Back story: This song came about while remembering a horrific murder that took place nearly 40 years ago near our community.  One of the bands darker, but interesting tunes.
Tempo: 85 / 120   Running Time:  5:50
“Wake up” Latin “Why don’t you wake up and get out of your casket?”
“Wake up” Latin “I’m sorry I buried you alive” Female voice “don’t you remember? I’m dead”

Where is the girl that lived next door?  She was a beauty and so much more.  
She liked to hang with a dangerous crowd.  That crazy girl played her music loud. 
I heard the stories...not sure if true.  I saw her face, it was black and blue.
But she moved on, and learned to dream.  It came to an end in a shallow stream.
(Chorus)
It’s not early, Ruth  You’ll never learn the truth.
You thought lust was love,  but starlings kill the dove.
Wake up, wake up, wake up…..    It’s not early, Ruth.

Where’s the teenage dream with ruby lips? I heard she lies where the dirt road dips. 
Yeah, she met a man who knew it all.  He took her down to the old dance hall.
But no one goes there anymore.  It’s just a burned out Goodwill store.
It’s now a nightmare, not a dream.  Poor, poor Ruth, I never heard you scream. 

Chorus
I heard a voice from beyond the grave, sayin’ we’ve got another soul to save.
But I’m afraid you missed heavens train. Ruth, you’re goin’ down the devils drain.
Save yourself while you still can. You’ve gotta lose the reaper man.
But it’s too late, the book was read.  Jesus, Ruth...you’re already dead.

It's Not Early, Ruth

Tempo: 80     Running Time: 5:16

The Wallflower is…   a vision in white.

In the middle of a forest, the smallest flower grows
Along a rocky path where the river flows
Seldom ever seen, no sun from above
In this quiet place, I found the greatest love. 

The wallflower casts a shadow that no one ever sees. 
Lost in a forest of twisted and howling trees
The wind blows at night, and hushes her sweet sound
But in the morning light, she’ll still be around.  

Day after day, night after night
She never raises her voice, she shines her light
Day after day, night after night
The Wallflower is…   a vision in white.

Wallflower wait for me I’m coming to lay me down
To hear your beautiful song to touch your evening gown
Others don’t see your beauty others don’t know your song
Wallflower wait for me My God, this can’t be wrong.  

Repeat Chorus

The Wallflower

Back story:  Well, it’s true isn’t it?  Who didn’t watch Gilligan’s Island?

Tempo: 95     Running Time: 6:51
INTRO
Rowdy-This here’s a little country number about the trials and tribulations of relationships and pickin the rot mate.  So I’ll turn ya over to my good friend TW, some call him Johnny Paypal, well, I like to call him, TW.  Hey hold it down everybody, TW has somthin he needs to say.
Why thank you Rowdy.  Mighty kind of ya.  Howdy retired teachers…and welcome to Harpster, Ohia…the home of Milo and Cloe’s Dude Ranch…my name is T.W., the proprietor of this fine establishment… and since I Am a Meatless Buzzard, also known as a vegan, well some just refer to me by using the initials TWIAMB.  Anyway,…  we’ve got a mighty fine week of ridin’, rustlin’, pitchin’ road apples, and all around fun times planned fir you.  Yes indeed, Miss Cludy and Miss McClary are over at the chuckwagon and gonna whip us up some ‘o their famous gut-bustin’ chili dogs and beans...and we’re gonna wash it down with hickory-tinged home brew, prepared up in Lewis Park by my cousin Bob.  Yes sir buckaroos and cowgirls, we got a helleva good time ahead of us. If I may be so bold, I’m kickin off our festivities by sharin’ a special little song I created for y’all…it’s somethin’ I’ve struggled with for a loooong time…fir years I’ve watched that fine slice of sit-com artistry, Gilligan’s Island…the question is, who’s it gonna be. Ginger or Mary Ann.  For real.  I struggle with that every dag-burn day.  Tonight’s the night…let’s air out this dirty laundry, and jes do it…I’m barin’ ma soul…here’s to you, Ginger and Mary Ann… 

There seems to be an eternal debate, about who would be the island mate
Would be a pretty country girl?  Or would it be a movie star?
Homegrown meals in the island breeze Or an evening gown to bring me to my knees
(Chorus)
Ginger or Mary Ann, in this vast ocean, what is the master plan?  
Sleeping in your island hut, who will drink from my coconut?
Making love in a tropical dew, will it be forever when the choices are few?
 
