A story of my high school buddy Tom.
We had a CSN/America-style trio with Doug.
Tom could sing like an angel. And had some big dreams, but...


TRACKS AND ROADS

when his friends took off for college
he said he'd be right on their tail
but their voices faded in the factory's din
routine sucked the wind from his sails
day-to-day is what you do
when the future fails to call
he wonders why things just aren't the same
when nothing's really changed at all

   rigs thunder down the highway
   that amtrak whistle blows
   but tracks and roads mean nothing
   when you've got no place to go

kids that he once knew just to say 'hi'
like brothers they shake hands and smile
from a small group of girls who once weren't good enough
he'll choose an equal to share the aisle
come on back when you can
a mail box there will still claim his name
cause when you're paying for the ticket with any kind of change
it gets too easy to miss the train

   rigs thunder down the highway
   that amtrak whistle blows
   but tracks and roads mean nothing
   when you've got no place to go

the radio talks to him
it doesn't have a lot to say
but it keeps regrets in check
and helps pass the time away

   rigs thunder down the highway
   that amtrak whistle blows
   but tracks and roads mean nothing
   when you've got no place to go



The BAND:
RealTracks in style: 995:Bass, Electric, HardRockLA Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 999:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockLAFuzzyA-B Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 996:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockLACrispA-B Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 1005:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment, PopCalifornia Ev 140
RealTracks in song: 809:Guitar, Electric, Soloist DrivingCountryBallad Ev 065
RealDrums in style: RockHardLA^7-a:Snare, Bell Ride , b:Snare, Crash Ride



Comments welcome.
Have at it.

floyd


(thanks to those who made comments in the "Sometimes You Gotta Go Fishin' thread... I do appreciate that. But since the song was posted 2 years ago, I let it slide without bumping more....)

Hi Floyd.

I was sold on this one as soon as I heard that first chord. I DO like it when you get a bit heavier!

A classic country track with a great driving rock sound and a great punchy mix. Before you ask, yes, I played it LOUD on the big Tannoys and it hangs together beautifully.

Super storyline, superb vocals and harmony.

Loved the solo guitar, which I would have lifted a bit - I like solos which make your ears bleed!.

Altogether another fabulous Floyd song.

ROG.

Floyd

Way up there. What a great driving beat.

Sensational lyrics delivered with a first class set of vocals.

Piano and Guitar fill the breaks absolutely perfectly.

Another gem from FJ. You just keep 'em coming.

Hi Floyd,

another one of your fantastic touching stories!
Arrangement and delivery are as outstanding as always.
The lead guitar sounds like especially made for this song.
I enjoyed several listens.

Guenter

Hi, Floyd !:))

One of your absolute
best, for sure !:))
That goes for everything
in this superb tune !
Love everything about it !:))

Cheers
Dani

First off, someone needs to call B.S. on this song! And by that I mean, Bruce Springsteen. Tell me this couldn't be one of his songs!

Dang it Floyd! It's not right to have someone pumping out "once in a lifetime" songs a few times a month!

I'm not going to go into all of the lyrics I like, there are just too many! What'st he point in copying and pasting a whole song? However, the overall observation level and attention you bring to the situation is incredible. Just incredible.

A Big WOOOOOOW on this one, Floyd!!! What is there to say when the best lyricist on the forum outdoes himself? Absolutely a gem! Everybody knows someone like this. It just rings true. And the lyrics paint the perfect picture with a chorus that delivers a knockout punch. California piano is perfect-PG could use this as a promo for that track, and the program in general. Over the top!! Take care. Greg

Good one from start to finish. I think the piano solo was stellar and perfect for the song. The song has that signature Floyd Jane ring to it called quality. Great write, performance, arrangement, mix and production. You've about got enough material now to start a crowdfund project.....

Great song Floyd!
Very well sung, love the harmonies. And a really good solo.
Rock suits you well!

I would be willing to bet that this is the line that started it all. "but tracks and roads mean nothing
when you've got no place to go". And a great line it is. I enjoyed the story. The guitars fit nicely. Did you put that soloist at half time? Is that live playing at the end? Good driving rock tune. Tom

Love it, you're taking your place up there with my favorite American
Storyteller Songwriters, example "Well the dogs on mainstreet howl cause they understand, if I could take one moment into my hands".
You're totally original in this song and very strong but I can feel the early Bruce inspiration running through it, a driving and forceful song of spirit maybe down but not out. At least that's what I felt and I enjoyed the heck out of it. hope you stay on this path for awhile.

Kenny

Floyd
A really engaging song - great set of lyrics and mixed with a powerful backing to make a real stand out.
Like Tom I was wondering about some of the guitars if they were played or not - either way they fit the song really well.
A good one.

Floyd

Like that truck, this one thunders down the track from the get go, and then that subtle little piano almost 'honky tonk in the middle just took it over the top for me. Great!!

Paddy G

HA! spoken like a true guitar guy "Turn me up!" You're right, though...it could be a bit louder.. if I remix, I'll see about bumping it a bit... It is processed to give just the tone I was looking for in this - and too much volume causes it to get too brittle sounding and not-quite-part-of-the-mix.... Thanks for the nice review...

I'm with Tom. So, was that the case. That just seems like one of those lines you could write a song around.

Very clever lyrics all around... and I tend to agree with the Bruce Springsteen association... so much so that I was disappointed that there was no Sax solo!

But as a guitar player I always enjoy a good guitar solo... and this song sure did have one! ...which I thought was very believable as a live performance, right down to the last two notes as the guitar player quickly wraps up the song he wasn't quite ready to end yet. Happens a lot. ;-)

Very predictable "A plus" grade!

Another fj hit. Loved it.


Regards,

Bob

Trevor - Thank you for that nice review. I always appreciate you taking time to have a listen...





Thanks, Guenter. Always nice when true musicians compliment a solo in that way...

LOL. Thanks, Dani....

Caaron... Thanks for such a nice review. As I build these type songs, they just end up with that born-to-run sound without me thinking too much about it. I start with drums and bass and the guitar sound that I think it needs and that sound just seems to prevail. Here, the style provided that right away (_HROCKLA.STY (LA Hard Rock, All RTrks (120 RS)). And, in this case, I looked for a piano that complimented that and found it - don't know if they (PG) intended it, but it certainly has that Roy Bittan feel and sound... The guitar solos were an attempt to carry that through, too....