re penmanship was sloppy
She’d make you take all your books and stand there holding them in the back of the room.
She was like a witch except instead of a pointy hat she wore a habit
She carried a crucifix instead of broom.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic School
I was never the kid who was considered cool
The cafeteria food tasted horrible, but I had to eat it
I had to wash it down with milk that was warm and sour
I’d try to fold my plate in half and throw it away, but the nuns would catch me and make me eat it
It’s like they had this secret food wasting detection superpower
Every year your birthday, it was customary for the kids in the recess yard,
To grab you and kick you and punch you for every year of your age.
I still have flashbacks of a girl with pointy hard black shoes kicking me really hard in my rib cage.
My fifth-grade teacher Sister Margaret she’d been teaching for way too long
It was time for her to retire but they let her teach another year and that was wrong
She had long grey whiskers growing out of her chin
She’d sit at her desk and trim them with of scissors and you sure as hell better not grin
She’d tell cautionary tales about innocent kids who got into cars strangers
She seemed to enjoy describing all the bloody graphic details of the danger.
I did eight years of hard time in Catholic school
I was never the kid who was considered cool
Eight straight years of Catholic School and somehow, I survived
Eight straight years of Catholic School.  Thank God I’m still alive

Catholic School

For my sixth birthday for weeks and weeks I begged my dad for a dog
But my dad didn’t think I was responsible enough and he was also kind of cheap
But I kept asking him constantly and finally he broke down
He gave me a little cabbage plant growing in a Styrofoam cup

He said if you take good care of this cabbage plant
Next year I’ll consider buying you a dog

I named him Charlie and I planted him in the flowerbed in the front yard
And every morning I’d go outside, and I’d feed him water and fertilizer
I’d update him on what was going on inside the house
And as far as cabbages go Charlie was a patient listener

Every night before I went to bed
I’d stick my head out the window and say goodnight to Charlie.

Our friendship was more than one of those passing fads
And every day Charlie grew until his head was bigger than my dad’s

And I guess my dad must have noticed too because one crisp autumn afternoon
Me and Charlie were sitting in the flowerbed listening to a baseball game
My dad came outside, and he said to me, it’s time for you to become a man

He reached down and he ripped my best friend Charlie out of the ground
For a couple of seconds, I could see his little roots gasping for soil 
Then we took him in the house and we cleaned and we gutted him

 And I swore that would be the last time I’d ever have a personal relationship
 with a vegetable of the cruciferous type
And as we sat around the table, eating our cabbage soup
It occurred to me I was so glad my dad hadn’t bought be a dog

I dedicate this song to Charlie because he made such a big impression on me
Those months we spent together made me so happy.
I go down the produce aisle at the grocery store.  I see those cabbages and it makes sad
I’m glad for the time we spent together.  Sorry it had to end up so bad.

Charlie (Cabbage Song)

https://youtu.be/dLLddlqKIHc?si=wT5hmEY_W3Fp5ZvI 

This is my attempt at performing this song in a single take with just me and my guitar (Taylor 114 ce)
Also to compare and contrast, here’s a  link to a more polished full band version of this song that I recorded with the help of the Eclectic Collective 
https://soundcloud.com/josh-clary-1/ai-sucks-the-eclectic?si=67d29d363d2a419dacbf860fa471165e&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Many thanks to SoundCloud musician Michele Ansani  https://on.soundcloud.com/A24Cig19AVNqQmCk8 who's lyrics inspired me to write this song and collaborated with me to help bring this song to life.
***
Lyrics
When I was thirteen I picked up my first guitar
it was my mother's, it only had one nylon string 
I tried to play it like a rock star
I learned to play the Coca-Cola jingle
So I could teach the world to sing
When I was fourteen, I put on six new strings
I learned to play Beatles, I learned a Bob Dylan song
I sounded out of tune but I tried to carry on
At fifteen I wrote my first original tune 
So bad it sounded like it might have been written by a baboon
When I was sixteen, I got a new guitar for my birthday
The metal strings sawed through my fingers but I continued to play
And as the calluses formed and every day I learned a brand new chord
I was obsessed with that guitar and I never grew bored.
I wrote songs every day and most of them were a mess
But I believed that through hard work, I could achieve success
Malcom Gladwell wrote a book that said it takes ten thousand hours
To become and expert at your craft
And now all it takes is two commands and an enter
And in two minutes you have ten versions of the same damn new song,
You just have to choose the type
folk, rock, rap, pop, metal, jazz, trap or blues.
You don't even need to write the lyrics, 
your push a few buttons let the AI choose.
And people will think your songs are great 
even though you didn’t write or play a single note.
When I was 20, I did my first concert, it was time
it occurred in a village square
there were four cats all friends of mine
I was still using the plectrum and sometimes I got the chords wrong
at thirty I finally wrote what I thought was a decent song
It had a very well thought out structure and a catchy vibe and beat 
It was overly verbose but when I played it people tapped their feet
In my forties I stopped wasting my time
Work was more fun I was doing just fine
I had a steady paycheck that could feed me 
And the record companies didn’t need me
In my fifties once again my musical juices started flowing
I bought the necessary equipment I was eager to get going
I recorded all my strumming and saved it onto my PC
The internet and technology were advancing rapidly
I took those special songs I’d written of which I was most proud
Posted them Instagram, You Tube, Tik Tok and SoundCloud
I asked myself if a tree falls in the forest and no one’s around
Does it make a sound?
But now all it takes is two commands and an enter
And in two minutes you have ten versions of the same damn new song,
You just have to choose the type
folk, rock, rap, pop, metal, jazz, trap or blues.
You don't even need to write the lyrics, 
your push a few buttons let the AI choose.
And people will like your songs even though you didn’t write or play a single note.

AI Sucks Acoustic Live Version

If you find yourself in trouble and you think you've lost your way.
Here's hoping that you find a path to a better day.
I sure hope that you're happy. I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
I hope you find all the answers to all those questions vexing you.
I hope you can find a way not to bite off more than you can chew.
I sure hope that you're happy. I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
You spread your wings and you flew so far away from me.
I hope that you're enjoying your new reality
All those places that you said that you wanted to see.
I hope they're as good as you expected them to be.
I want you to know that you hold a special place in my heart.
I think about you often even though we are apart.
They say that when you love somebody sometimes you gotta be willing to let them go.
You gotta let them spread their wings and fly wherever the wind decides to blow.
I sure hope that you're happy. I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
I hope that you're happy. I hope that you're doing well. I sure hope that you're doing swell.You spread your wings and you flew so far away from me.
I hope that you're enjoying your new reality

Hope That You’re Happy (Acoustic Version)

