Joe Stroffolino Selection

ok so clown cloud limits playlists to 500 tracks! Human playlist 2 here. Shade Structure opens proceedings with a funny gem

Human Confirmed Part Deaux

There was a scientist, he invented a time machine
he was looking to go back to those days wen life was not nearly so complex
He got inside, he pushed the button but his calculations were wrong
He ended up in the Juriasic era and was eaten by a T-Rex

Sometimes things don't turn out quite the way you expected
Sometmes you just gotta jump before all the dots are connected

Sometimes the answer's right in front of your snout
Sometimes you just gotta let those bottled feelings come out
Sometimes the truth is there but you just don't want to see it
Sometimes you gotta open up your mind and make a decision to free it

There was a prince who had royal blood and he was destined to become king and he wasn't very interested in taking on that job
One day he just got on his horse and he rode away and he never came back
he assumed a new identity and became a working class slob

Sometimes things don't turn out quite the way you expected
Sometmes you just gotta jump before all the dots are connected

Sometimes the answer's right in front of your snout
Sometimes you just gotta let those bottled feelings come out
Sometimes the truth is there but you just don't want to see it
Sometimes you gotta open up your mind and make a decision to free it

Sometimes you gotta step out of the box and see which way the wind is blowing. Head in the opposite direction and convince yourself to get going
Sometimes you gotta march to a brand new beat. Sometimes you gotta make a U-turn and head down a different street

Sometimes the answer's right in front of your snout
Sometimes you just gotta let those bottled feelings come out
Sometimes the truth is there but you just don't want to see it
Sometimes you gotta open up your mind and make a decision to free it

Snout

Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino
Guitar strumming tracks and picking tracks Taylor 114ce: Joe Stroffolino
Vocals & Backup Vocals:  Joe Stroffolino
Drums:  EZ Drummer 3
Bass:  PG music Real track

Hey sugar, hope you’re doing alright. I’ve been thinking about you.
Hey sugar hope you’re doing okay. Wonder what you’ve been up to.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your face, and you had me under your spell.
We’ve both taken a quite a few trips around the sun. Hope time has treated you well.
As for me, I’m a little worse for wear, I’ve gained some weight and lost some hair
But I try to watch my diet and exercise and take care of myself. 
You’re just a memory, it would probably ruin my fantasy, if we were to meet up one day and try to rekindle that old chemistry.
Cause chemicals have an expiration date and it’s probably too late to put ourselves in
 a test tube and get that reaction going again.
Hey, sugar I’ve been thinking about you.  Do you ever think about me too.
Time passes and my memory fades and you become more beautiful
I feel like a boxer who’s past his prime and I’m looking for one last fight
Sometimes I wake up and I think about you in the dark and lonely night
Time keeps on passing and there’s not much you can do
It’s easy to look back and regret those options you didn’t pursue
You can spend your days waxing nostalgic, you can cling to your fantasy
Or you can jump in that water under the bridge and take a chance on reality
You’re just a memory, it would probably ruin my fantasy, if we were to meet up one day and try to rekindle that old chemistry.  
Cause chemicals have an expiration date and it’s probably too late to put ourselves in
 a test tube and get that reaction going again.
You’re just a memory, it would probably ruin my fantasy, but it sure would be nice to rekindle that chemistry.

Just a Memory

There are people who believe you should love your neighbor as yourself
There are people who believe you should share some of your wealth
There are people who believe that only the fittest should survive
And if you’re poor and you’re weak it’s up to you to stay alive
There are people who believe you should teach a man to fish
Instead of giving him all his food in an already cooked dish
There are people who have an empathy deficit
They see people suffering and they don’t care one bit
They wear religion on their sleeves but if you’re in the wrong denomination.  They look at you like you’re an abomination.
People who treat politics the same as a religion and if presented with a new set of facts they don’t even budge a little smidgeon
Billionaires who have enough money where they could end world hunger in one day
Do they see people starving and think it is okay. We’re stronger together than if we are apart
If we could see ourselves as passengers on the same boat that would be a good start
We all share this this tiny rock as it floats through outer space
This planet is the lifeboat for the entire human race
Billionaires who what to create a colony on Mars. Let’s fix things here on earth before we travel to the stars
The world used to be full of undiscovered places but now humans have put footprints everywhere.
The continents touch the same oceans, and we all breathe the same air We live on one planet that we have to share
We’re stronger together than if we are apart
If we could see ourselves as passengers on the same boat that would be a good start
We all share this this tiny rock as it floats through outer space
This planet is the lifeboat for the entire human race. Billionaires who what to create a colony on Mars.   Let’s fix things here on earth before we travel to the stars

