KID
She’s just another California kid from a broken home
Her stepfather won’t leave her alone
Her Dad is married to another cop
The child support payments just don’t stop
Mom she bought herself the local bar
Now stepfather doesn’t have to drink in the car
She just wants to stay out with her friends and drive the town
And Mom doesn’t notice she’s not around
Please don’t make me go home
Please don’t make me go home
Just another California kid from a valley town
Her stepbrother doesn’t want her around
Her teachers think she might be smart or talented at art
There’s a boy working up the nerve
To act and not obverse
She just wants to stay out with her friends and drive the town
And Mom doesn’t notice that she’s not around
Just another California kid with an attitude
Her family’s come quite unglued
Every night’s a bona fide horror show
But she’s got no place else to go
She just wants to stay out with her friends and drive the town
And Mom doesn’t notice she’s not around
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
LOS ANGELES
I come home. Got her note
“Adios Amigo,” is all she wrote
No explanation, consolation prize
Just a big empty house and a sad surprise
She’s gone. Now she’s gone
I stand still while she moves along
Los Angeles, I beg you please
Take care of her
Los Angeles, I ‘m on my knees
Take care of her
Her postcard came after month or two
“I’m doing fine, well, how bout you?”
And that’s last that I heard
Not another note, not another word
Through the lonely days and lonely nights
I even miss the arguments and fights
© 2013 Tolman Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
405
Living on the 405
For all the time I’ve wasted
God I’m still alive
Morning noon or night
Any time you drive, the traffic’s never light
Four Oh Five, you really gonna piss me off
Four Oh Five, I’m stuck and I can’t get off
From Brentwood up to old Van Nuys
Everything is crawling
Only minutes seem to fly
Wish there was another way
Should’ve left earlier, maybe yesterday
On Sepulveda, I’ll take a pass
Some things, they just just weren’t made to last
Pack up and move away
Maybe it’s time to say goodbye LA
So, so long LA
In my rear view mirror
I still see the palm trees sway
Four Oh Five, you really done pissed me off
Four Oh Five, adios mi amigo I’m gone
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
GOODBYE EL DORADO
Goodbye El Dorado, golden city by the sea
Destination for millions, the millions who came before me
So I’m like all the others, seeking answers, fame and gold
Clinging to a dream
No matter how ragged or old
The living here is easy and the weather’s mostly fine
The people aren’t so wicked
And it’s sunny most all of the time
So Goodbye El Dorado
I might see you again
Might drop back for a visit
A visit now and then
Goodbye El Dorado, my time here is done
You’ve been a good companion and I’ve been a dutiful son
I’ve learned all your lessons and the teaching time is done
Pack up and move on toward the rising sun
Goodbye El Dorado, regrets I’ve had a few
But I’ll forget them all promptly, as we strike out for something new
Treasures lost and sometimes won, thank you it was almost fun
El Dorado in the sun, You’ve lost another one
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
CALIFORNIA WINTER
(Stefan Murphy/Russ Tolman)
In the California winter I turned my life around
In the California winter I rejoiced in the beauty I had found
I was enchanted by her ocean but it meant nothing
Compared to the way I am enchanted by you
I live for things that you say and all that you do
In the merry month of November I turned by attention to the dead
I don’t know how I couldn’t remember all the ludicrous things that you said
I had no choice but to be with you I would forgive you
You give me a thousand million pleasures in one day
I live for the things that you say, I live for the day
In the California winter I lost my way ahead
In the California winter my ego was left for dead
Discovering you helped me be reborn
But all there’s now is scorn, still my love is sworn
It can’t be torn
In the California winter I was humbled to the ground
In the California winter I shivered at the sound
Of your voice telling me I had to leave and go away
I don’t know how I survived that day
I live for things that you say and all that you do
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
YUBA CITY
(Ted Savarese)
Fire up my engine and let out the clutch
This town has never really shown me much
Catch a gust of wind, I think I’ll go back to
