JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Hot Rod Joe

I had these lyrics up on the lyrics board3 as "8-track Joe" and got a lot of real good feedback. This is a scratch just to get it down

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8215936

Whatever happened to hot rod Joe
Cruising the town in his GTO
Now he's stuck in traffic with no place to go
Listening to talk radio

If he closes his eyes he will drop off to sleep
In the leather soft comfort of his new Jeep
And dream of the dreams that he just couldn't keep
When he was a younger man

He used to hear the truth in a Neal Young song
He is listening hard but the truth is gone
Alive in a world where he just don't belong
He can see the road but he just can't get back home

Lakota shaman burning his sage
It's a cleansing act from an acient age
Hears his grandfather's voice in the winds that rage
As he sits looking up at the condos

If he closes his eyes he can still see the Sun
The bright smoke flash from a white man's gun
10 thousand buffalo on the run
Being shot from back of a train

He used to hear the truth in his Grandmother's song
He is listening still but the truth is gone
Alone in a world where he just don't belong
He can see the road but he just can't get back home

We're all sailing on the same damn boat
Never certain if we're gonna sink or float
I've been a shaman with visions of my own
I've been hot rod Johnny looking for a home

I stood outside in cold last night
Got on my knees in the full moon light
Thanked the Lord for my visions, my visions and my sight

Totally fantastic. You definitely put your stuff together great. Lyrics are really, really good.

The bridge section ("we're all sailing...") broke the mood a little. You might want to re-look at that part. I'll listen again and see if I change my mind.

Edit: Bridge sounded OK 2nd time through.

Kevin

This has the power, Unc. Maybe it's because I'm of the age where these truths become evident.

Love the way you tie the stories together near the end and then end it on a thankful positive note. Keeping the sight is important!

Nice work - you are putting out great stuff!

Scott

Howdy, Gus here. Just gave the lyrics a going over Tight concise,
no fluff very good imagery especially those of us who were driving
hot rods back in he 60's. be back to give her a spin

Kevin;
I labor over lyrics (hey that sounds like a song) They never come easy for me, so when someone compliments words I have written I take it to heart.
Thanks
Steve

Steve,
this works. Well written and played.

have fun,
John

Wow Scott thanks a lot!

I think most folks who have lived a while look up from their busy lives one day and see a world they hardly recognize, I know I did.
It's taken me many years to admit that maybe I don't know everything!
That's probably just the way it's always been, right?
Take care
Steve

Hey Gus;

I drive a long commute everyday and it never fails that when traffic comes to a standstill (which it does everyday) I'm always right beside some guy of my vintage in a brand new (luxury to the max) Jeep, with Bob Seeger's "Rock-N-Roll Never Forgets" going full blast.
I picture this same guy 35 years ago with a mullett and a muscle car and long for the good old days.

Steve

I did not like it....I loved it. Very atmospheric. Moody and thought provoking. Great stuff. Was the small piece of running the music backwards at the end meant? Had me puzzled.

Steve, this is very good.I can really relate to your imagery.
Easy going music and vocals, fit perfect. Nice story telling.

Todd

Steve,

Loved it! This great stuff! Not only is the lyric pristine...your delivery is so spot on. You blew me away with this. There is a lot of really good music in the MP2 Forum and this song is one of the reasons I am comfortable saying that.

Big Jim was asking about that 2 seconds at the end. My perception is that it is music in reverse...an artitstic symbol of the guy in the song looking back on his life in reverse. If I'm right about that...I thinks it's a terrific touch!

I had a '66 GTO. It stands for Grand Tourismo Overroad. But we always said it stood for the money we out into Gas-Tires-Oil. Never had a mullet, but UI had a '66 Mustang GT convertable with a factory, in dash 8-track player!

Great song, Steve! Sorry to have rambled. I am able to get on the boards here, or anywhere, so seldom for any appreciable length of time, so I get carried away when I have a few minutes.

Alan

Hi Steve

Super job here ! -- You are singing like Van Morrison here.... I love that. 2 thumbs Up from me ! ; ) jm

Sorry to butt in AL. I did recognise the track running backwards as possibly being an artistic symbol like you say that is why I asked if it was meant. Neat if it was and interesting to find out.

Re 8 track...I met Brian a couple of weeks back when he was in Edinburgh...Funnily enough during our meeting we spoke about 8 tracks and in the old days cruising with them playng at full blast. They were far superior to cassettes in our opinions and we were both sad to see them made obsolete. This song brought back memories and painted a lot of image I could relate to.

Hi Unc,

This is just wonderful. I love the lyrics, vocals and music. I wasn't sure about the 2 different stories you were telling but when you tied them together and then ended on such a great feeling, I saw the light! Well done all the way around.

Ricki

Hi Steve,

What a beautiful, sad portrait you paint here.

Your vocals remind me of Hoyt and a little Bruce, and your phrasing is amazing, and I love how you pronounce "just" like "jezzz" which reminds me of Waits a little. If these are just scratch vocals...oh my!!!

It's interesting the singer turns the song on himself, in the second part of the bridge. Perhaps he's been holding up a mirror the whole time. It is in interesting move, this move from "he" to "I" ...but I like it...the singer is getting reflective there.

Great stuff, Steve!
Mike

wow, always blows me away ... my goodness
wow .. do I like this my friend

God Bless
Dan