Last year’s cross country trip included a stop in Carbondale Illinois where I went to college.

I hadn’t been back in 50 years and it filled me with stories that I hadn’t thought about in

decades. Not all of them good.

There were a few terrible things that happened back then that made my time there much more

difficult then I would have liked. I survived and in the process I realized it was just another step

in this long journey. While visiting something unusual happened the first day walking down the

street. I ran into a guy I knew from my time there who never left. You should have seen the look

on my wife’s face when I yelled out “ Hey Dave”. This song is about that visit and is dedicated

to Justin Boot Co. and Jose Cuervo Traditional Tequila. I hope you like it and feel free to

comment as always. Thanks, Tom

RealTracks : 1758:Banjo, Rhythm, Pop16ths Ev 085 Simple
RealTracks : 1758:Banjo, Rhythm, Pop16ths Ev 085
RealTracks : 3375:Banjo Guitar, Rhythm
RealTracks : 3056:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16thsSyncBrent Ev16 085
RealTracks : 3758:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PalmMuteRockSlow Ev 100
RealTracks : 3582:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PalmMuteRockPushSlow Ev 100
Royalty Free Loops
Recorded in Logic Pro X
Plug Ins : Nectar 3, Neutron 4, Ozone 10, Tonal Balance, Waves LinMB, Waves, L3-LL Multi Limiter, Logic Pro Metering, Scuffam Amps S-Gear, Waves Vocal Rider, Waves BB Tubes

Electric guitars, Vocals, Tom Adams


https://tommyadamsmusic.com/track/3310156/them-boots



https://soundcloud.com/ta2-659414413/them-boots?si=9ad1d4957e45467fb7c293723f0d2e6e&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing





Ain’t been around here much

Since i left this town

There’s ghosts round every corner

And they don’t make a sound

But somewhere in the back of my head

I might have never left

Got half a mind to leave right now

If the other half knew what’s best


In the trunk’s there’s a pair of Justins

Wore out long ago

Never thought that I’d be back here

Walkin this old gravel road

To a place where I can look back and

Remember my roots

Sure has been a real long time

Since i wore them boots


Some things they oughta stay buried

Way down in the dirt

If you go digging around there

Somebody’s gonna get hurt

Don’t you wake them sleeping dogs

Don’t em let know you’re here

Don’t go trying to change the past

Just let it disappear


In the trunk’s there’s a pair of Justins

Wore out long ago

Never thought that I’d be back here

Walkin this old gravel road

To a place where I can look back and

Remember my roots

Sure has been a real long time

Since i wore them boots

Hello Tom
Really cool song
Sounds great
You play really good guitar
And also the sound of the guitar is extremely good
What kind of guitar/amp combination do you play ?
Great work
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

This is my new favorite of yours, very good choice of instruments, nice drive and your vocals and guitar playing/sound are top.

Mix is also good, so absolutely nothing to complain from my side

What a great teaser in what you say before I push Play. We have a Carbondale in PA, too, and most folks pronounce it Car-Bon-Delay --real fancy like. I love this song, and I love that Dave hasn't graduated yet. Nary a mention of Jose, but I know it was in there. The lyrics are dripping with lemon and salt. A fun memory made better by time. Love it, Tom.

Tom, very well done man.
Love that guitar playing and one can easily relate to the lyrics.
Of the many things that came to mind as I listened was Billy Joel's lyric
"When I wore a younger man's clothes".
In this case it's "When I wore a younger man's boots"

Well done in all aspects.

PS> This is one of the many reasons I enjoy this forum. Where else can you find good original music written, arranged, sung and performed by musicians that don't think they are the one and only gift of God to this world?

Tom...now that's "boot kickin" country....super track...I like when you stretch out your vocals in the the upper range...pro sounding all the way especially your electric work...would not have been surprised to hear this on a country radio station...not sure much good comes out of Illinois these days or inspires songs but Carbondale and SIU are south enough to do that I suppose!

Andi, l appreciate your kind comments. The guitars are a Telecaster and an Epiphone Elitist Les Paul. I record direct with Scuffam Amps S-Gear plug in. Thanks, Tom

Tommy.
I like the simple lyrics. Ones you can fit to many situations.
Guitar work, vocal and mix are great. Pro stuff.

Vic

Howdy Tommy....

This is good cut.
Good lyrics and fine axe playing.
I'll echo all other comments.
Well done....

Back to it....

Oh, yeah - good song! All the way around. And it definitely has your signature sound - right from the first beat. I really liked the whole thing, but the last line of that first verse and the entire second verse are just killer. A very relatable song, We've all been there. This is yet another example of why I like your guitar picking so well. It's got a really good lead that fits the song well, but you are a master at coming up with a great signature riff that carries an entire song along. Great tone and clever ending too. Great all around Tom!

Brad

Tommy,

This is one of the absolute best and most radio-ready country songs I have ever heard on here.

Outstanding. LOVE it.

Going to copy those tracks and make a style right now, as I often do with your songs. I have a Tommy Adams styles folder I made. Keep 'em coming, and I'll keep typing. It's a good deal for me man.

Tom,

Your tracks always have such a big awesome sound that really let the guitars have their proper place in the mix! Man I love the whole production of this one! Your vocals sound really great and are perfect for this type of tune! The realtracks you chose couldn't be any better for this and they sit in the mix right where they should IMO! Great solo at around 2:00! Great ending!

