Truth is better than fiction.  A friend told me about getting kicked out of Costco. You just can't make this stuff up. Here is the song: 

Kicked out (Datta 10/13/2019)

Dm Bb F C

1. I was kicked out of Costco but it’s not what you’re thinking

Not for eating all the samples after I’d been drinking

Not from paying pennies when I did have cash

I was kicked out of Costco for doing some math

2. I was having a gathering for a close group of friends

And my sweetheart warned me- be careful what I spend

So I grabbed a cart- then I had a thought-

I should figure this out and see how dear it will cost.

Chorus) They kicked me out- Shout it out----- get out 

3. I was pushing my cart and roaming the aisles

Writing down the cost of roast beef and pies.

Wine and cake --beer and iced tea.

Getting math right is important to me 

4. When a tough guy stepped up to me with a fearsome frown

Blocked my path and asked what I was writing down.

I said Sir step aside there’s no need to be so crass

I am writing down prices and checking my math

Chorus

5. He and a larger friend took me by the arm.

I tried to back away-- told them I meant no harm

They claimed from Sam’s club- I don’t know this Sam

Why would I join his club? HE KNOWS NOT WHO I AM

6. So I gathered up my dignity and my shopping list

And I walked out the door yelling I’ve had enough of this.

You can keep the bulk items- the crates and the bales

I’ll go find the one called Sam and see what he has for sale.

Chorus x2 

Drunk in Wisconsin again

I originally wrote this song back in March of 2017 but we're still working the bugs out in January of 2018.  There is a lot of creative input from the other musicians and eventually you end up with a better stronger song. Plus when you work with other songwriters, only rehearse once a week and have gigs- things take a while.

Here is the current version. This is inspired by Brian Handeland who, when asked how he spent his weekend, responded with "I was drunk in Wisconsin." :)

Drunk in Wisconsin Datta 3/3/2017

Intro: C G F

C G Dm F

1. Been gone for 3 weeks ---seems like ten- didn't say goodbye .

A home, a place, where I belong- Might be a lie.

G F C G

And I've been to Mount Horeb—land of trolls – and a couple of bars

Played every song we knew- were paid in beer- then couldn't find our cars.

Am C

x So don't try to call me – got a gig in Milwaukee-

G F Am C

Playing 9-1 then drinking with our new friends relive past glories

G F C GF C GF

having so much fun drunk in Wisconsin again. And again

RIF Dm C G

2 The life of a musician---- is glamorous- can't remember why

Sometimes I try so hard ----- I no longer have to try.

Taking turns driving and reading every book we brought- together we're alone

Just left Eau Claire- and we're lost again- and I lost my phone.

CHORUS

RIF Dm C G

3. It's been 4 weeks now—-on the road- but hey, we're still alive

and I've written four new songs ---because they won't let me drive.

Hope my sister feeds my cat I shipped it to her on a bus.

Who ever said you can't make a living playing music on the road never met us

CHORUS CHORDS:

We'll survive ourselves and we'll survive each other- and think it all was grand

Won't be a household name- but what the heck. We're in a working band.

Chorus:

So Don't try to call me- got a gig in Milwaukee-

playing 9-1 then drinking with our new friends relive past glories- having so much fun

F C G F C G F C

Drunk in Wisconsin- again. And again and again

RIF Dm C G

The Ballad of Wild Bill

Wild Bill passed away recently. He was an interesting guy and I worked on a song for his memorial. He'll be missed. He had a very nice send-off.

Wild Bill's Farewell                                                                                    Datta 9/1/2016

C D F

1.Where do you go when all the wild is gone?

Am G F

Where do you go when you can barely hold your eyelids up to see?

C D F

Your friends speak in hushed tones and the times you are alone

Am G F

Your dreams are filled with things that still could be.

2 You woke up to hear your daughter crying.

You tried to say I'm sorry I got old this fast-- you see

There was a lot more road stretched out in front of me

And I dream of things that still could be.

Am F

Chorus: Because I closed my eyes don't mean I'm not riding by

C G

Surrounded by my brothers.

Am F

Because you don't see me here don't mean I'm not kicking it into gear

C G C D F / Am G F

I will not be another memory

3 Don't say Bill without adding the wild.

Don't say gone without adding the not forgotten still.

His name on a patch or some Themadone tattoo.

But there's way more than that to Wild Bill.

4 And it's good to know you're no longer in pain.

And it's good to send you back out on the road again.

Riding shoulder to shoulder with the ones who went before.

Just no longer here anymore.

Chorus: Because I closed my eyes don't mean I'm not riding by

Surrounded by my brothers.

Because you don't see me here don't mean I'm not kicking it into gear.

I will not be another – memory Am F C G

Live Chickens- a lyrical challenge

I suggested to Mike that "Live Chickens" would be a great title for an instrumental. His response was: "What? Not up to writing lyrics about Chickens?"  Oooooo- a challenge.   These aren't finished yet and haven't figured out how they will fit to music but here is a start:

LIVE CHICKENS Lyrics: Datta 6/30/2016

1) I've seen a lot of dead possums on the roadside

Tons of squirrels and skunks don't make it out alive

An occasional turtle and one time a goat

Who got out of the gate and that's all she wrote

2) You always have to look as you drive by

And wonder what it was when it was alive

Then you start joking- why did the chicken cross the road

Take a good look buddy, that's no chicken- that's a toad.

