1. |
Solebakke
04:06
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SOLEBAKKE
For 8 straight years up 22 steps
in the Wells apartments here on Solebakke Avenue
I have hauled my stuff and I've set up house
And done the things that certain Solebakke people do
Chorus
Solebakke - Nagasaki
Not much in common but a little bit of thyme
Solebakke - Nagasaki
Live on one I'm gonna sing about the other sometime
For 8 straight years I have gone to work
I've left my penthouse suite on Solebakke Avenue
I a have been a cook and a cat and a captain
A bumble bee I o the things i like to do
Chorus
Bridge
For 8 straight years the television joys of the CBC
For 8 straight years the telephone company messin with me
For 8 straight years at my place of play
I hear it twice by the end of the day
Immortal words ringing loud and true
"Turn to your left say How do ya Do - oo -oo
For 8 straight years there's many a face
I only see while i live on Solebakke Aveny
As I drive away after Labour day -
There's a fondness for the face of nearly every one of you
Chorus
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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2. |
STROMVILLE
04:09
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STROMVILLE
At the very end of Stromville over on the 1 mile side
I would say it always hits me there
With the lake off in the distance and the shoulder right beside
Showing track of both the moose and bear
Chorus
Hold it up beyond all reason
Hold it up you summer boy
Hold it up another season sitting in this place of joy
Hold it up from creek to river
Hold it up from tree to tree
Hold it up another season how it got a hold on me
I was singing to the river for to let my troubles go
On the morning of a crazy man
As I looked off in the distance
With the marshes all aglow
It would seem to be a perfect plan
Bridge
Every pick up that is passing has a large dog in the back
You know they must be local - without one it’s a crime
And then a stream of quite hung over folk go rolling to the site
To don their daily costume and travel back in time
Musical Interlude
Every season I am greeted by some 90 days of rain
Smatterings of sunshine and thunder in the sky
Every time I am away from here I want it back again
A regular returnee with lots of reasons why
I hold up
Hold it beyond all reason – hold beyond certain time
Hold it beyond all reason – hold beyond certain time
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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3. |
The Value of Gold
03:19
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The Value of Gold
Don’t know when we started dreamin – bout a land with nuggets gleamin
But soon we all were streaming off to where that oughta be
It was a mighty rally – the smart ones didn’t dally
We journeyed to this valley of the great discovery
Chorus
Where you are what you find or can neatly designg
Or have shifted or serviced or sold
Break you back or rack your brain we’re all lookin for the same
Something worthy the value of gold
So our dreams did not unravel - not for all the toil and travel
They’re sitting in the gravel of this place we wanna be
Some of us are thriving – some of us are just surviving
Whatever way we’re striving there is but one guarantee
Chorus
Musical Interlude
We’ve heard bout Mr. Barker
Heard bout Mr. Cameron
The other ones they’re clamorin bout in our community
So the rest of us are driven – with whatever skills we’re given
We’re dreamin bout and living for our own discovery
Chorus
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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4. |
More Alive
03:20
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More Alive
V1
Well there's a thing when I'm there with you
Yea there's a thing when we get talking
And so I say without a moment's worth of jive
Ah I'm more alive
V2
You drive me mad - yeah you know you do
You drive me mad and you enjoy it
And yet i know it's on these comforts i survive
Ah I'm more alive
Bridge
Couldn't tell ya where it sits
Couldn't say what bill it fits
It's in a world of its own
There it is in black and white
it's a plain as day and night
How you so easily move me
V3
So many times I'm never sure
So many things roll up like paper at my door
And yet i know upon the moment you arrive
Musical Interlude
So many times I'm never sure
So many things roll up like paper at my door
And yet i know upon the moment you arrive
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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5. |
Kokanee Canary Canoe
02:22
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Kokanee Canary Canoe
Hey don’t you brood if your mood is a sourin
Come to the Bowron it’s waiting for you
There neath the moon you will soon stop your glowerin
I’ll take you out in my Kokanee Canary Canoe
There in the night if the bugs start to bite
We’ll just think bout the birds and the bees
There on the lake we’ll partake of the woo
When I’m with you in my Kokanee Canary Canoe
Far from the hustle and bustle we’ll glide away
Into the evening out under the stars
We’ll find the dance of romance in our hideaway
Soon, very soon, very soon
Just you and I and the deep purple sky
As we ponder the wonders of love
Ah - it will seem like a dream has come true
When I’m with you in my Kokanee Canary Canoe
We can skedaddle and paddle and ooo
Plenty of things in my Kokanee Canary Canoe
Kokanee Canary we’ll be makin merry
Kokanee Canary Canoe
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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6. |
Worlds Apart
04:38
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WORLDS APART
