Story Songs: Tired of Toein' the Line

Back in 1980, Rocky Burnette scored a big rockabilly hit with "Tired of Toein' the Line." It's one of my all-time favorites, so full of energy and drive, especially Burnette's expressive voice. 

Rocky Burnette

It's basically a breakup song, from the guy's point of view:

"I know it's o-ooh-over, cause I've seen the signs
Don't let me waste your precious time.
Baby, I'm tired of toein' the line."


Here are a few vids of the song: 

The song reached No. 8 on the U.S. charts, No. 1 in Australia, and No. 3 in New Zealand and South Africa. It was co-written by Burnette and Ron Coleman.

 It was released on his "The Son of Rock and Roll" album in 1979.  By the way, the Memphis, Tenn., musician was a son of rock and roll: Jonathan "Rocky" Burnette's father was early rocker Johnny Burnette (1934-64), who had hits "Dreamin' and "You're Sixteen" in the early '60s.

While researching the song, I was surprised by how many covers through the years by a variety of artists (Rick Nelson, Shakin' Stevens, and Andreas Silver) and dancers (yes, dancers).  

Here's a few if you've got the time:

Rocky still performs and reportedly will have a new album released later this year. 

Until the next time . . . 

Story Songs: Lonely and Lonesome Tunes

While driving my car the other day and listening to the local oldies station (93.5 FM), Rick Nelson's "Lonesome Town" played softly through the speakers.

His voice conveyed the feelings of breaking up with someone you love (teen angst), beginning with the opening verse:

"There's a place where lovers go

To cry their troubles away

And they call it 'Lonesome Town"

Where the broken hearts stay"

The song (No. 7 on Billboard in 1958) lingered in my mind for quite a while as I thought about other tunes I like with "lonely" and "lonesome" in the title.  So here a few I've enjoyed through the years:

One of Elvis' early hits was "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" in 1960, recorded after his discharge from the army. The song, written in 1926 by Roy Turk and Lou Handman, was a chart topper for the King.

"Are you lonesome tonight,

Do you miss me tonight?

Are you sorry we drifted apart?"

If any singer could express loneliness and sadness, it was Roy Orbison. His "Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)," a No. 2 song for the balladeer in 1960. 

"There goes my baby

There goes my heart

They're gone forever

So far apart"

Jackie Wilson is almost in tears (figuratively) as he belts out "Lonely Teardrops," a No. 7 song in 1958. It was also the last song Wilson performed live before collapsing on a stage in 1975, suffering a heart attack. He died nine years later.

"My heart is crying, crying

Lonely teardrops,

My pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops

Come home, come home

Just say you will, say you will"

Singer-songwriter James Taylor reached No. 14 on the charts in 1973 with "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."

"You ain't gonna see me getting down on my knees

I'm undecided and your heart's been divided

You've been turning my world upside down"

My all-time favorite "lonesome" song is Hank Williams Sr.'s penned "I'm So Lonely I Could Cry," a tune even Elvis said was "probably the saddest song I ever heard." It's not a song to listen to if you're really depressed because it will make you cry along with the singer.

"Did you ever see a robin weep

When leaves begin to die?

Like me, he's lost the will to live

I'm so lonesome I could cry"

My favorite version is by B.J. Thomas, which reached No. 8 on the charts in 1966.

Yes, these are songs about sadness, but they're also contemplative in expressing emotions that we all share in our lives. 

Any favorite "lonely" and "lonesome" songs?

Until the next time.... 

Story Songs: Garden Party

For those growing up in 1950s, one of the staples on television was "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." They were the Nelsons, with sons David and Ricky, on the popular weekly show.

Quite a few of the shows ended with Ricky performing one of his songs, such as "Travelin' Man," "Hello Mary Lou," and "Poor Little Fool." Ricky was a good-looking guy and became a teenage idol during the early years of rock 'n' roll.

As with most musical artists, his popularity began to wane as other performers and styles took center stage. But Ricky became Rick, and he broadened his music into country-rock and formed the Stone Canyon Band. 

While Rick expanded his musical interests, fans wanted to hear the songs from his heyday. He wrote about being booed at an oldies concert at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1971, for playing some new material, in the song, "Garden Party." 

"I went to a garden party, reminisced with my old friends

A chance to share old memories and play our songs again

When I got to the garden party they all knew my name

But no one recognized me I didn't look the same"

He makes references to Chuck Berry, Yoko Ono, the Walrus (John Lennon), and Mr. Hughes (George Harrison) in the song as well as to some of the hit tunes he performed. But for Nelson, it wasn't a happy experience:

"If you gotta play at garden parties I wish you a lot a' luck

But if memories were all I sang I'd rather drive a truck"

I saw Rick along with Sam and Dave in concert in Milwaukee in 1985. He put on good show. Six months later, he died in a plane crash en route to a concert in Texas. He was 45. And two years after that, he was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Garden Party" lyrics