I decided to take another stab at this song (went down a rabbit hole for about 10 hours and completely re-played and re-sang the song).  I struggled with the vocals on my original version so I changed the key to E which made it easier to sing.   
****
Guitar:   strumming my Taylor 114CE
Organ: playing my midi keyboard with Native instruments clarinet organ
Wurlitzer 200A  Keys: playing my midi Keyboard with logic Wurlitzer sound.
Wurlitzer 200A:  EZ Keys 2
Bass: PG Music Real track
Drums: EZ drummer 3
****
Lyrics
In the planet of the ape’s movie in 1968
Astronauts crash landed on a planet that was in a sorry state
They stumbled across a society intelligent of apes who could speak
And there were humans, but they were mute and weak
They’d been asleep in their hibernation pods and 2006 years had elapsed
And somewhere during that time humanity had collapsed
And the astronauts didn’t realize they were on the planet where they’d been born as the apes hunted them and they hid in a field of corn
Just like Charlton Heston, we could be walking on that beach
To late to save our Lady Liberty, she’s been toppled sunk and breached
You maniacs you blew it up will we rant and rave like Chuck
Hope it’s not too late, who wants that monkey fate, hope we smarten up
I wonder what those apes are thinking as they’re sitting in their cages at the zoo
Are they biding their time, making plans for what they’re goanna do
Are they dreaming of the day when they’re on the other side of that glass wall
Are they patiently counting the minutes, waiting for humanities downfall
The apes killed one of the astronauts and they stuffed him and put him on display j
Just like trophy hunters do with animals today
The Astronaut named Taylor, he got shot in the throat
He was unable to talk, so he got a pen and showed the apes what he wrote
The apes realized he was intelligent, and it shook them to their core
And the forbidden zone was a place they weren’t supposed to explore
Taylor met a girl he named Nova, she couldn’t talk but she was pretty.
A couple of apes helped them escape to what used to be New York city
And they rode together on a horse on a beach that looked like the west coast
Until they found that statue and realized humanity was toast
Just like Charlton Heston, we could be walking on that beach
To late to save our Lady Liberty, she’s been toppled sunk and breached
You maniacs you blew it up will we rant and rave like Chuck
Hope it’s not too late, who wants that Monkey Fate, hope we smarten up
The planet of the ape’s is supposed to be science fiction
Let’s hope it doesn’t turn out to be an accurate depiction

Planet Of The Apes V 2.0

Some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind lately (cover photo:  photo of my halloween skeleton edited with a not to scale termite and silver spoon: adobe stock images)

***
Copyright 2025
Vocals , Chords and Lyrics by Joe Stroffolino
Organ (playing my midi keyboard with sound from Logic Pro BeBop Organ)
Single Strum track  (playing my Taylor 114ce)
Second fast strumming track: PG music real track
Bass: PG Music real track
Piano:  EZ Keys2 (with sound from Native instruments Piano uno)
Drums: EZ Drummer 3
***
They say that life is a test but not everyone’s dealt the same hand
Some are born into privilege, while others struggle through quicksand
We play the cards we’re dealt as we try to find our way,
Doing our best to keep our heads above water as we go about each day.
People born with a silver spoon in their mouths, they’re rich and the die is cast
Other’s get a wooden spoon, which the termites eat, and it’s struggle not to finish last
They say money can’t buy you happiness, but it’s hard to put a smile on your face
When the game is rigged and you can’t even get to first base.
How many billions do you have to accumulate before you’re just running up the score
At what point do you decide that you don’t need anymore
Telling rags-to-riches stories, so the common man believes it’s true,
“Keep those taxes off the billionaires cause someday that might be you.”
 People born with a silver spoon in their mouths, they’re rich and the die is cast
Other’s get a wooden spoon, which the termites eat, and it’s struggle not to finish last
They say money can’t buy you happiness, but it’s hard to put a smile on your face
When the game is rigged and you can’t even get to first base.
 Politicians smiling and acting like they share your blues,
But they’d collapse in a minute trying to walk a mile in your shoes.
Lottery tickets selling hope, though the odds are that you’ll never win
You’ve got a better chance of being struck by lightning than ever cashing in.
You’ll be paying off those loans for the rest of your life from that useless college degree
As the corporations implement AI trying their best to replace you and me
 The universe is billions of years old; we come and go in a flash.
We spend our short lives obsessing over cash.
 People born with a silver spoon in their mouths, they’re rich and the die is cast
Other’s get a wooden spoon, which the termites eat, and it’s struggle not to finish last
They say money can’t buy you happiness, but it’s hard to put a smile on your face
When the game is rigged and you can’t even get to first base.

Life Is a Test

Strumming Guitar (me strumming my Taylor 114ce)
Electric Guitar (MIDI with Native instruments mint guitar sound)
Organ (me playing my MIDI keyboard with Logic Pro Bebop Organ sound)
Bass: PG music real track
Harp: Ez Keys
Drums: EZ drummer 3
Vocals and Back Up Vocals (me singing)
Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino
Verse 1
People come into our lives, then fade away like ripples in a pond
We spend time together, it feels so right, but circumstances change and they move on. 
I think about them occasionally, I wonder what they’re up to.
Sometimes I get the urge call them out of the blue.
Chorus
All those different paths that I could have taken
Now I’m lying in the bed of my own making
The clock keeps ticking every single day
I tell myself there’s got to be a better way
Verse 2
People who I haven’t spoken to in such a very long time
We drifted away and now I’m past my prime 
If I walked past them, and they saw my face, would there be any hint of recognition
Cause time has a way of transforming you like a magician

Bridge 
It feels like I’m doing time, I’m just towing the line
Trying to make it through another hard-working day
There’s so much water under that bridge, I’m dying to know what’s on the other side of that ridge, and deep down I know I’m in a prison of my own making

Verse 3
All those Dreams I never followed, I took the safe road
I turned my back on creativity and shifted into a working horse mode
I’m back in the saddle, trying to play the game
Speaking what’s on my mind
It’s a race no one asked me to enter and I’m feeling far behind

Chorus
All those different paths that I could have taken
Now I’m lying in the bed of my own making
The clock keeps ticking every single day
I tell myself there’s got to be a better way
Outro
They say that’s the way the cookie crumbles,
And life can be a series of stumbles 
And all you can do is dust yourself off and try keep right on going

Ripples In A Pond

Verse 1
I took a leap of faith I jumped, I didn’t know where I would land
I went out on a limb, I followed my heart, I didn’t have a plan
I threw caution to the wind; I was young I was in love
When we were together, we fit just like a glove
Chorus
Love was supposed to be the answer; I thought we’d take this journey all the way to the end
But the path was crooked and when I tried to look ahead, I couldn’t see around the bend. 
Verse 2
Life is a journey and sometimes you set off on a trip together
And somewhere along the way, you can run into stormy weather 
You can batten down the hatches and try your best to endure
And then one day, you realize, you can’t take it anymore
Chorus
Love was supposed to be the answer; I thought we’d take this journey all the way to the end
But the path was crooked and when I tried to look ahead, I couldn’t see around the bend. 
Verse 3
Those promises we made on that special day, I had every intention to keep 
I believed those words that I said when we took that giant leap
But somewhere along the way, we started drifting in different directions
We sailed into uncharted waters and couldn’t make the course correction
Bridge
Like Chinese water torture, it’s death by a thousand cuts
And over time the door to your heart slowly shuts
You go to couples therapy, you try to work out the kinks
But there are some things you can’t cure with shrinks.
Chorus
Love was supposed to be the answer; I thought we’d take this journey all the way to the end
But the path was crooked and when I tried to look ahead, I couldn’t see around the bend.