V1
In upper Wells comin down the hill
The air is sweet the moments fill with warmth and gentle sound
By all accounts it’s a summer’s night –but the legion it's a different sight
It’s Christmas all year round
Colored lights on the walls and trees there in a distant glow
Take me back to a time some time ago
Chorus
When we were worlds apart in a world together
Nothing much to say
In a place for the folks who saved our world another world away
Now we’re worlds apart in a world together
Nothing left to fear
See this world a little more clearly every time I’m here
V2
When I came up here back in 94 the legion didn’t mean much more
Than a place for takeout beer
And they sized me up with a jaundiced eye – I was just some summer guy
And probably a queer
Not exactly a flying start all those hackles raised
But that was a time from a time so long ago
Chorus
Bridge
They were moments near forgotten and humorous in the main
Til another world took another spin and moved this world again
V3
There’s a flag I put out for my dad it reminded him when his health was bad
Of me he said with his usual reserve
It’s the flag I see most every day by the legion near the words that say
“In memory of all of those who served”
Memories join on a summers here upon this hill
The colored lights meet the flag and my dad and me
Last Chorus
We were worlds apart in a world together- not that much to say
He was one of those folks who saved this world another world away
Now we’re worlds apart in a world together
Nothing left to fear
See his world a little more clearly ---love my dad a little more dearly
From the colored lights on a summer’s night and the flag and the hill
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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7. |
Quelle D'omage
02:51
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Quelle D’omage
Well a pretty little lady said “Quelle d’omage
I wanna make some money from my new garage"
So she put out a sign on her front lawn
Sayin “I wanna feel C’est bon C’est bon”
A tall drink o water named One Eyed Jack
He had a long sleek satellite Cadillac
He saw the sign and he said “Hon
You’re gonna feel C’est bon C’est Bon!”
So - he drove on up and he drove it on in
Backed it out and drove it right in again
All in all it was a perfect fit
He said “That didn’t hurt not a little old bit”
The One Eyed Jack he said “Oo la la
This pretty little lady got a fine cha cha"
So in a tiny little maison sur la plage
The made C’est Bon C’est Bon from Quelle D’omage
He drove on up and he drove it on in
Backed it out and drove it right in again
All in all it was a perfect fit
He said “That didn’t hurt not a little old bit”
The pretty little lady said “Oo la la
That One Eyed Jack – he got a got a fine cha cha
So in a tiny little maison sur la plage
The made C’est Bon C’est Bon from Quelle D’omage
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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8. |
Here's to the Fools
02:56
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Here’s to the Fools
Here’s to the fools who work upon the street
Who conjure up a treat for all the passers by and
Here’s to the fool with a vigour and a style
Who can wake the tired soul and
Here’s to the fools with an arsenal of ways
To brighten up the days of everyone they see
And here’s to the fools with a simple turn of phrase
Who can show what fools we mortals be
Chorus
Many the costume common the crown
Song or scene or story
Many the country common the ground
Of fools in all their glory
Here’s to the fools who juggle all the rules
Who seem to take you to another time and place
And here’s to the fools who entertain the fools who have
Left another place behind
And here’s to the fools who are of better stock
Than all the useless rock you put their name upon
We are the fold who are as good as gold
When we lead you to your laughter.
Chorus
Fools Fools
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9. |
Driving to Quesnel
03:44
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Driving To Quesnel
V1
Well I set out in the early morn go curving round the lake
Past all the gold adventure tours that no one seems to take
I roll up Devils canyon in a cool and steady climb
An when I pass the Stanley road I’m making perfect time
V2
I start to hope round every curve that wildlife will appear
It’s slightly disappointing now when all I see is deer
I wanna see some big horn moose and best of all some bear
Come on you furry reprobates I know that you’re out there
Chorus
Drive through 40 miles of trees just to get some groceries
Passin honkin great RVs I wish would go to hell
Rollin down through sun and rain mist and cloud and sun again
Drivin to Quesnel Drivin to Quesnel
V3
The flowers bloom on either side so red they seem to bleed
I see a hundred tiny roads and wonder where they lead
As I pass through Wingdam man I always have to stare my my my my my
Just like every time before there ain’t nobody there
Chorus
Middle rap
Up a hill and round a bend – down a hill round again
Pass abandoned mining gear – little more clear cut every year
Lonely cabins in the trees start to fade in small degrees
Half awake and feelin good glidin on through Cottonwood
I drive for 50 minutes and I drop 2000 feet
Coming to the big left turn the journey is complete
With popping ears I turn to face the things I know so well
A giant nugget in a pan and one gigantic too famiiar smell
Chorus
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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10. |
Lovin Time
03:34
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Lovin Time
