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American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine

by Jerry Axson

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1.
Don't Mess With Me When I'm Driving 03:55
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Don't Mess With Me When I'm Driving ©Jerry Axson You couldn't pry my hands from this steering wheel, cause' I'm too far gone to know what to feel I drove forty-five miles on your desert line- I say it's dry but you say we're fine- You got me going around just like these wheels... Don't mess with me when I'm driving baby, I could lose control and wreck my soul - just maybe, if I fall asleep at the wheel tonight, will you wake me up if you get it right?, don't mess with me when I'm driving baby... don't mess with me when I'm driving baby... You’ve got the right idea but you don't think safe, your timings all wrong and this isn't the place, If I stood up now I could hurt myself- I wouldn't wish this on anyone else- take a peak dear - or just cut to the chase... Do you want the wheel?, do you want the keys too?, can you get us there any faster, if you drive all day and all night through???
2.
You Can’t Do That 04:13
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You Can’t Do That ©Jerry Axson Me and Mon took the Cyclone out - it was a Friday night, had us a few beers to drink - yeah, we were feeling alright, Took her down El Pacino road - man we gave her the gas! There’s no looking back – You can’t do that... nobody’s keeping track – You can’t do that... Hey girl you’re a real fine looker, why don’t you come over here... Because I’m too dumb to know, I let my feelings show, I got nowhere to go tonight... We always end up parked downtown in the Foodstore customer lot, and sure enough everybody we know - is in their usual spot, We’re all waiting for something to happen - I hope it happens to me! Because I can’t get free – You can’t do that... you’d think eventually – You can’t do that... Hey girl you’re a real fine looker, why don’t you come over here... Because I’m too dumb to know, I let my feelings show, I got nowhere to go tonight... I’m not sleeping so good... not like the way that I should... I lay awake in my bed... all kinds of thoughts running through my head... I hate laying alone... You can’t do that... I hate waiting alone... You can’t do that... I hate staying alone... You can’t do that... I hate being alone... You can’t do that... We’re all waiting for something to happen - I hope it happens to me! Well I’m just talking trash – You can’t do that... Because I want you bad – You can’t do that...
3.
Smalltown Girl 05:08
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Smalltown Girl ©Jerry Axson Look her in the eyes or just look away - shut my mouth - I’ve got nothing to say, I’ve been saving up my pennies for a rainy day, slipping out the back door to make a getaway, I’ve got all my dreams - all my stars, packed up in a box in the back of my car, a little money saved and a tired credit card, I’m getting down the road but I don’t know how far All my life I’ve been searching for something to do - all my life I’ve never thought about a girl like you... Never fall in love with a smalltown girl, got her hand on her heart and an undone curl, enough makeup on to make a grown man blush, rough around the edges but soft to the touch, The thing you need to know about a smalltown girl, how a tiny grain of sand becomes a beautiful pearl, in the eyes of a lover, the eyes of a friend. a diamond in the rough and so it begins... Well I might have noticed you back in high school, but I never said a word - I was way to cool, I’ve been waiting for a moment to come around - shake the dust off my feet from this old town, I’m looking to the left - I’m looking to the right, I’m looking toward the west at dawn’s first light, I’ve got better things to do - better places to be, you can plan all you want but don’t include me, I thought I’d get up this morning and drive, drive, drive... but I can’t seem to get you off of my mind...
4.
The Girl In My Head 05:05
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The Girl In My Head ©Jerry Axson She comes to me - in my dreams, and it occurs to me - she’s not what she seems, with a passive heart - and a steady hand, she won’t be owned - by any one man - and you’ll see that she walks with a purpose in her stride, and you’ll hear that she speaks with a clarity of mind, she will move her eyes over you and they’ll see through, you are nine tenths in possession and no matter what you do... The girl in my head, the girl in my hands, touch but no feel, and I don’t understand, The girl in my head, the girl in my heart, so close to be so far, and she’s tearing me apart... She don’t give in - to my every desire, and I respect that in her - it fuels the fire, I lay awake in bed - and I long for the night, when it falls this hard, it wraps me up tight - I’m a man on a mission so don’t tell me what I want, I need a crystalline princess to a naughty debutante, you can keep your pound of flesh - I’ll take a real deep sleep, by the time I rise and shine I’ll find it’s me between the sheets...
5.
(Just Under) The Yellow Light 04:59
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(Just Under) The Yellow Light ©Jerry Axson Who's the boy waving from the parking lot?, with your bag of groceries in his hands, acne face, jerky eyes, yes he smiles a lot, wants to build his life from a pile of sand, Well he don't know much about the world that he lives in...he says - give me a call sometime and maybe I'll begin... And I'm always - just under the yellow light, that's the story of my life, maybe wrong or maybe right, Yes, I'm always - just under the yellow light, out of reach is out of sight, such a shame I can't get it right... Who's the boy walking his dog in the searing heat?, too much sun on his shoulders red, would it help if he told us he was an imbecile?, I am he cried - I am I said, Well he don't know much about the world that he lives in...he says - give me a call sometime and maybe I'll begin... And I'm always - just under the yellow light, that's the story of my life, maybe wrong or right, Yes, I'm always - just under the yellow light, out of reach is out of sight, such a shame I can't get it right... He gets lonely every night, just lays there so still and quiet, for the pendulum swings over his head, cuts him in two then he'll be dead... And I'm always - just under the yellow light, that's the story of my life, maybe wrong or right, Yes, I'm always - just under the yellow light, out of reach is out of sight, such a shame I can't get it right... Yellow light, yellow light, yellow light, yellow light - Yellow light, yellow light, yellow light, yellow light - Yellow light, yellow light, yellow light, yellow light - Yellow light, yellow light, yellow light, yellow light -