Yuba City
I’m going down to Yuba City, if I’m going down at all
I’ll wrap myself ‘round town as big as Spain
Loom over Gridley like a coming rain
Whisper to the sky, I think I’ll go back to Yuba City
I’m going down to Yuba City, if I’m going down at all
I’ll barrel in like a drunk debutante, stagger down any avenue I want
No more sleepless nights, I think I’ll go back to
Yuba City
I’m going down to Yuba City, if I’m going down at all
I’m going down to Yuba City, if I’m going down at all
© 2005 Ted Savarese, administered by Tolman Music BMI/BMG Music
ALMOST HEAVEN
Red sky this morning, the fire’s getting closer
Sun through the smoke, making everything oranger
The desert’s all aglow
It’s a strange color, as the smoke wraps around
Protecting us from the hot sun, throwing shadows on the ground
Throwing shadows on the ground
Southern California’s almost heaven to me
With perpetual fun in the summer sun
It’s the only place to be
It’s almost heaven to me
Red boulders and a tiny sliver of blue, between the ground and the grey
The sand glows orange, a breeze it comes
And the birds fly away
You were my sweet thing, and I thought it would always be
But now I’m here in the smoke with just your memory
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
DO YOU LIKE THE WAY
(Russ Tolman/Jonathan Klages)
You're starting to win, you're seven beers in
Giving everybody kisses and hugs
There's alot of love the room tonight and you're working on a heck of a buzz
Adjust your crown, swagger around, making the rounds
Everybody bow down to the king of the barroom clowns
Do you like the way you look in this song
Stop me if I'm wrong or if I'm lying
You've got some innovative thoughts and I'm sure it's fun to think them
You're a free spirit or at least you like to drink them
You play the part of the lovable loser, it's performance world class
But a guy with as much talent as you doesn't need to play the stupid ass
We're all on your side and hope that you climb out
Stop digging, drop the shovel and find a better route
You're a mess, Jack but keep coming back
Go through to climb out
Do you like the way you look in this song
Stop me if I'm wrong or if I'm lying
Do you like the way you look in this song
Would you like to sing along or just cry
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI/Jon Light Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
We’re all gonna go down past the rodeo
On our way to our just rewards
Don’t wait for me, I’m in no hurry
Don’t save me a place in line
I’ll be waiting here, order up a beer
And join me for awhile
Time goes by fast enough
We don’t need to give a shove
Take it easy take it slow
I'm in no hurry to go
Take it easy take it slow
Old Methuselah really had it down
That man knew how to hang around
969 sounds awfully fine
Let’s hope old Methus didn’t get bored
And if you ever find the time
To put yours together here with mine
Come it rain or come it shine, together we’ll be fine
Looking forward to seeing some continental drift
And maybe an ice age or two
I’m sure if you just bundle up, you just bundle up, it’ll be easy to get through
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI, administered by BMG Music
TAKE IT EASY TAKE IT SLOW
NORTH HOLLYWOOD DREAM
(Russ Tolman/Jonathan Klages)
You're fresh off the bus, here in North Hollywood
You walk down Magnolia to Lankershim
Things are a bit busier than they were back in Idaho
You wonder how much farther to the Econo Inn
You're finally in LA, let the dreaming begin
But now you're hungry and tired
And there's too much new to take in
Fast forward a few weeks. You've found yourself some roommates and a job
It's two bedroom in Valley Village and you're working over at the mall
You're finally in LA, let the dreaming begin
But now there's rent to make
And there's too much new to take it
Dream dream while you're sleeping. Dream again when you wake
They're be plenty of time for dreaming so dream for dreaming sake
Here comes your big break, they've finally called you back
Years of hoping and waiting. Dead ends and side tracks
You're finally in LA, let the dreaming begin
But you're not feeling well and there's too much new to take in
You've found yourself a partner and now you've a couple kids
Buying's better than renting, now it's time to find new digs
You're finally in LA, let the dreaming begin
But now you've got mouths to feed and there's too much new to take in
© 2018 Tolman Music BMI/Jon Light Music BMI, administered by BMG Music