X) You can joke about why they cross the road

But chickens survive

If they are crossing the road for any reason

They must make it out alive

With their little wings, tiny feet

And beady eyes.

If they are crossing the road

Chickens survive.

3) Yeah I've seen them frozen in the grocery store and unfrozen on the farm

I know they don't all live long lives and do come to harm.

Don't think it's from smoking cigarettes or drinking beer

But chickens don't make it too long around here

4) It isn't from riding without helmets on their motor bikes

Or not from staying up too late and picking chicken fights

Their lives may be short but one thing you should know

Chickens don't drop dead from crossing the road

If they are crossing the road- they must make it out alive

If they are crossing the road- chickens survive.

Memphis to Nashville

Funny- I've written two songs that count mileage. Guess it comes from doing a lot of driving. Mike is singing this one and doing a wonderful job with it, as usual.

Memphis to Nashville                                                                Datta 6/25/2015

Intro: A EM A D A Em D (D Am D G D Am G)

A (D) Em (Am)

1.Is anything out there- from Memphis to Nashville?

A (D) G (C)

When it’s a hurry to leave and a hurry to stay.

D (G)

Counting the miles/ counting the hours

A (D)

Staring at trees-------not seeing the flowers_____( A(D) Em (Am) D (G))

2) Is anything out there- from Memphis to Nashville?

When you have to leave, and it all looks the same.

God isn’t here, he stayed behind

For a tour of Graceland.— -------/and he’s the first in line.­_Hold on A (D)

Em (Am) D (G) A(D)

Chorus: and It’s two hundred twelve miles from Memphis to Nashville

Em (Am) D (G) A(D)

it's Sixty two miles from Memphis to space

G(C) D (G) A(D)

If there’s a hurry to leave and a hurry to get there

Em(Am) D (G) A(D)

Where we're going – another place.

3) So I’m on my own, on the way to Nashville

I have to leave and I have to stay.

Counting the miles counting the hours

Staring at trees / not seeing the flowers.

4) It’s all the same from Nashville to Memphis

Heading back the way I already came

God isn’t here- Don't waste his time

He wants to tour Graceland -----/– He’s the first in line.

Chorus

Solo: A EM A D A Em D

5) Is anyone out there- I’m in Memphis or Nashville

Or Jackson-- depends on the time

Counting telephone poles -watching the wires

Like the Wichita lineman, I’m still on the line.

Chorus- Up on PLACE end on A

Side view Mirror

This song started out with Mike saying "It all looks clearer in the rear view mirror."  It sounded like a great starting place for a song. Turns out that Pearl Jam already has a song "Rear View Mirror." Well, that didn't stop me. The idea is still good and I just switched mirrors :)  Here are the lyrics:

Side View Mirror                                                   Datta 1/18/2016

C (A)

1. In 1974 I thought it would be smart
   F (D) C (A)
   to forget about college-- and be a country music star
   It made my folks real mad so I told them I didn't need them
   F (D) C (A)
   and now I spend my days repairing--- parking meters.     Gm (Em) F (D) C (A)
2. On my way to stardom I met a well spoken biker
   Gm (Em) F (D) C (A)
   He was easy on the eyes-better looking than that hitchhiker
   C (A)
   Now he's my big mistake and wonders how he got here.
   F (D) C (A)
   But I'm five miles down the road
   Gm (Em) C (A)
   Moving 90 miles an hour
   F (D) C (A) Gm (Em) F (D)
   and it's all looking better and better to me right here   

C (A)

in the side view mirror

SOLO OVER C/F/C C/F/C CHORDS

3. Then I discovered meth and thought I might be a drug dealer
   You make more per hour than fixing parking meters
   But when you're cuffed and stuffed then killing time in jail
   Everything looks clearer when you're trying to make bail
4. Now five years later I'm out hanging with my friends
   The biker up and left but he's the gift that never ends
   No more selling meth - now he's running guns

Chorus; I'm 5 miles down the road

Moving 90 miles an hour

and it's all looking better and better to me right here
in the side view mirror
(repeat/ solo(s) over chorus chords/ repeat chorus)

Lyrics: Ratbike

Rat Bike

Dale/ Datta  - July 9,2015

Some poser says “What do you guys ride?”

If you’re talking to me- a dyna wide glide

1) Fred here rides a heritage softtail

Nasty and Jay- FLH

Waste has a shovelhead custom hardtail

Yeah they’re all Harleys. What did you think?

Same question from another slob

Wild Bill says I ride a street bob.

2) And Al has an electro glide ultra classic

But the best bike here, the one you should get

Wrench rides a rat bike; a panshovel custom hardtail

With a jockey shift. Go on -give it a spin

SOLO: GUITAR

Hey- don’t you wanna ride?

Come on - Let’s take it outside.

3) Nothing on the handlebars but the throttle

Left foot clutch, Right foot brake.

Reach down with you left hand to shift it

by the open primary- and ain’t that great?

SOLO: SAX

Hey rub, are you gonna bail

On riding the Pan shovel custom hardtail?

Do you still want to know what the big boys ride?

Come on- let’s take it outside.

4) Johnny rides a chopped up “87 Sportster

Billy has a black Road King

Kip rides a shovelhead Custom Wideglide

Yeah they’re all Harleys. What did you think?