6.
(I'll Tell The World) All About You 06:58
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(I'll Tell The World) All About You ©Jerry Axson Strange visions run across my eyes, thought I saw you just the other day, A tattooed name high upon your thigh, I could not get you to look my way, Broke my will when I was down, crushed my spirit to the ground, arrows flying overhead, strange division in my bed... but it's too late now... I'll tell the world all about you, you're the animal that ripped my heart in two, I'll tell the world all about you girl, and you'll feel just like this when I'm through with you, Money speaks in strange tongue my love, I guess you sold yourself this cheap, ruby red and that blouse could use a tug, You’re so far gone - beyond discreet, All this time I've wasted here, waiting for you my dear, but you are never coming back, you'll just slip between the cracks... and it's too late now...
7.
Moon And The Stars 05:31
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Moon And The Stars ©Jerry Axson I walked alone, for a long, long time, I’m used to solitude - I know my own mind, when the darkness fell so hard, and the cold wind blew, I would sit and think on these things, I even thought about you, And you never were afraid to look me in the eye... that’s why I’ve never been ashamed - to cry... Tell me there’s more to this – than I’ve seen so far, I know you’re out there tonight - not just the moon and the stars... moon and the stars... moon and the stars... The clouds drift away now, an ocean of stars are revealed, am I the only living soul before you tonight - or is that just the way I feel?, and I lift up my name to you - the house where I live, my loved ones around me now - all my possessions to give And you’ve never been ashamed to look me in the eye... that’s why I’m not afraid - to die...
8.
Round And Around 04:08
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Round And Around ©Jerry Axson Little Madonna always hits the right spots, she gives until there’s nothing to give and I can’t help but think of her sometimes - is this the way she chose to live??? Round and round - watch her spinning a - Round and round - watch her spinning a - Round and round - all fall down... All her friends say she’s their anchor, until a rough sea comes along, and she’s left standing in the shadows alone - wondering where it all went wrong... I can’t help her get up - I can’t help her stand up - I can’t stop this merry-go-round... Round and round... Round and round... Round and round and round... Round and round and round...
9.
Mountain In Motion 04:33
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Mountain In Motion ©Jerry Axson I'm gonna' pay my money to a Gypsy Queen, she's gonna' tell me what your little lies mean, aint' gonna' throw myself to the mercy of the wind- cause' I know it'll blow me back to you again- Lord knows...this is some kind of dream... No, I can't stop thinking bout' the look in your eyes, or the way those pants wrap around your thighs, I'm a mountain in motion when you touch me there, it's the feel of your skin - the scent of your hair, No, I can't stop looking when you walk away, every step is in time - every movement in sway, like a mountain in motion I begin to shake, don't want to fall but I just can't break...away... I'm gonna' sanctify my soul inside, got to purge myself of all ignorant pride, Drop down on my knees in the middle of the night- and pray for mercy til' the early morning light- I'm a man possessed inside... Mountain in motion... Just a - mountain in motion... Just a - mountain in motion... Just a - mountain in motion...
10.
Judy’s New Shoes (2013 Remix) 04:33
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Judy’s New Shoes ©Jerry Axson Judy’s got a brand new pair of shoes, and Judy’s going rock away all of her blues, much too high a price to pay - this is our bed and here we’ll lay - now all she has to do is choose... I can’t stand to see you this way I want you to come and stay - with me no hidden treasure I could find, would ease this pain in my heart and mind, I can’t stand to see you this way... Judy’s got a man who don’t come home, and Judy’s much too beautiful to be alone, as far as me and her are concerned - I’ll use every trick in the book I’ve learned - whatever’s left of tolerance is long gone...
11.
Tomorrow Without You 03:51
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Tomorrow Without You ©Jerry Axson I'm on the back porch, under the dim light, Trying to keep myself out of view, Through the screen door, I can see him, As he puts his arms around you... He don't want you, he don't love you, He can't protect you from the world outside, He's got intention, with no emotion, Use you up and toss you aside... I don't want to face tomorrow without you, But its' starting to look like I might have to, No, I don't want to face tomorrow without you, But from where I stand it looks like I'm gonna' have to- Tomorrow without you... I've been a stone boy, you have forgotten, Who picked you up every time you fell down, There's something missing, in my eyes, Keep it in, no - I won't make a sound... And I can't cross here - the waters too deep, I can't follow, you move too fast, You better hold up, I'm right behind you, When it comes 'round to my turn at last...
12.
American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine 04:48
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American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine ©Jerry Axson Well I thought I heard you call me back in ‘73, when I had nothing to live for, your FM sounds really blew me away, your eight tracks left me wanting more, I grew up fast and I grew up hard, just the way you wanted me to, I keep it hungry and it keeps me lean - American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine... I bought my first guitar when I was fifteen years old, taught myself to play day and night, something about flesh bending steel on wood, I knew that I was getting it right, I’ve never loved nothing the way I love you, what’s a poor monkey to do? I keep it tight and it keeps me mean - American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine... I thought about quitting just the other day, thought about shutting it down, but I looked out across a vacant land, and knew that I was here for the sound, I’ll never love nothing the way I love you, what’s a poor monkey to do?, I’ll wash this thing til’ it shines and gleans - American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine...