The Skipper has his rugged looks.
The Professor knows his science books.
Gilligan just gives stupid looks. 
And, Mr. Howell only hangs with crooks.
That leaves me for one or two. 
Ginger or Mary Ann…who will I make love to?

Repeat Chorus

Let’s meet under the swaying palm.  The water is warm, the waves are calm
No headhunters to chase us down.  Harold Heckuba left for town.
The Mosquitos played and hit the road.  The Honeybees have cracked the code.
Yea, I’m ready to rock in your hammock tonight
Sorry, Mary Ann…I’ll take Ginger til the morning light

OUTRO
Somebody hit that there boom box.  We sure did stir up this crowd Rowdy.  Well let’s close ‘er out with something special that Thurston Howell the fifth put together for us.  As you may know he’s an aspiring rap composer and well he’s got a fixation with Gilligan’s Island, specifically the Sweepstakes episode October 14,  1965 season 2 episode 5.  Oh yeh.”
 I just struck gold.  We know.  I love whisky.  We know.  I’ll save your ranch.  We know.  I love 3 card monte.  We know. I haven’t had a bath, I haven’t had a bath, I haven’t had a bath in 40 years.  We know x 3.

Ginger And Mary Ann

Back story:  Another oldie, but goodie.  Originally recorded on Rocker’s debut album in 1978, this song was written by our base player and a 3rd verse was added in 2019 to lengthen the song a bit.  Photo is a Polaroid of the basement "studio" in 1978.  
Tempo: 145     Running Time: 2:34

Look around me baby tell me what you see,
Is this the kind of man you wanted me to be?
Rockin’ and a rollin’ gettin’ to the sound
Gettin’ down, gettin’ on it all around the town.

(Chorus)
Drivin’ hard, drivin’ hard it’s rock and roll.
Drivin’ hard, drivin’ hard it’s rock and roll.

Listen for me baby tell me what you hear,
The glorious sounds of electrified cheer.
The time is right, don’t stop now
Got to go I’m leaving right now.

Chorus

Let me see you baby, Let me taste your lips
I look at your sweet body, I see you shake your hips 
You Know I need you baby you know I need your Love
I’ll never leave you baby When push comes to shove

Chorus

Drivin' Hard

Back story:  Inspired by a substitute teacher we had at Harpster Elementary in the late 1960’s.  We thought she was mean and scary.  Turns out she was related, taught at South Elementary in the early 1940’s, retired after 46 years of service, and was an old maid.  She lived to be 96.  Miss Helen Lucile Reynolds taught and was the principal at South Elementary.  She was honored in the 1964 South yearbook for her years of service. 
Tempo: 150     Running Time: 4:56

She’s an evil woman

She lurks around the corner, looking for an easy thrill
She sees you standing down and out when she moves in for the kill
What’s your name, you’re easy game, please come home tonight

She’s the one, the dreaded one, the one they call Ms Reynolds
She looks for lust, she knows she must, find a lover tonight
Ms Reynolds gonna getcha tonight

She puts her arm around you, she has you in her spell
Thought it’d be like heaven, but you’re just descending to hell
Feel the flame, feel the pain, yell and scream for more

But under the light of the moonlit night, She’s such a terrible sight
Ms Reynolds gonna getcha tonight

Repeat Chorus
Repeat Verse 1
Feel the flame, feel the pain, yell and scream for more
But under the light of the moonlit night, She’s such a terrible sight

Ms Reynolds

Back story:  After seeing several local rock bands perform, we decided we wanted to be "rock stars"...as freshmen in high school!  One major problem...we had no guitars, drums or amps!  We borrowed an electric guitar of a young lady, and the rest is history.  With no guitar lessons, we somehow came up with the Second Hand Man riff.  40 years on, we added a few lyrics, and put the riff on steroids! 

Tempo: 140     Running Time: 2:44

I’ve been used.  I’ve been abused.
Had no answers but had to choose
(Am I the man?)
Learned the hard way.  Learned to lose.
Tasted defeat then I read the news.
(Am I the man? Am I the man?)