Leap of Faith

I wrote a song called "Rapture" and the The Beating Edge Recorded a fantastic rocking version that I just love https://soundcloud.com/beatingedge/rapture?si=25980ccbeac641d88908cd1945d69048&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing but I decided to go down a rabbit hole and attempt to record a more acoustic version of the song.  I first played the song with just my acoustic guitar and I recorded it on my iPhone 16 pro.  I then used a stem splitter to separate the guitar from the vocals and then I used the iPhone recorded guitar as the centerpiece for the song. 
Guitar:  Taylor 114ce (Recorded on iPhone) 
Organ: playing my midi keyboard with logic pro Bebop organ sound
Bass: Playing my midi keyboard with native instruments Rickenbacker bass sound.
Vocals and back up vocals: recorded using a Rhode NT1 5th generation mic.
Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino
Lyrics:

These prophets who say the world's gonna end and they set a specific date
And then when it doesn't happen, their followers still think they're great

The sun rises the next morning and people stumble out of bed
Disappointed that the rapture didn't happen and they're still alive instead of dead

All these people going through the motions, trying to deal with the daily grind
Hoping the rapture comes soon and they're not the ones who are left behind

They claim they have a direct line to God but there was a glitch in the connection
But now they're certain of the expiration date so they issue a correction

The shepherd guides the flock and tries to keep them safe from harm
But how many times can you cry wolf before people ignore your alarm

All these people going through the motions, trying to deal with the daily grind
Hoping the rapture comes soon and they're not the ones who are left behind

Who cares about the environment if you think the world is gonna end
And you're convinced the second coming is right around the bend

So drill baby drill and chop down all the plants and trees
No need to spend money on curing terrible disease

In every generation throughout history, people were certain that the rapture would come
And they had followers willing to believe them as they fed them each a tiny crumb

In baseball you only get three strikes and then the umpire says you're out
But when it comes to doomsday prophecies, the true believers have no doubt

All these people going through the motions, trying to deal with the daily grind
Hoping the rapture comes soon and they're not the ones who are left behind

Rapture (Acoustic Version)

I decided to take another stab at this song for Halloween.
New instruments and added a strumming guitar track.    Completely new vocals and updated chorus.
***
In the dark of night, there's things that don't feel right.
Like a creature of the night with a healthy appetite
I saw a beautiful woman standing by the dance floor
I met her gaze she smiled at me
I knew the rest was history as my heart beat quickly in my chest.

The night past by in one big blur and in the morning there was no sign of her
I tried so hard to convince myself that it was only just a dream

Baby I want to see the sun shine on your face
Cause maybe you’re a vampire dressed in lace

As the day began to wane and darkness fell like bloody rain
I could feel a sense of foreboding in the air
I turned around and she was there
Next to me with long dark hair
Staring at me with a hungry pointy grin (hungry pointy grin)

Baby I want to see the sun shine on your face
Cause maybe you’re a vampire dressed in lace
Now she stops by every night and something tells me things aren’t right
Cause it’s been more than a week since I’ve seen the light of day

Now that you’ve heard my story, I hope you believe it’s true
My memory’s kind of foggy. There’s not much I can do
I’m sick of being stuck in this cold dark place
I want to feel the sun shine on my face
And I’m searching for a cure to what’s ailing me (what’s ailing me)

Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby I want to see the sun shine on your face
Cause maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe you’re a vampire dressed in lace

Baby I want to see the sun shine on your face
Cause maybe you’re a vampire dressed in lace

Vampire Dressed In Lace (2025)

I've been hearing so much AI music on SoundCloud lately that instead of jumping on the AI bandwagon, it's pushing me in the other direction where I want to do more songs with just me and my guitar.  
This is a live version that I played straight through from start to finish which I am using as an audition song for the Tucson Folk Festival.
And if you're curious, here's a link to a YouTube video of me singing a different version  the song live (iPhone recording). https://youtu.be/qMe4Uh39uhY?si=jBvf8uvDZQyDgiVg

Elvis in the 1970’s in his jumpsuit and his cape.
Some say he didn’t really die he just decided to escape.
Over the year’s there’ve been sightings like Bigfoot and UFO’s.
Of Elvis shopping at Walmart dressed in ordinary clothes.
They say it’s good to be king – but sometimes maybe it’s not.
When you’re coasting on your past glory and now, you’re lukewarm instead of hot.
If Elvis was still alive, he’d be approaching the century mark.
He’d be a tired old hound dog - would he still be able to bark.
If he put on a pair of blue suede shoes and he tried to shake his hips.
And he strummed his guitar on a street corner would people give him any tips.
They say it’s good to be king – but sometimes maybe it’s not
When you’re coasting on your past glory and now, you’re lukewarm instead of hot
There’s day’s when you feel like you’re trapped in a routine 
And you’re going through the motions, and you want to start fresh and clean.
Somewhere between 1968 and 1977 Elvis took a detour and he ended up in Heaven.
It’s nice to imagine that maybe he was sick of sick and tired of all that fame.
And one day he just decided to retire from playing the game.
If he sang that song love me tender, would it till make the young women swoon.
Or would they stare at him with curiosity like at the zoo when you see a baboon.
If he put on the black leather costume that he wore in 1968 
And he played the same set list would people still think he was so great?
Elvis in Black leather in 1968 strumming his guitar he looked so good
And his voice was really great.
At the top of his game in perfect form he could have stopped right then
He could have walked away - still would have still been a rock and roll legend
They say it’s good to be king – but sometimes maybe it’s not
When you’re coasting on your past glory and now, you’re lukewarm instead of hot.
They say it’s good to be king – but sometimes maybe it’s not
When you’re coasting on your past glory and now, you’re lukewarm instead of hot

Lukewarm King (Acoustic Live Version)

Joe Stroffolino-- Music, lyrics, vocals, organ and guitar.
Bass:  PG music real track. 
Double bass synth and wurly Logic Pro session player tracks.
Drums: Many thanks to Ken K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara   for playing the drums on this track and giving me great feedback as I attempted to mix the song. 

Copyright 2025 

Verse 1
I’ve never seen the Great Wall; I’ve never been to Japan.
I’ve never seen the Eiffel Tower; it’s not part of my bucket list plan.
I don’t need to stand in line for two hours so I can see the Mona Lisa for thirty seconds.
I can see the same thing at home for free on my computer.

Chorus
I’m perfectly content to stay right here,
Living in the same place year after year.
I’m perfectly content to stay right here.

Verse 2
I don’t want to sit in a pressurized cylinder, with only a bag of peanuts to eat,
As I’m elbowed by a stranger who decides he wants to ventilate his feet.
I don’t want to go to a tourist trap and hang out with a bunch of ugly Americans.
If I want to see ugly Americans, all I’ve gotta do is step outside.

Chorus (Repeat)
I’m perfectly content to stay right here,
Living in the same place year after year.
I’m perfectly content to stay right here.

Bridge
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.

Verse 3
Waking up early, rushing to the airport, to get on a crowded flight,
Trying to find space in the overhead bin and not get in a fight.
When you get there, you can’t drink the water, and the alcohol can make you go blind.
That doesn’t sound like the optimal place for a person to unwind.
You have to ration your underwear, or you’ll have to wear it inside out again for a second time.
You have to keep your money in a belt or you could be the victim of a pickpocketing crime.

Bridge (Repeat)
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.

Not A Rambling Man

I decided to take acoustic stabs at one of my  previous Christmas songs.  This song is based on my real life Uncle Lou.
The lead vocals (Rhode NT1  5th generation mic) and guitar (Taylor 114ce,  capo first fret, plugged in) were recorded simultaneously on two separate tracks and then I went back and added the backing vocals (strongly resisting the urge to add any other instruments).  
****
Christmas comes once a year.
It’s a time of happiness and cheer and it’s also the one day that Uncle Lou gets to use his electric knife
He used to work in a butcher shop and all day long there was meat to chop.
But now he’s an accountant and his life is kind of dull in a mind numbing sort of way.

But when it comes time for Uncle Lou to cut the Christmas ham and turkey
he get’s a wild gleam in his eye
He says don’t worry I’m a professional
I know what I am doing
as we all try to get out of his way

Uncle Lou’s got the electric knife
And we’re fearing for his life
That poor turkey had no chance
I think I’m gonna wet my pants
We’re afraid that Santa won’t come
And if he does he’ll turn and run
He’ll take one look Uncle Lou
And his reindeers will be scared too

They say Electric knives have a high injury potential
And losing a finger is very consequential
But Uncle Lou doesn’t seem to care
He’s got the culinary version of a chainsaw in his hand
And he picks it up and he takes command
If he had a hockey mask you’d swear it was Friday the 13th
After a few minutes his job is complete
And then we all sit down to eat
Instead of saying grace we thank God that his fingers have survived for another year

Uncle Lou’s got the electric knife
And we’re fearing for his life
That poor turkey had no chance
I think I’m gonna wet my pants
We’re afraid that Santa won’t come
And if he does he’ll turn and run
He’ll take one look Uncle Lou
And his reindeers will be scared too

Uncle Lou's Got The Electric Knife (Acoustic)

A stripped down version of this song with just me and my guitar
And here’s a link to a more highly produced version https://on.soundcloud.com/ilKgH0ZJjkQdhPEuk7

Copyright 2025

Verse 1
I’ve never seen the Great Wall; I’ve never been to Japan.
I’ve never seen the Eiffel Tower; it’s not part of my bucket list plan.
I don’t need to stand in line for two hours so I can see the Mona Lisa for thirty seconds.
I can see the same thing at home for free on my computer.

