1. |
Record Store
03:00
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Record Store by Ted Slowik
I hear B-sides of singles and lost album track
What’s this I see here among the racks?
Of the record store I recall from my youth
Now there’s nobody speaking the truth
When I was a boy there were John, Paul and George
And sometimes Ringo though he never struck a chord
There were Mick & Keith & Charlie, Bill Wyman on the bass
All their songs brought a smile to my face
I had a pair of headphones and would stay up all night
Listening to albums ‘til it got light
Then I’d go to bed and dream that maybe one day
I’d be a rock star in my own special way
I had a part-time job and when I got paid
I’d got to town on that very special day
To the record store they were in buildings back then
When you went to buy music you might make a friend
When you look back to when you were a kid
All the happy memories of the crazy shit you did
But you can’t blame The Beatles & you can’t fault the Stones
When it came to bad ideas you got those on your own
Now it’s getting late and the great ones have gone
Thank God their music still lives on
In the record store I recall from my youth
Now there’s nobody speaking the truth
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2. |
Red Rover
04:55
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I know I’m not the best or the first to be picked for a team
And I know it shows that I run too slow but I always say what I mean
But you’re not like the others I hear them behind my back
So let’s get this over with quickly ‘cause I can’t take much more of that
Red rover red rover, send someone over break through the line to my heart
I’ll try to hold but if I let you go would you fall into my arms
Red rover red rover, let this be over, let’s let the line fall apart
And let you break through to my heart
(solo)
When we’re together in groups I don’t always know my place
And I find it hard to be true and some things I don’t want to face
But you might understand me, you might be the one
So let’s get this over with quickly ‘cause this game isn’t much fun
Red rover red rover, send someone over break through the line to my heart
I’ll try to hold but if I let you go would you fall into my arms
Red rover red rover, let this be over, let’s let the line fall apart
And let you break through to my heart
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3. |
Hinsdale
03:07
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Such a quiet town, a breeding ground
To raise a local hero
Who could foresee these suburban streets
Would one day be ground zero
Something's happening in Hinsdale
The whole town is cordoned off
Could be trouble at the Graue Mill
Lines are down and the roads are blocked
What's happening in Hinsdale
Such stately homes and manicured lawns
But where are all the people?
It's as if a kind of neutron bomb
Went off in the old church steeple
Chorus
With their flood lights on the TV crews
Are searching for an answer
But the state police aren't saying much
Except the whole damn town has cancer
Chorus
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4. |
Slowiks
03:35
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Dad grew up in Michigan
In a place called Jericho
It's just a few miles from Warren Dunes
They got great sand you know
He met mom at 17
And then went off to war
It was 1941 and a loaf of bread
Cost a dime at Dja Dja's store
Dad flew planes over Italy
They were big B-17s
Mom stayed home and before you knew it
She was into doing nursing
Dad came home at the end of the war
And they married in '45
Then brother Stan became the very next man
to keep the family name alive
They were Slowiks ... through and through
Well the next few years were good ones
The family scene was cool
They lived a while in Ann Arbor
While Dad finished engineering school
By this time there were Tom and Jim
And they were ready for a change
They moved on down to Illinois
And settled in LaGrange
They had a little place on Eighth Avenue
And Dad worked for GM
About this time our first sisters were born
We got five of them
Jo Marie and Judi brought that little place alive
They had brother Bud and sister Liz by 1955
They were Slowiks ... through and through
They looked around and they said, 'Hey,
This little house is too small
We got seven kids running underfoot
And stuff crammed wall-to-wall'
They built themselves a great big house
With room for everyone
You can see it still it's in Countryside
At 5600 Kensington
Most folks might have stopped right there and put their money in the bank
But before they had time to think of themselves
They had Frank
There were meals to cook and chores to do
The laundry and the like
It's a wonder Mom didn't hang it up
When she had Mike
Six boys is an awful lot
So I guess to keep things fair
The good Lord made the next two girls
for parents Joe and Clare
Sue and Jeanne made the house scream
Then along came me
I'm the last one I'm the seventh son
In our great big family.
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5. |
Springfield
04:11
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Springfield 3-31-13
There's gridlock in Springfield, high taxes in Cook
You can't swing a stick without hitting a crook
Chicago's the murder capital of the world
Guns for every man, boy and girl
Now Rahm's trying to fixing the schools
By breaking the union, they must take us for fools
Pat Quinn's a pussy cat on the prowl
We all know that Madigan's got all the power
Springfield what have you done to us?
Springfield we work and we slave
Springfield Lincoln is rolling over in his grave
Now in federal prison there's a governor or two
Republican and Democrat, what's a voter to do?
Pat Fitzgerald tried to keep crime down
But after a decade he got out of town
It's the Chicago way you've got to pay to play
Lincoln is rolling over in his grave
Now Rod Blagojevich tried to sell a seat
It was effin' golden, it couldn't be beat
George Ryan sold licenses for bribes
It upset Chief Illiniwek and all of the Tribes
Jesse Jackson Jr. misused campaign funds
To buy Eddie Van Halen’s guitar and Michael Jackson’s glove
We can't pay the pensions, we'll soon be broke
Illinois: the national joke
Springfield what have you done to us?
Springfield we work and we slave
Springfield Lincoln is rolling over in his grave
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6. |
Dear Editor
03:28
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Dear editor tell me some good news for a change
The world is driving me crazy and that seems so very strange
Why does there have to be so much sad news everywhere?
I’m going to break free and get right out of here
Dear editor I’m feeling pretty blue again
My fantasy lover just ran off with my imaginary friend
And they don’t know what’s happening
Sometimes I wish I was them
How do you wipe the slate clean?
And start all over again
Dear editor tell me some good news for a change
The world is driving me crazy and that seems so very strange
Why does there have to be so much sad news everywhere?
I’m going to break free and get right out of here
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Ted Slowik Joliet, Illinois
Joliet, Illinois-based singer/songwriterTed Slowik is a storyteller with a heart and a healthy sense of humor. Ted shares a passion, intensity and energy with audiences. Whether performing as a soloist with his acoustic guitar or accompanied by a variety of musician friends, Ted delivers an entertaining and enjoyable show. A Top Ten Album of 2014 pick by Tom Lounges of nwitimes.com ... more
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