Am I the man?  The only man.   Am I the man?  The only man.
Am I the man?  The only man.   Am I the man?  The only man.
Or am I just a Second Hand Man

Had a love that was divine. 
Lost it all.  She crossed the line.
(Am I the man?)
You’d think I’d learn.  You’d think I’d doubt.
I want in.  She wants out.
(I gotta know.  Am I the man?)

Repeat chorus

Second Hand Man

Back story:  The introduction was inspired from when we were kids and used to watch “spooky” movies on a B&W TV in the early/mid 1970’s.  Fritz the Night Owl was on WBNS TV-10 out of Columbus with “Nite Owl Theater”.
Tempo: 150     Running Time: 5:28

Hey there groovy guys and groovy girls.  It’s your late night B-movie host, the Night Hawk and I’m pleased to present another triple feature of blood and guts, enough to literally scare you to death.  Tonight’s line up:  The Bucktoothed Piranha Fish, Attack of the Simian, and my all time favorite gore-fest, Zombie Nation.  So pop up that popcorn, sit back, and...(knock at door)...hmmm, I seem to have a visitor in the studio tonight...let’s see who’s...(zombie sounds) Oh my God, they’re real...the zombies are real!!! 

Tonight, tonight, a fire’s burning.  The sky is red and my blood is churning
I hear the screams outside my door.  I see the shadows across the floor
 Tonight, tonight, a bell will toll.  You take it all, you lose your soul.
Beware of those who roam the street.  The Zombie Nation is the one you’ll meet

Watch out,    for the walking dead.  Watch out,   for demons in your bed
Watch out,   for the revelation.  Watch out,   for the Zombie Nation

Tonight, tonight, the spirits rise.  Souls of black will move the tide.
They push the water to your door.  They sweep the land, they want for more.
 Tonight, tonight the living dead.  Fill the rivers with black and red.
They take it all, they steal it all.  They break though,  every wall

Repeat Chorus

Zombie Nation

Back story:  On our first album we wrote a song about the Gaslight in Upper Sandusky and in keeping with that theme, here is a tune about another memorable establishment.  
Tempo: 105     Running Time: 3:51

How many times have I come to you?
With a world of problems, and friends too few. 
When I’ve lost my way, and lost my love.
I got no answers from heaven above. 
Then I see the sign on Sandusky Street.
Where people talk...where people meet.
Serving drinks that warm my soul.  It’s more than just a drinkin’ hole. 

(Chorus)
These are hard times.  These are sad times.
But there are good times.  Yeah, they’re the best of times.
Yeah, when the world will cut no slack.  The Alibi Room will have your back.

Gimme that rum.  Gimme that Jack.  PBR will bring me back.
Harry and Tillie or gimme Elaine.  They’ll let you know if you’ve gone insane.

I know Harry and Barry too.  There gonna serve you way past 2. 
You tell ‘em your problems...they’ll bitch too.
They’re gonna tell you why she left you.  
I see my friends...I see a new face.  Sometimes we might tear up the place.
But there’s no stranger walkin thru the door.
Go there once, you’ll come back for more. 

Chorus

The Alibi Room

Back story:  Several of the songs on this album are tongue in cheek humor; us laughing at ourselves.  During military flying when a person (usually a fighter pilot) wanted to make fun of someone in the debrief, a comment such as (expletives deleted) “Could you hear the circus music playing over the radio?”  and the music to this tune would customarily be sung to the folks accused of committing the buffoonery.  We thought it fitting to start our album off with this music repurposed with some Blizzard lyrics.  BTW – anybody remember the tent circa the 1970’s at the Wyandot Co. fair where you could pay 50 cents to see the world’s largest rat?  Somebody went in.  It was a possum…

Tempo: 99.6     Running Time: 0:40
The musical arrangement, Entrance of the Gladiators, was composed in 1897 by Julius Fučík, and performed by Blizzard of 78


Welcome, welcome, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages.  Step right on up to the Big Top, get your tickets to the greatest circus in the world and see the Freaks, the Geeks and Wonders of the World with acts like: 
The Elephant Man
The Bearded Lady
The 3 Legged Man
And on loan from the Wyandot County Fair, the World’s Largest Rat 
 
And our feature act, coming to us from Sandusky, Ohio near Cedar Point... oh…pardon me, ...from UPPER Sandusky, Ohio...the musical sensation, the Blizzard of 78...enjoy!

Blizzard of 78

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