Chorus
I’m perfectly content to stay right here,
Living in the same place year after year.
I’m perfectly content to stay right here.

Verse 2
I don’t want to sit in a pressurized cylinder, with only a bag of peanuts to eat,
As I’m elbowed by a stranger who decides he wants to ventilate his feet.
I don’t want to go to a tourist trap and hang out with a bunch of ugly Americans.
If I want to see ugly Americans, all I’ve gotta do is step outside.

Chorus (Repeat)
I’m perfectly content to stay right here,
Living in the same place year after year.
I’m perfectly content to stay right here.

Bridge
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.

Verse 3
Waking up early, rushing to the airport, to get on a crowded flight,
Trying to find space in the overhead bin and not get in a fight.
When you get there, you can’t drink the water, and the alcohol can make you go blind.
That doesn’t sound like the optimal place for a person to unwind.
You have to ration your underwear, or you’ll have to wear it inside out again for a second time.
You have to keep your money in a belt or you could be the victim of a pickpocketing crime.

Bridge (Repeat)
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.
I don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be, don’t want to be a rambling man.

Not a Rambling Man (Acoustic Version)

Another Acoustic version of one of my Christmas songs.  
Recorded in one take with just my vocals and Guitar 
(Capo on the third fret on my Taylor 114ce)
***
Verse 1
I was sitting on the sofa on Christmas Eve
Enjoying the Christmas tree lights
A cup of spiced egg nog in my hand
Everything was feeling alright.
And then I heard something rustling
Inside the Christmas tree
And I saw a furry tail
Waving back at me.
Verse 2
And then it turned around and stared at me
With two little yellow eyes
And I realized I was having
A special Christmas surprise
Chorus
There’s a critter in the Christmas Tree
Santa brought a little surprise for me
If I don’t get that creature out of my home
I’m gonna be spending my Christmas alone
Maybe I could eat for my Christmas feast
But I think a better option is to catch and release
Verse 3
I approached the Christmas tree
And I realized he was no longer there
I searched the entire house
I couldn’t find him anywhere
Chorus
There’s a critter in the Christmas Tree
Santa brought a little surprise for me
If I don’t get that creature out of my home
I’m gonna be spending my Christmas alone
Bridge
So I decided not to worry
And have Christmas at my house anyway
I convinced myself he was a gift from Santa
And everything would be okay
Verse 4
Lucky for me Christmas went perfectly this year
Without a hitch
Now every night I leave a bowl of water
And some carrots and some tuna fish
Every morning when I wake up
The food put out is gone
And sometimes I see cute little footprints
Out there on the front lawn.
Verse 5
I think he comes down the Chimney
The same way Santa does
Cause in the bottom of the fireplace
Sometimes I see bits of fur and fuzz
Final Chorus
There was a critter in my Christmas Tree
Santa brought a little surprise for me
Now when I’m sitting by myself at home
Thanks to Santa I never feel alone
There was a critter in my Christmas Tree
Santa brought a little surprise for me
Now when I’m sitting by myself at home
Thanks to Santa I never feel alone

Critter in the Christmas Tree (Acoustic)

A stripped down  acoustic version of my song with just my Taylor 114ce guitar and my voice.

The North Pole was melting
And fearing a catastrophe
Santa hitched up his reindeer and flew to Washington DC

The Air Force saw him approaching
They scrambled a fighter jet
They almost shot him down before they realized he wasn’t a threat

They escorted him to the white house
To meet the president.
They posed for a photo together and then Santa Started to vent.

He said please mister president
I know you want to drill baby drill
But all those CO2 emissions are making the North Pole ill

He said I’m sorry Father Christmas
But I’m not interested in energy that’s green
it’s more important to me that we have cheap gasoline
And free Toys made by Elves in the North Pole sounds very nice
But you’re taking away American jobs, so I won’t take your advice

Then Santa said that since the ice will soon melt away
He asked the President if they could move to the USA

He said you and Misses Clause are welcome
because you look just like me
But we can’t have those pointy eared elves
Living here in the land of the free

So Santa flew back to the north pole
And sitting on the last patch of ice
Was a giant spaceship that even Elon Musk thought looked very nice
The Elves had built it while he was gone
tears of sadness ran down Santa’s face
And they all got on the ship, and they flew off into outer space

Now every Christmas Eve people look up at the sky
And they think about those good old days when Santa used to fly
Toys made by elves in the North Pole sure would be nice
But at least we get to buy our gasoline for a very cheap price.

The North Pole Was Melting (Acoustic)

Releasing this today for the Feast of Saint Nicholas—history’s most unlikely Christmas icon.
The spark came when Joe in Arizona was chatting with Mary from Beating Edge, who mentioned that St. Nick’s bones rest in her hometown of Bari, Italy. 
Joe wrote the song, and the band jumped in to bring it to life with their awesome playing skills and Joe had a blast attempting to channel Tom as he sang the vocals.

Credits:
Main Vocals, music and lyrics:  Joe 
Guitar & Backing Vocals: Mary
Synths: Mauro
Bass & Synth Bass: Davide
Drums & Percussion: Valerio
Mixed & Produced by Tom

Hope you enjoy it.

Copyright 2025
Lyrics

St Nicholas was born in Turkey in the fourth century AD.
He became the bishop of Myra, and was known for his generosity.
They say he tossed three bags of gold into a poor family's dwelling,
And he raised three boys from the dead — it’s a legend, but it sure sounds compelling.

How did a man who lived in Turkey,
In a land that’s warm and sunny,
End up in the North Pole with flying reindeer
If you think about it, it’s kind of funny.

Nicholas died of old age in Myra in the year three forty-three.
They buried him in a tomb expecting him to rest eternally.
The years went by, the tales grew taller and his legend continued to grow,
And it was a fact that relics of a saint could earn you quite a bit of dough.

It’s good to give gifts to family and friends,
And people in need,
But sometimes it feels
Like we’re being manipulated
To buy things we don't need.

In 1087,  there were sailors in two cities, Venice and Bari.
They decided they wanted St Nicholas's bones  so they raced across the Adriatic Sea.
The sailors from Bari got there first and they took those bones by force and deception.
They brought them back to Bari and they were greeted with a heroic reception.

You can take all the bad parts of the story that happen in real life,
Remove the uncomfortable dark parts and keep only the light.
We sing our Christmas carols and say it’s the most magical time of the year.
For a few days we ignore all the bad stuff as we spread the Christmas cheer.

Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, he tried to help those in need.
Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, now he’s a mascot for corporate greed.
Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, he tried so hard to help the poor.
Now he’s a giant plastic figurine who smiles as you walk into the big box store.

As we sit there ripping the paper off our presents underneath the Christmas tree,
It’s good to remember there are people out there who are less fortunate than you and me.
Maybe we can be a little bit more like Old Saint Nick — maybe we can.
Maybe we can be a little bit more like Old Saint Nick.