Empathy

Everyone’s a victim of some shit these days
Lost in their addiction or latest malaise
Or some new craze I’m amazed our days ain’t hazier than this
It seems to me our dreams are broken
Tragic scenes ain’t left unspoken
They’re cracked open in the hoping
other folk can find the bliss
How has it come to this 
But when that like lights on 
It doesn’t feel so wrong 
So I guess I’m gonna have to join the wrong song club
And spill my guts
But that’s the way we’re programmed 
Put the shit aside I’m guessing no man really can decide if it’s really wrong or right any time of day or any time of night

Join the club

Rapture is a new collaboration between the Beating Edge and Joe Stroffolino, following the awesome Asteroids (The Original Was Better). Joe wrote both the lyrics and the original music, while the Beating Edge rearranged and recorded it in a punchy rock style, adding driving guitars, strong rhythm, and dynamic choruses. Vocals feature Tom on lead, with Joe and Mary contributing both backing vocals and lead parts on certain verses and the bridge, creating a layered and energetic vocal texture.
The song explores the absurdity and irony of doomsday prophecies, the obsession with the rapture, and the endless cycle of believers and false prophets. It blends satirical storytelling with a critical eye on human behavior, delivering a mix of humor, intensity, and thought-provoking commentary through energetic rock arrangements. 
Rapture is a track that engages both the mind and the ears, combining narrative, power, and fun in equal measure.
Copyright 2025  Joe Stroffolino & The Beating Edge

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

A song about using my defense mechanism of humor to avoid conflict and achieve romance. Dedicated to class clowns everywhere.
Sorry I've been off SC lately, I've been taking care of a few things.

Lyrics:
I was just having a drink
In a bar on the rough side of town
Yeah, minding my own business
And these tough guys come up to me
They say: "Hey, we're tough guys."
"we don't like you drinking sparkling Chablis,"

Well, I had a real good read on the situation
I've got the gift of gab (talk) from my Dad
I'm a samurai of summation
I buy my sarcasm firsthand

I said: Gentlemen, may  I suggest a truce?
Let me be the peacemaker and buy you a bottle of booze
Then I got loose
I left them with a bill
For a three hundred dollar
Bottle of Chartruse

Oh, I listened to what my Mama say
You're gonna have to fight those boys someday
But if you use your brain
Then you'll find another way
Fight back, hit em in the funny bone (3X)
Funny bone

I was a young undergrad
A full-time miscreant
A part-time handsome man
I needed to get the attention of the ladies
But I wasn't that good-looking
But I knew what I had

I had a good read on the situation
I have the gift of gab from my Dad
I'm a samurai of summation
I buy my sarcasm firsthand

I listened to what my Mama say
If those girls don't give you the time of day
You're gonna have to use your brain
Then you'll find another way 
Step back, appeal to her funny bone (3X)
Funny bone

Funny Bone

you can watch this jam here https://youtube.com/shorts/9d1VvIF2iUQ?si=VnRRu9WwyCEdthqf

random jam with Matt 02

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)

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: Taylor 114Ce (capo 3rd fret)
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

Magnetic Triangle (Beyond the Noise)

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).  
I do not use AI to create my songs. 
https://linktr.ee/joe.stroffolino
Recently I have had the urge to pick up my guitars (Taylor 114ce and Fender Squire) and I have been trying to use more guitar in my songs.  
My go to .vst plug ins are  EZkeys 2, EZ Bass and  EZ drummer 3) and my DAW is Logic Pro 11. 
I welcome your comments and enjoy listening to all the great music on SoundCloud. 
All songs are originals and copyrighted.