about

“American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine”
Recipe =
1 cup Mott The Hoople
1 cup Golden Earring
1 cup The Sweet
1 cup Nazareth
And just a dash of Journey and Roxy Music

With the experimentation and learning phase of “Songs From The Tenderbox” behind me I set out to record a rock solid and polished 12 song project but just prior to kicking off the songwriting for this new project I had immersed myself in classic rock for a time and of course as the first few songs started taking shape they were leaning toward that genre so rather than fight it I decided to run with it. I came up with the concept of a 70’s/80’s classic rock themed compilation under the title “American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine and set about trying to channel as much of that time period as I could.
“Don’t Mess With Me (When I’m Driving)” and the title says it all! Great opening song for this project – this one was originally an Altered Moods composition with a hook chorus and funny smart-@$$ lyrics, this one just fell in place once I had my direction. “You Can’t Do That” was a love song to my teen years spent growing up in Los Banos, California – Ramon and I were again cruising in his red Cyclone! “Smalltown Girl” was kind of a strange entry but my heart was in the right place, probably more of a Journey type pop-love-ballad than anything else still it had some nice moments. “The Girl In My Head” was one of my favorites off this project with the cool descending/ascending progressions and the absolute hook of the chorus it was a bit lengthy but pretty solid overall. “(Just Under) The Yellow Light” was originally written for Altered Moods but was never worked up by the band. I filed it away for someday and with this project I had the opportunity to record it so I went all out and it ended up very nicely done – this was a catchy song and I always loved the horn section kicking in the background. ”Round And Around” was a pop-rock piece where I had the opportunity to not use distortion but rather work up the instruments, (particularly the guitar parts), as clean as possible. “Mountain In Motion” and again the title says it all, this one was a rocker from the lyrics to the instrumentation. Using my 58’ Les Paul I built and executed the only slide guitar I would ever perform and it worked perfectly for this particular song. “Judy’s New Shoes” is probably my favorite track from this project, I thought the moment I started writing the lyrics I had a great rock song but once I added the slamming guitar parts I knew. This was a song I would love if I heard it on the radio and it kicked much @$$. “Tomorrow Without You” was another song from the final days of Altered Moods that I felt would be a perfect fit on this project. A good solid pop song with a great hook chorus this one was a lot of fun to record, I especially love the string build up at the end. When I went to write the close out song for this thing I knew I had to come up with something that summed it all up. It took a while but when I finally got around to utilizing the title itself the song pretty much wrote itself. Cocky, bugger-headed and busting with attitude “American Rock N’ Roll Monster Machine” was a perfect way to bring it all to a close.

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released March 1, 2006

Jerry Axson

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Jerry Axson Columbia, South Carolina

To me simplicity is the root of all great thoughts. The secret thrill for me, the architect, is delivering that thought with unobtrusive complexity. Writing songs and composing music satisfy my soul and because of this I know exactly what I am designed to do, it’s just that simple. - Jerry Axson ... more

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