Old Saint Nick

Subie in Distress is a true story.
I took my 2015 Subaru Forester in for routine service and walked out with a $10,000 repair estimate on a car worth less than that. So I did what most people would do: I got a second opinion.
This is an acoustic, singer-songwriter take on car ownership, trust, and the feeling that maybe you’re being nudged toward buying something you don’t actually need.
Recorded and mixed in Logic Pro.
Mastered with iZotope Ozone.
If you’ve ever loved a car that the repair shop didn’t, this one’s for you.
🎸 Vocal + acoustic guitar
🚗 Real story, no AI
🎧 Headphones recommended
***
Instruments:  
Guitar Strumming Track: PG Music Real track
Organ:  Playing my Midi keyboard with Logic Pro BeBop organ sounds
Bass and Fiddle:  PG Music Real Tracks
***
Copyright 2025
***
I took my Subie to the dealership, thinking it was doing just fine
Ten years old, eighty-nine thousand miles – just regular maintenance time
I dropped him off and they gave me a loaner, brand new with Apple CarPlay
I drove it home with a smile on my face, thinking maybe I’ll buy one like this someday

I really like my Subie, he’s been such a trusty old steed
We’ve been so many places over the years
He’s fulfilled my every transportation need
I’ve driven him on the west coast, and I’ve driven him in the east
We’ve gone across the continent, he’s been such a steadfast beast

I was looking forward to picking up my Subaru at the dealership the next day
Then I got a call from the service advisor saying things were not okay
He said, “Your transmission fluid’s leaking and your engine oil is too”
There were lots of things wrong – it was gonna cost 10k, and I wasn’t sure what to do
I really like my old Subie, he’s been such a trusty old steed
We’ve gone so many places together over the years
He’s satisfied my every transportation need

I thought Subie has been a good partner, I’ve always treated him right
I’ve done all the routine maintenance, addressed every check-engine light
And when I got that call from the advisor, I thought about trading him in
I felt like a hopeless battle that I was never goanna win

So I posted on an online forum, asking everyone for advice
Some of the comments were nasty but most of them were nice
The consensus was unanimous – they were trying to scare me into buying new wheels
And I should get a second opinion to make sure all the problems were real
So, I got a second opinion, and the engine oil leak didn’t exist
A few of the problems were legitimate, but for a lot less money, they could be fixed

So instead of ten thousand dollars, the repairs cost less than 4K
And I breathed a sigh of relief that my Subie would live for another day

I really like my Subie, he’s been such a trusty old steed
Subie you’r the only car I’m ever goanna need.

Subie in Distress

Here’s an acoustic version of my Old Saint Nick story-song  and if you want to hear how it sounds fully produced with the incredible musicians of The Beating Edge, here’s the link: https://soundcloud.com/joseph-stroffolino/old-saint-nick?si=e05c4503762742028928439a32e85593&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

***
St Nicholas was born in Turkey in the fourth century AD.
He became the bishop of Myra, and was known for his generosity.
They say he tossed three bags of gold into a poor family's dwelling,
And he raised three boys from the dead — it’s a legend, but it sure sounds compelling.

How did a man who lived in Turkey,
In a land that’s warm and sunny,
End up in the North Pole with flying reindeer
If you think about it, it’s kind of funny.

Nicholas died of old age in Myra in the year three forty-three.
They buried him in a tomb expecting him to rest eternally.
The years went by, the tales grew taller and his legend continued to grow,
And it was a fact that relics of a saint could earn you quite a bit of dough.

It’s good to give gifts to family and friends,
And people in need,
But sometimes it feels
Like we’re being manipulated
To buy things we don't need.

In 1087, there were sailors in two cities, Venice and Bari.
They decided they wanted St Nicholas's bones so they raced across the Adriatic Sea.
The sailors from Bari got there first and they took those bones by force and deception.
They brought them back to Bari and they were greeted with a heroic reception.

You can take all the bad parts of the story that happen in real life,
Remove the uncomfortable dark parts and keep only the light.
We sing our Christmas carols and say it’s the most magical time of the year.
For a few days we ignore all the bad stuff as we spread the Christmas cheer.

Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, he tried to help those in need.
Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, now he’s a mascot for corporate greed.
Old Saint Nick, Old Saint Nick, he tried so hard to help the poor.
Now he’s a giant plastic figurine who smiles as you walk into the big box store.

As we sit there ripping the paper off our presents underneath the Christmas tree,
It’s good to remember there are people out there who are less fortunate than you and me.
Maybe we can be a little bit more like Old Saint Nick — maybe we can.
Maybe we can be a little bit more like Old Saint Nick.

Old Saint Nick — The Real Story (Acoustic)

A quiet song about time passing, expectations, and learning to be a little less hard on yourself.
Instruments & Recording
Guitars:
Acoustic guitar performed by me on a Taylor 114ce, with a second supporting guitar part from a PG Music RealTrack.
Vocals:
Lead and harmony vocals performed by me.
Keys:
Piano and keyboard parts from PG Music MIDI tracks, along with a Logic Pro session piano track using an electric piano sound.
Bass:
PG Music MIDI bass track using a Native Instruments Rickenbacker bass sound.
Drums:
EZ Drummer 3.
Lyrics – Another Year’s Gone By
Another year’s gone by, one more closer to the day you’ll die
All those goals you’ve set, you haven’t accomplished anything yet
You’re hoping that the next year’s better than the one you left behind
As you stare wistfully at the mountaintop and continue on your climb
They say you should enjoy the journey on your way to your destination
But when the goal is elusive, it’s easy to feel lots of frustration
You’re hoping that the next year’s better than the one you left behind
As you stare wistfully at the mountaintop and continue on your climb
Maybe you should be a little less hard on yourself, maybe you should
Maybe you should cut yourself some slack
In the end it really doesn’t matter if your dreams go boom or bust
In the cosmic scheme we’re here for a short time and then we’re all just dust
Sometimes when you’re on a journey it’s okay to take a detour
Life’s an amazing ride with so many places to explore
Sometimes you feel that maybe you’re just a legend in your own mind
But all that self-doubt you’ve been having, you need to leave it all behind
You can follow your head, or you can let your heart do the navigation
You can follow the crowd, or set off on your own unique migration
Getting all those likes on social media can be intoxicating
And when you don’t get any engagement, it can feel so frustrating
Like Elsa in that movie Frozen, sometimes you gotta let it go
Stop chasing the latest fads, and be the star of your own one-man show
Maybe you should be a little less hard on yourself,  maybe you should
Maybe you should cut yourself some slack
Maybe you should try a little harder to find the silver lining, when things feel grim
Count your blessings and realize things aren’t so bad

Another  Year's Gone By

New year, clean slate. A song about making resolutions with the best intentions — and hoping this time they actually stick.

Lyrics
I make my resolutions every single year
About how I’m gonna exercise more and drink way less beer
January comes along with a burst of determination
By February, I’m apathetic and ready for capitulation

I try so hard to be the best version of myself
I try so hard to overcome those cards that I’ve been dealt
It’s easy to make promises but hard to see them through
When life keeps getting in the way of everything you planned to do

I think it might be a good resolution to maintain the status quo
Keep doing what you’re doing, just set the bar real low
Keep your expectations in check so you won’t feel disappointment
It’s a way of shielding yourself, a kind of protective ointment
I try so hard to be the best version of myself
I try so hard to overcome those cards that I’ve been dealt

Sometimes it feels like life’s just one big beta test
We’re making it up as we go along, trying to do our best
I don’t claim to know all the answers, I’m flying by the seat of my pants
So when it comes to making resolutions, I might as well take a chance

They say hope springs eternal, and I guess that must be true
’Cause every year I make resolutions where I bite off more than I can chew
I look in the mirror at my belly, convince myself it’ll be gone
But sometimes it feels as futile as that old man shouting,
“Hey kids, get off my lawn!”

