You say you got’s to hear that Hot New Sound right away — with no fussin’ ’round? Try the fully automated JACK JUKE (opens in a separate window) while you check out the rest of the site.
But some cats like those extras that used to come with them record albums: liner notes, lyrics, funny stories and what-not. If that’s your racket, this page is your ticket, Cricket! Many kats and kits have also complimented Billy ‘The Jack’ for his lyrics and the stories within. So that’s why we got’s this page! The songs are ordered just like the Jack Juke, so you can leave that running and read on or you can listen to each track at your own control and convenience.
Otherwise, let’s begin with…
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from the debut album“Bringin’ It Back”
DO NOT PRES PLAY JUST YET! Liike a teen-boy in his first ‘encounter’ ( the poor girl finds it over even before it’s barely begun), this song gets to the point without any musical ‘foreplay’. And like that young stud, it’s a fast one too!
I swear! This happens to me almost every time ~ I have to swerve each time I’m rolling down the line. ~ Just like a door that opens up, right in my face ~ whenever I’m just trying to get someplace… ~ Get Out of My Way! ~ ~ I can’t be late! I got to see my baby! ~ If I’m late this time, she says she’s gonna leave! ~ She’s so far away; lives all the way ‘cross town ~ and I don’t have the time! I got to lay this hammer down ~ ~ Behind me ’twas the fuzz in front is Headache Hill. ~ I reach the top, a Prius almost makes me spill! ~ I swerve around real fast and almost kissed a bus ~ (I don’t want to get smushed!) ~ ~ Get Out of My Way! ~ ~ I can’t be late! I got to see my baby! ~ If I’m late this time she says she’s gonna leave! ~ She’s so far away: lives all the way ‘cross town ~ and I don’t have the time! I got to lay this hammer down! ~ ~ Is this the devil’s work, just to have a laugh? ~ Moving souls around just to block my path! ~ Is God above just laughing up there, fit to burst? ~ Moving others ’round — make it God damned worse! ~ In a hallway, bathroom stall, a street, a grocery store: ~ wherever it is, I got to wait… and wait… and wait some more! ~ It’s clear as far as I can see, till you run in to me! ~ And it’s never a pretty girl; mostly old ladies! ~ [you should always be polite to little old ladies! They’re called manners![ ~ ~ I can almost see her house! It’s just down the block! ~ Only twelve diversions and I almost beat the clock ~ But here comes a dog… a kid… some geese… And a Garbage Truck? ~ A Hurricane?! A U.F.O?!?! Oh what the f—!?!?!?!?!?!?! ~ Get Out of My Way!!!!!!!! ~ ~ Oh, it’s too late! O’ I can see my baby: ~ She’s getting in a car and fixing now to leave ~ She’s so far away and I gots to chase her down! ~ I don’t have the time! I gotta lay that bloody hammer down! ~ Get Out Of My Way!
The structure and feel of Get Out of My Way was inspired by "Well Oh Well" by Tiny Bradshaw, which was recorded right around 1950. But he is well known for penning the well known "Train Kept a Rollin" which would influence later rock and roll. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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(recorded live at the Fine Line 2, 1, 2011)
is a nasty taste of -- and the presumptive title track of from the upcoming EP.
I was only six, and she was half and seven. ~ She showed me all her tricks. It got my motor revin’ ~ It’s only rock and roll, she said. ~ It’s only all just a little bit of rock and roll! ~ Playing in the dirt, yes, we made mud pies. ~ She promised it wouldn’t hurt, there weren’t no compromise ~ ~ We rolled and we tumbled, got rocked with the rumble as the sparks jump from the bass… ~ We jumped the jive, let’s pound the pace ~ It’s only all just a little bit of rock and roll, she said. ~ It’s only rock and roll! ~ ~ When she all growed out now she is quite a dish ~ With a rhythm well endowed I play what I wish. ~ It’s only rock and roll, she said. ~ It’s only all just a little bit of rock and roll ~ She took me by the hand and we rocked away ~ And how she shaked her can, man, blew me away ~ ~ We rolled and we tumbled, got rocked with the rumble as the sparks jump from the bass… ~ We jumped the jive, let’s pound the pace ~ It’s only all just a little bit of rock and roll, she said. ~ It’s only rock and roll! ~ ~ She taught me how to dance but man, I lost the rhythm ~ But the tiger in her pants just moved right long with ‘em ~ It’s only rock and roll, she said. ~ It’s only all just a little bit of rock and roll. ~ Causing so much trouble, burning with the heat. ~ Blowin’ with the bubbles; lather, rinse repeat. ~ We rolled and we tumbled, got rocked with the rumble as the sparks jump from the bass… ~ It’s only all just a little bit of rock and roll, she said. ~ It’s only rock and roll!