Take care, T

Tom

Loved the crunchy guitar.

Nice pro feel throughout, excellent vocal and harmonies.

A great sound, top quality mix, a catchy chorus and nice melodic solo.

Excellent.

Peter

BDT, Thanks for your great review, Tom

Marty, I’m glad you liked it. Your comments always make me smile. The only other thing I can say is Lime not lemon, Tom

Oh wow!!! Oh my word :-) Gave me (for one) a schooling, right here, on what it is to write a top-notch song. Bravo, sir. Hats off to you. If this came on, on the radio or TV, I wouldn't bat an eyelid - it belongs right there, at the top. Phew :-)

Tommy, you have produced some fantastic music but this one is the absolute best IMHO.

"Some things they oughta stay buried
Way down in the dirt
If you go digging around there
Somebody’s gonna get hurt"

I can relate

This should be played on every contemporary country station right now.
Everything is pro level on this one.

Loved it.

BT, thanks much for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate it,Tom

Hi Tom,

Excellent song and well sung also.

(that's 5 good new songs in one day on this forum - surely a record!).

Best Regards
Nigel

Hi Tom,

Man, you always seem to have a knack for coming up with killer riffs for your songs, and this song is a good example, great hook!

Good story, delivered well. Love the solo!

Excellent, listened a few times.

Hi Tom, this is really! really! good, and radio ready, love the story the vocal was excellent the guitars sound awesome. Thanks for sharing, Eric.

Thanks for the great review! Carbondale always seemed to me more like Kentucky or Tennessee than Illinois. Tom

Hi, Tom.

The punchy mix got my attention right away, and the song didn't let up.

Catchy chorus, great vocal, hooky guitar riffs... plus a cool story.

That's good stuff!

Great sounding band & arrangement.
Excellent metaphore too.
You do know I'm going to mention sibilance too!
COOL.

Tom,

Killer sound. Big. Bold. Pure Drivin' Country.

A good, solid write. Well sung.
Nice guitar work.

Excellent mix.

Punchy!

fj

Thank you Vic. I appreciate it, Tom Thanks. Glad you liked it, Tom

Hi Tom ...

Did you graduate from SIU? As I think you know, I'm originally from St. Louis, not far away from Carbondale (been there numerous times). Home of the Salukis!

Great song, Tom! For my ears, had Waylon's style written all over it. Lots of truth in the lyric - some things should simply be left to die in peace. Loved the crunch in the guitars. And the extended drums at the end were perfect!

You give country music a good name! Keep up the good work!

Alan

Brad, thanks for the wonderful review. It means a lot to me,Tom

Thanks for stopping by David, Tom Coming from you Torrey it means a lot, Tom

Thanks Peter! James, Thank you for the very generous review! That really made me happy, Tom

Yowzers! Man, have you listened to Brothers Osborne? (not the Osborne Brothers )
We love this and it nails their vibe and even your vocals are similar in tone and phrasing.
Pitch it to them!

You wrote a great backstory to set up the song story.

Sounds like a well honed gigging band and your guitar is perfecto.

We've said it a hundred times and by golly here it is again.
Your productions are pro level and set a high bar for many including us to only dream of.

Outstanding all the way around Tom!

J&B

What a great song, Tom! Good grove, catchy. Especially love those second verse lyrics!!



p.s. FJ told me you had taken a break/trip. Apparently you found good song material along the way:)

Scott

Thanks Mario,Tom Nigel, I’m glad you liked it,Tom

Thanks Dave. I appreciate all that especially coming from a great player like you,Tom

I knew in the first 10 seconds that this was going to be a killer tune. I wasn't wrong.

Nice one!

Hey Eric, l’m glad you came by and liked it,Tom

David thanks for your comments and support, Tom

That's a very, very good song, Tom!

I love everything of it; the guitar, the rhythm, the percussion, vocals, lyrics... well everything. This is how Country Rock must sound, I think.
Like David wrote, this is really a radio ready song, must become a hit. I'm sure!

I've played it several times now, great song and that outro, great!

Hans
(yet I'm curious what bad things happened then)

Cool lyric Tom. Boy when I go back to my home town. I hardly recognize it anymore. Super vocal and excellent backtrack. Guitars were excellent as well.

Thanks Ray Thanks floyd, glad you liked it, Tom

I did graduate from SIU. Thanks for the wonderful comments and your continued support over the years. Hope you're doing better, Tom

In reference to the Brothers, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. They were definitely on my mind. Thanks for all that good stuff, Tom

Hello Tom,

Vocals and guitars are great.
The guitar riff in the intro is really cool.
Rock and country are blended well and it feels good.
And there is a bit of a Western movie image.
If I drink while listening to this song, it would be I.W. Harper 12 Years Old.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thanks, Scott. The trip has provided several new songs, Tom Glad you made it by and I always appreciate your comments,Tom

Thanks for all that. I’m going to take my own advice and let those memories stay buried, Tom

Thanks Scott. I guess things change, not always for the best, Tom

Tom,
Super drive! Excellent guitar playing and hook. Ace vocals! Mix is clear and large. Powerful stuff. Liked the backstory too.
Thank you for sharing!

Misha.

Tom,

This is great storytelling! Production is outstanding (as always) and an excellent vocal.

Loved everything about this.

Bob

Thanks Shigeki. I’m glad you like it. Enjoy the bourbon, Tom

Thanks for the generous comments, Tom Thanks Bob, Tom