I try so hard to be the best version of myself
I try so hard to overcome the cards that I’ve been dealt
It’s a new year, maybe this time it’ll stick, all those bad habits I’m gonna kick
I try to push away that negative thinking, but maybe it’s just Kool-Aid I’m drinking
And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll try again next year

Credits / Recording Notes
Acoustic guitar (strumming): Taylor 114ce — performed by me
Bebop Organ: Logic Pro (MIDI keyboard) — performed by me
Piano: Band-in-a-Box MIDI track (Native Instruments Gentleman Piano)
Studio Strings: Logic Pro (MIDI keyboard) — performed by me
Cello: Logic Pro (MIDI keyboard) — performed by me
Vocals & backing vocals — performed by me
Drums: EZdrummer 3
Written, performed, and produced by me.
Recorded and mixed in Logic Pro.
Mastered with Ozone 12.

I'll Try Again Next Year

The Clown Car’s Heading Toward the Cliff

A song about daily routines, average people, and the sense that something bigger might be going wrong in the background.
Recorded simply with voice and guitar.
No answers -  just observations.
Written, performed, and recorded by me.
***
Lyrics

An asteroid struck the earth and the dinosaurs disappeared,
And the only thing left to remind us are the bones they left behind.

You look up at those stars in the sky, it’s hard to imagine it’s just us,
But what if this is all there is in the universe.

The average person’s out of touch,
We know what we know, we don’t know much.
The clown car’s heading toward the cliff,
And you’re just an average working stiff.
You’re just a small cog in a big machine,
Going about your daily routine.
Verse 3
The cockroach in your kitchen, you sprayed him with a can of Raid,
As he lay on his back twitching, you considered giving first aid.

You go in for your yearly physical, they ask you to step on the scale,
It feels like taking a test that you already know you’re goana fail.

The average person’s out of touch,
We know what we know, we don’t know much.
The clown car’s heading toward the cliff,
And you’re just an average working stiff.
You’re just a small cog in a big machine,
Going about your daily routine.

There's a guy getting arrested  for shoplifting as you leave  Walmart
You're thankful you had enough  money to pay for all those items in your cart.

Sometimes you go to the zoo to see what the animals do,
’Cause it reminds you of how you feel when you go about your daily business.
You go to the dog pound, it’s a canine lost and found,
You wish there was something similar for two-legged hairless apes.

The average person’s out of touch,
We know what we know, we don’t know much.
The clown car’s heading toward the cliff,
And you’re just an average working stiff.
You’re just a small cog in a big machine,
Going about your daily routine.
And we're all trying to do the best we can.

The Clown Car’s Heading Towards the Cliff (Acoustic Version)

This song started as an acoustic version, but I also felt like it needed to be fleshed out into a fuller version using all the whistles and bells I could pull out of my toolkit.
***
Lyrics

An asteroid struck the earth and the dinosaurs disappeared,
And the only thing left to remind us are the bones they left behind.

You look up at those stars in the sky, it’s hard to imagine it’s just us,
But what if this is all there is in the universe.

The average person’s out of touch,
We know what we know, we don’t know much.
The clown car’s heading toward the cliff,
And you’re just an average working stiff.
You’re just a small cog in a big machine,
Going about your daily routine.
Verse 3
The cockroach in your kitchen, you sprayed him with a can of Raid,
As he lay on his back twitching, you considered giving first aid.

You go in for your yearly physical, they ask you to step on the scale,
It feels like taking a test that you already know you’re goana fail.

The average person’s out of touch,
We know what we know, we don’t know much.
The clown car’s heading toward the cliff,
And you’re just an average working stiff.
You’re just a small cog in a big machine,
Going about your daily routine.

There's a guy getting arrested for shoplifting as you leave Walmart
You're thankful you had enough money to pay for all those items in your cart.

Sometimes you go to the zoo to see what the animals do,
’Cause it reminds you of how you feel when you go about your daily business.
You go to the dog pound, it’s a canine lost and found,
You wish there was something similar for two-legged hairless apes.

The average person’s out of touch,
We know what we know, we don’t know much.
The clown car’s heading toward the cliff,
And you’re just an average working stiff.
You’re just a small cog in a big machine,
Going about your daily routine.
And we're all trying to do the best we can.

The Clown Car’s Heading Towards the Cliff (Full Arrangement)

Boothill Graveyard was inspired by a visit to Tombstone, Arizona, and walking through Boothill Graveyard. You pay admission, they hand you a brochure, and you’re suddenly reading short descriptions of how people died. Accidents, violence, bad luck, bad timing. An entire life reduced to a sentence or two on a marker. It’s worth visiting if you ever find yourself there.

Copyright 2025 

Lyrics

In Tombstone, Arizona, in eighteen eighty-one
There was a shootout at the O.K. Corral
Three men were killed when it was all done

They buried them in Boothill Graveyard
With a bunch of other unfortunate chaps
And now it’s a tourist attraction
You can visit while they take their dirt naps

You pay admission before you go in
And they hand you a brochure
You can go to each grave and read how they died
As you take your own personal tour

Tombstones made of wood
Were not intended to last
But they’ve been carefully restored
It’s a snapshot of the past
When you see a whole life reduced to a sentence or two
It really makes you want to find a purpose
In all the things you do

He was found in the bottom of a sixty-foot shaft
Of the Minute Mine, well dressed, not a miner
No identification of any kind

Then the wife of a restaurant owner
She got stomach cramps and died
They suspected poisoning
But back then it was easy to hide

He was shot because someone didn’t like the color of his shirt
Bad fashion choices back then
Could land you in a world of hurt

Tombstones made of wood
Were not intended to last
But they’ve been carefully restored
It’s a snapshot of the past
When you see a whole life reduced to a sentence or two
It really makes you want to find a purpose
In all the things you do

He accidentally bought a stolen horse
And was hanged by mistake
When they found out the truth
They said it was just a bad break

Two hundred fifty graves, each one covered with a pile of rocks
Some of those people so poor they probably couldn’t afford a pair of socks
You get back in your car and you set off on your way
Hoping you don’t end up in a place like that someday

Tombstones made of wood
Were not intended to last
But they’ve been carefully restored
It’s a snapshot of the past
When you see a whole life reduced to a sentence or two
It really makes you want to find a purpose
In all the things you do

Boothill Graveyard (Full Arrangement)

I shared a more fully arranged version of this song last week. This is the same song stripped down to just voice and acoustic guitar, played straight through the way I’d perform it live.
© 2025 Joe Stroffolino

Lyrics

In Tombstone, Arizona, in eighteen eighty-one
There was a shootout at the O.K. Corral
Three men were killed when it was all done

They buried them in Boothill Graveyard
With a bunch of other unfortunate chaps
And now it’s a tourist attraction
You can visit while they take their dirt naps

You pay admission before you go in
And they hand you a brochure
You can go to each grave and read how they died
As you take your own personal tour

Tombstones made of wood
Were not intended to last
But they’ve been carefully restored
It’s a snapshot of the past
When you see a whole life reduced to a sentence or two
It really makes you want to find a purpose
In all the things you do

He was found in the bottom of a sixty-foot shaft
Of the Minute Mine, well dressed, not a miner
No identification of any kind

Then the wife of a restaurant owner
She got stomach cramps and died
They suspected poisoning
But back then it was easy to hide

He was shot because someone didn’t like the color of his shirt
Bad fashion choices back then
Could land you in a world of hurt

Tombstones made of wood
Were not intended to last
But they’ve been carefully restored
It’s a snapshot of the past
When you see a whole life reduced to a sentence or two
It really makes you want to find a purpose
In all the things you do