Arrow and Jennie wrote the instrumental parts and Horra and 'The Jack' put it all together. Is it a metaphor? Is it based on true events or just the fancy of a deluded mind? Is it just a bunch trademark one-liners mashed together, masquerading as lyrics? You decide! (We know the lyrics don't match with this recording -- it's a new song; it takes Billy 'The Jack' a long time to engrave his own lyrics onto that rock he calls his brain.) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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"Nowhere or Bust"
from the debut album "Bringin' It Back"
Thirteen after midnight, at about one-hundred-ten: ~ Hallucinating on a blurry, white line. ~ Forget the past, all I’ve seen, where I’ve been! ~ No destination — just adrenaline in overdrive! ~ ~ Half-quarter moon: feel the wind blow through my hair; ~ There’s nothing in my past — and I can just speed through. ~ I’m not expecting, no, to wind up anywhere… ~ O Lord! All I know is just that, I need to ~ ~ Run away, on a wanderlust. ~ My cardboard sign reads, “Nowhere or Bust”. ~ Run away and disappear as dust; ~ it’s all behind me, turned to rot and rust. ~ ~ Throw the hammer down. Watch the wheels spin ’round ~ and that siren sound is all in my head. ~ ~ Dawn comes, you’ll fin me still on the open road ~ Flying down, on Highway Number Six-Sixty-Six. ~ My soul is empty now. I’ve lost my burden load. ~ And into the sunshine — I still need that fix! ~ ~ Run away, on a wanderlust. ~ My cardboard sign reads, “Nowhere or Bust”. ~ Run away and disappear as dust; ~ it’s all behind me, turned to rot and rust. ~ ~ Throw the hammer down. ~ Watch the wheels spin ’round ~ and that siren sound is all in my head.
In 2002, I wrote and recorded a few songs for The Hostages (rhythm guitar -- 2001 - 2008). Ollie Stench [vocals, lyricist] refused to sing words not written by him. Its just his way. He had no problem taking my music though — and he wanted this riff but I couldn’t let it go. It was originally titled “Thirteen After Midnight” (I was flirting with using that as the name of a band). I removed a middle verse and rewrote the last and slowed it down a touch. While Thomas Mundahl played the solos on the rest of “Bringin’ It Back”, I was able to thresh my way to the thrashin’. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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“I Don’t Wanna Die” (recorded live at the Fine Line 2, 1, 2011)
…is just your typical ballad, but with the Billy ‘The Jack’ monster twist.
Sometimes I see the future in my dreams. ~ I saw an old man on his death bed. And look! It was me! ~ A pretty little nurse was checking out my vital signs, ~ And her eyes got real big when she saw my bed sheet rise. ~ ~ And I said to her… ~ I don’t wanna die a lonely old man. ~ I don’t wanna die a bitter old man. ~ I don’t wanna die an angry old man. ~ But please, Lord, let me die a dirty old man ~ ~ I’ve lived about half of this long old life. ~ I’ve still got so much to do, but do I still have the time? ~ If I don’t wake up on the morrow, O, please just let me have ~ A sweet memory of hot love to take when I pass ~ O, I pray, Lord…
When Arrow brought in the the main riff and the choruses of this I weren’t to exited (I’m not used to writing lyrics to music I ain’t written before — actually, this may be the first time!). But every once in a while, a line comes into my brain; and a connection was made! Once I knew what I wanted to sing about, the rest was easy. And now this is my favorite Modern Throwbacks’ song to sing!
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This page is a work in progress, hence it ain’t finished. But it shall be added to witin the next week. Please come back!