V1
It’s lovin time again the stars caress the sky
A million tiny eyes are sparkling in the dew
One small number there beside the door
It don’t know the score but I do
V2
It’s lovin time again the moon she overflows
And everybody glows in a mystical hue
One small picture there upon the wall
It don’t need the call but I do
B section
Foolish ecstasy you had all of me
Every day was a song
Now some tattered and lingering melody
Turns out all wrong
V3
The sun comes out again on it’s appointed rounds
A million tiny sounds are jabberin in the blue
One small memory on me like a stain
It don’t feel the pain but I do
Music Interlude
B section
V 3
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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11. |
Pooley Street Stomp
04:18
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Pooley Street Stomp
V1
Got myself a pretty twenty dollar bill
Gonna have a little fun from here to Barkerville
Got a little feeling that I can’t be beat
Got a meeting with my baby up on Pooley Steet
Oh yeah my we’ll be shaking the blues away
V2
All week long workin at the mine
Lookin on to Saturday a quittin time
Gonna be steppin out and look my best
Gonna have a little fun til I forget the rest
And oh my – we’ll be shakin the blues away
Chorus
Where do we meet? On Pooley street
Now where’s the beat? on Pooley Street
Pooley Street we’re shakin the blues away
V3
Tighten up the buttons on my one good suit
Divvy up a quarter for a fine cheroot
Boppin down the Avenue and golly gee
There’s ella with a fella in a Model T
And Oh my they’re shakin the blues away
Chorus
Musical Interlude
V4
Air is cool but the band is hot
Everybody givin everything they got
Silver moon up in the sky
Heard about the boppin so it’s stopping by
And oo my she’ll be shinin and designing down on our delight on Satday night
Chorus
Ross Douglas SOCAN
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12. |
WELLS
03:43
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WELLS
It took a while to know the fellas in the mine
The ones who lied to get the job the ones who’ve done some time
But the bunch of us got lucky and I know
There’s no other place I’d rather be with nowhere else to go
Wells - where my future’s in the ground
When I chance to look around there’s more and more to meet the eye
Wells – I feel your attributes take hold
Just like the gold that’s in this mountain and the silver that’s shining in the sky
A lot of us have gotten pretty sly
If Freddie sees us smoking we can kiss this job goodbye
And the bunch of us – we want to stick around
Cuz we’ve got money in our pockets and we’re tearin up the town
Wells – where you get bitten head to toe and then it’s 42 below until you think you’re gonna die
Wells – you have attained a certain glow
Just like the gold that’s in this mountain and the silver that’s shining in the sky
Freddie’s little town we keep diggin it keeps growin
Bugs keep bitin it keeps snowing and the seasons canter by
There’s money goin round we keep workin we keep drinkin
But a lot of us keep thinkin there’s one thing in short supply
Girls, we need girls, like the ones in all our pictures
O the thought of that is sweeter than the stuff on Freddie’s pancakes
Girls, we need girls, yeah we’re rough but we’re been readied
To be steadied by some ladies –with their lips as soft as snowflakes
I turned 33 a week ago today---it’ll take til I am 35 to wash this dirt away
But I’d rather be a miner with a smell
Than some disinfected hobo begging nickels in Quesnel
Wells –while there’s a living to be made
I here til every vein is played out and there’s nothing left to buy
Wells –may you be thankfully repaid
For the gold that’s in this mountain
And the silver – that shines like the eyes--- of a really, really, really pretty girl
Up in the sky
Ross Douglas--SOCAN
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13. |
Santa Samba
03:10
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SANTA SAMBA
V1
Santa Claus went on vacation For a little getaway
He'd been working thru December
Double time til Christmas Day
So he found a tiny island and a cabin by the bay
Everybody recognized him and this is what they say
CHORUS
"Hey there Mr. Santa You been good to me
You just sit there and relax beneath that mango tree
Hey there Santa Santa
You're a warm and hearty soul.
You'd have to be to live at the North Pole"
V2
Santa learned to do the samba and merengue to and fro
When he did the Cha Cha Cha we all could hear him
"HO HO HO"
Every night there on the island he was out there having fun.
Every afternoon we could see him playing dominoes in the sun
CHORUS AND LIMBO DANCE BREAK
V3
Everybody from Santa Rosa right on down to Santa Cruz
Heard about old Santa Santa and all the Santa Santa news
So they said "Felicidades - from the places where it's hot
Hope you teach everybody how to do the samba
everywhere it's not"
FINAL CHORUS
"Hey there Mr. Santa -you been good to me
You just sit there and relax beneath that mango tree
Hey there Santa Santa you're a warm and hearty soul.
You'd have to be a polar bear
Wearing thermal underwear
You'd have to be to live
at the North Pole"
SANTA!
Words and Music –Ross Douglas SOCAN
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Ross Douglas Point Roberts, Washington
Ross Douglas is an award winning songwriter with 4 albums of original song and a jaunty performance manner. He is eclectic - with influences of folk, jazz ,pop and theatre weaving their way into his music. He is in many cases a story teller. Check him out at www.rossdouglassongs.com ... more
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