He accidentally bought a stolen horse
And was hanged by mistake
When they found out the truth
They said it was just a bad break

Two hundred fifty graves, each one covered with a pile of rocks
Some of those people so poor they probably couldn’t afford a pair of socks
You get back in your car and you set off on your way
Hoping you don’t end up in a place like that someday

Tombstones made of wood
Were not intended to last
But they’ve been carefully restored
It’s a snapshot of the past
When you see a whole life reduced to a sentence or two
It really makes you want to find a purpose
In all the things you do

Boothill Graveyard (Acoustic Version)

Link to video: 
https://youtu.be/HhILaD212ZE?si=_yp9fgj9L1vc3QRC
This song started with a moment at the 22nd Street Antique Mall in Tucson, Arizona. I saw a painted portrait from 1971 hanging on the wall, titled "Gorgeous Lady in a Portrait" , priced at $89. It was once someone’s muse and inspiration, and now it was just another object with a tag on it.
It got me thinking about time, changing value, and how a painting invites interpretation in a way a photograph never can. Somewhere along the way, meaning gets lost, people get older, and we all keep moving forward. This song isn’t just about her. It’s about realizing you’re getting older too and hoping that when you look back, perhaps you can cut yourself some slack.
This is an acoustic performance recorded in one take. After that I added a few backing vocals. The guitar you’re hearing is my Taylor 114ce.
Lyrics:
Gorgeous lady in a portrait
Someone painted you in 1971
Now you’re for sale in an antique store
Hope you had your day in the sun
So many years have gone by
If you’re still alive, you must be very old
I hope you’re warm and taken care of
Somewhere safe from the cold
A painting is so much different than a photograph
The human eye can see an image and choose a different path
All those years ago
You were somebody’s muse and inspiration
I wonder how you ended up
In your present situation
Mona Lisa’s hanging on that museum wall
And they’re selling you for 89 dollars
At the 22nd Street antique mall
As I walk around that antique store
I see so many things that were once treasured
Now they’re just some trinkets
With a price tag, that’s how they’re measured
Things we once thought were precious
Time passes and we change our minds
We keep marching forward
And we leave those things behind
Gorgeous lady in a portrait
I hope that when you look back
At how you lived your life
Can you cut yourself some slack
As I pass by that dusty mirror
I see my reflection and it makes me think
That I’m getting older too
And someday I’ll be a missing link
A painting is so much different than a photograph
The human eye can see an image and choose a different path
All those years ago
You were somebody’s muse and inspiration
I wonder how you ended up
In your present situation
Mona Lisa’s hanging on that museum wall
And they’re selling you for 89 dollars
At the 22nd Street antique mall

Gorgeous Lady in a Portrait

This song began with an email from Ken — https://soundcloud.com/k2andthe3 — suggesting we write a song about laundry: “the unforgiving, unfinished constant… it never stops.”
I laughed… and then I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
What started as a quirky idea quickly became a reflection on the cycles we all live through - youth, independence, nostalgia, and the realization that the “good old days” sometimes sneak up on us while we’re busy doing the wash.
Instruments, Performers & Credits
🥁 Ken — drums
https://soundcloud.com/k2andthe3
🎸 Stephen (TexMex Shaman) — electric guitar textures
https://soundcloud.com/texmex-shaman
🎤 Joe Stroffolino — Taylor 114ce acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals, song melody and lyrics, mixing and mastering with Ozone 12.
PG Music — bass
EZkeys 2 — piano

Lyrics
Rinse and Repeat
I’ve got laundry piling up on my bathroom floor
I should put it in the washing machine
Add some detergent, push a button
In forty-five minutes, those clothes will be clean
But I know as soon as they’re washed
They’re gonna get dirty all over again
It feels like a continuous cycle
That’s never gonna end
There are days when it feels like
All you do is rinse and repeat
And although you’ve got all these creature comforts
Your life feels incomplete
I think about my laundromat days
Back when I was young and in my prime
Washing my clothes with random strangers
Looking back, it was a pretty good time
Putting those coins in the dryer
Watching the timer count down
United in a common purpose
As we watched those clothes spin around
Adam and Eve were naked
Then they took a bite of that forbidden fruit
And they realized it was a bad idea
To walk around in your birthday suit
So they sewed some fig leaves together
Covered up their private parts
Then they invented underwear
And that’s how laundry starts
Life is what happens between each laundry load
Every day you keep going down that bumpy road
It’s easy to look back, see the past in a better light
Now they’ve got detergent
Where you can mix the dark and light
When I was a kid, I remember watching a nature show
A woman washing clothes by a riverbank
Eaten by a crocodile — that’s a bad way to go
When I used to go to the laundromat
I dreamed of the day
I’d have a house with a washing machine
Then life would be okay
But every milestone you reach
There’s another one ahead
And one day you realize
The status quo might be better instead
I think about my laundromat days
Back when I was young and in my prime
Washing my clothes with random strangers
Looking back, it was a pretty good time
Putting those coins in the dryer
Watching the timer count down
United in a common purpose
As we watched those clothes spin around

Rinse and Repeat-Joe Stroffolino/ Tex Mex Shaman/ K2 and the Three

What started as a tongue in-cheek idea about paranoia and UFOs slowly became a song about something more human -  the relief of being understood and having someone stand beside you when the world suddenly stops making sense. Sometimes love means believing each other… even when the evidence involves crop circles and tin-foil hats.
🎵 Production & Credits
Written & Performed by: Joe Stroffolino
Lyrics & Melody: Joe Stroffolino
Lead & Background Vocals: Joe Stroffolino
Guitars:
• Taylor 114ce — acoustic strumming (Joe Stroffolino)
• PG Music RealTrack acoustic guitar
Bass:
• PG Music RealTrack bass
Keys:
• Wurlitzer — EZ Keys 2 (Logic Pro)
• Bebop Organ — EZ Keys 2 (Logic Pro)
• Session Player Synth — Logic Pro
Drums:
• EZ Drummer 3
Produced, arranged, mixed & mastered in Logic Pro.
📝 Lyrics
All those problems that you said
Were actually in my head
Well they turned out to be real
Now that the aliens have landed how do you feel
You said that I was being paranoid
When I said some people weren’t humanoid
But now that you saw those tentacles poking out of that guy’s head
Maybe you’ll believe me next time instead
But the one thing I know for certain that now that I completely feel
Is this bond between you and me is one hundred percent real
And I know that things are looking grim
But I’m feeling optimistic now that you’re all in
Now that you believe in me
Together we’ll save humanity
You said that crop circle in our backyard was just a grub infestation
But now we both agree it was a different situation
You told me to spread some pesticide with a rake
But now you’re convinced it’s all real not fake
When you saw the tin foil underneath my baseball cap
I know you thought that I was just a troubled chap
It’s so nice that you finally see things my way
I’m so glad you finally think I’m mentally okay
You’ll be my Bonnie and I’ll be your Clyde
We’ll get in our car - go on an apocalyptic ride
The aliens may be in control, but we won’t let them prevail
We’ll fight them to the end, and we’ll make sure we don’t fail
And I know that things are looking grim
But I’m feeling optimistic now that you’re all in
Now that you believe in me
Together we’ll save humanity
It’s nice to finally have you
Fighting on my side
All those thoughts inside my brain
I no longer have to hide
You and me will go and save the world

Now That You Believe Me

Firecracker in His Mouth
“Firecracker in His Mouth” is a fictional story about someone who always had a talent for stirring people up. Watching today’s politics, it sometimes feels like resentment has become a powerful currency and this song imagines how that kind of spark can grow into something bigger.
Lyrics
Firecracker in His Mouth
Verse 1
He said he was born on the 4th of July
with a firecracker in his mouth
We grew up in the same small town
so I knew what he was about
He always came across as friendly
but there was something behind his grin
Like he was watching every reaction
and quietly taking it in
Verse 2
Years later at the university
I heard him preaching on the lawn
Most people kept on walking
but a few were actually drawn
He said the world was changing too fast
and somebody had to pay
And even then I had the feeling
this would not just fade away
Chorus
He was shouting all those things out loud
that you’re not supposed to say
And I couldn’t help but thinking
sooner or later there’d be hell to pay
Selling bad merchandise
dressed up all shiny and nice
You can buy now and pay later
but eventually there’s still a price
Verse 3
Bumper stickers on our cars
Signs planted in our lawns
The language getting hostile
he kept moving us like pawns
Like a dam holding back the river
he found a little crack
People started choosing sides
and there was no turning back
Chorus
He was shouting all those things out loud
that you’re not supposed to say
And I couldn’t help but thinking
sooner or later there’d be hell to pay
Selling bad merchandise
dressed up all shiny and nice
You can buy now and pay later
but eventually there’s still a price
Verse 4
Some say he’s gonna be governor
and one day president of the USA
And I’m just going through my life
hoping things will be okay
He cut his teeth at the local level
now he’s moving to a larger stage
You can go so far
when you channel people’s rage
Bridge
Sometimes I go back
to that old stomping ground
The place we both grew up
and it really gets me down
The train kept rolling faster
we had a chance to hit the brake
If only we had recognized
what was at stake
Final Chorus
He was shouting all those things out loud
that you’re not supposed to say
And I couldn’t help but thinking
sooner or later there’d be hell to pay
Selling bad merchandise
dressed up all shiny and nice
You can buy now and pay later
but eventually there’s still a price
Now the quiet parts are louder
than they ever were before
Funny how a fire starts
long before the smoke and roar
Credits
Songwriting, vocals, acoustic guitar — Joe Stroffolino
Acoustic Guitar Strumming track (me playing my Taylor 114ce)
2  additional Electric guitars — PG Music RealTracks
Bass — PG Music RealTrack
Drums — EZdrummer 3
Organ — Logic Pro Bebop Organ
Piano — Logic Pro Session Player 
Recorded and mixed in Logic Pro.

Firecracker in His Mouth

I was noodling around with the idea for a song when the line “I could have been a contender” popped into my head, and it got me thinking. It’s easy to convince ourselves that maybe we could have been contenders, but the truth is we’ll never really know. Anything we say about it is probably just a bunch of hot air.
From that idea this song evolved.
It’s about looking back and wondering about the roads we didn’t take, the dreams we once had, the choices we made, and the realization that maybe things unfolded exactly the way they were meant to.

Lyrics
I think about those good old days back when I was young
Standing at the ladder before stepping on the first rung
I had so many dreams I intended to pursue
Then life got in the way with other things to do

Now so many years have passed and lately I’ve been looking back
At how my life might have turned out if I’d followed a different track
I look at my life and the clock keeps right on ticking
I think maybe there’s still a chance, as long as I’m still kicking

I could have been a contender
At least that’s what I like to say
But maybe I was always meant to end up this way

I was out there in the wild with no map to the promised land
That cubicle and its steady paycheck was like a mirage in the sand
I could’ve been a starving artist, but the money was a sure thing
So I ended up working for the man
Letting somebody pull my strings

Now so many years have passed and lately I’ve been looking back
At how my life might have turned out if I’d followed a different track

I could have been a contender
At least that’s what I like to say
But maybe I was always meant to end up this way

You can burn the bridges behind you
Leave yourself no way to retreat
But I was always climbing carefully
Needing solid ground beneath my feet

That cubicle was a cage
But I was in my comfort zone
I never stopped singing
I was a dog and music was my bone

I could have been a contender
At least that’s what I like to say
Maybe I was always meant to end up this way
Maybe where I landed
Was right where I needed to be


Credits
Written, arranged and produced by Joe Stroffolino

Lead and backing vocals
Joe Stroffolino

Acoustic guitar
Taylor 114ce — Joe Stroffolino

Organ
Logic Pro Be-Bop Organ (MIDI performance) — Joe Stroffolino

Piano
EZkeys 2

Drums
EZdrummer 3

Additional guitars, viola and bass
Virtual session players (PG Music RealTracks)

Recorded and mixed in Logic Pro

I Could Have Been a Contender

SoundCloud artist Axel Menningen (@axel-m-501052973) and I thought it would be fun to collaborate, and Axel suggested writing a humorous song about aging. His initial concept leaned toward the familiar theme that as we get older our bodies start falling apart and life becomes a kind of downward spiral.
But having just turned 60 and now staring down 61 in a few months, I have been thinking about aging a little differently. Yes, things start creaking, doctors prescribe more pills, and sometimes the wheels feel like they are slowly coming off. But getting older does not mean giving up. It means working harder to take care of yourself and continuing to push forward.
So I wrote “Not Done Yet” as a reflection of that mindset. It is about getting up every morning, doing the best you can, and refusing to believe your best days are behind you. Even if the battle against time is one we cannot win, it is still worth fighting.
I sent the song to Axel and he jumped on board. He arranged the track, built out the instrumentation, and handled the mix and production. The arrangement includes keyboards, synths, and rhythm section parts along with my strumming Taylor acoustic guitar and lead and backing vocals.
***
Lyrics and melody by Joe Stroffolino
Vocals and acoustic guitar by Joe Stroffolino
Arrangement, instruments, mix and production by Axel Menningen
***
Curious what people think about this take on aging. Would love to hear your thoughts.
***
Lyrics
The aging process is not much fun
No one gets out alive when it is all said and done
All I can do is try and carry on
As I shout at those kids hey get off my lawn
I'm fighting a battle that I know I cannot win
The wheels are slowly coming off but I refuse to give in
So I try my best to slow the decline
But every day that train keeps rolling down the line
I try to get my exercise and watch what I eat
But there's days when it feels like life has got me beat
They say every day above ground is better than the alternative
So every morning I crawl out of bed and I take what life has to give
Cause I am not done yet
Still got living left to do
Every time I go to the doctor they prescribe me more medication
Hand me a clipboard asking about my mental situation
Am I anxious am I hopeless feeling lots of pain
I check off no for every answer I'm not circling the drain
I’m popping so many pills I could survive a famine state
I wake up three or four times a night my bladder just can't wait
So do not put me in a box or say my best years are long since past
I've got got dreams I am still chasing my flags not hanging at half mast
I am going to keep climbing up that hill
Just to see what is on the other side
Even when it feels like sometimes
My hands are tied
So I try my best to slow the decline
Every day that train keeps rolling down the line
I try to get my exercise and watch what I eat
But there's days when it feels like life has got me beat
They say every day above ground is better than the alternative
So every morning I crawl out of bed and I take what life has to give
Cause I am not done yet
Still got living left to do
Cause I am not done yet
Still got living left to do

Not Done Yet

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).

My primary focus is songwriting and singing. I write all of my songs myself — lyrics, chords, and melodies — and I do not use AI to create my music.

I work in Logic Pro 11 and use a combination of live guitar and production tools, including EZkeys 2, EZ Bass, EZdrummer 3, and PG Music Band-in-a-Box RealTracks and MIDI tracks. Lately I’ve been picking up my guitars (Taylor 114ce and Fender Squier) more often and bringing more guitar into the songs.

My goal for 2026 is simple: to do whatever it takes to make each song sound as good as it can, while staying true to the song itself.

I enjoy listening to and supporting other musicians here and always welcome comments.

All songs are original and copyrighted.

https://linktr.ee/joe.stroffolino

Joe Stroffolino

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