Makin' Music on Main Street (Original)

I wrote this one around a picture from one of my father's old photo albums. (Photo shown at end of video)
The date on the back was from August 1939, it was taken in Melrose, MN, and he had all the names of the guys that were in the picture too. I never did know the story of the picture, but I assume they all got together to play in the parking lot of Wiehoff's on/off liquor sales that August afternoon. I was going to try and add some horn sounds but since my knowledge of using the music software from my computer is very limited, I gave up and just used the guitar.
Hope ya like it and hope you all have a great week!

Song Lyrics:

GO TELL LEANDER, CALL UP JOE
PASS THE WORD TO BIM AND VERN, AND DON'T FORGET LEO
TELL TED AND RALPH THEY HAD BETTER SHOW
DOWN BY WIEHOFF'S LIQUOR STORE
WE'LL HAVE A TUBA, AND A SNARE DRUM, AND SOME SLIDE TROMBONES
A CORNET, A BASS DRUM AND TWO BARITONES
WHEN WE REALLY GET GOING, THIS WHOLE TOWN WILL KNOW
THAT WE'RE MAKIN' MUSIC ON MAIN STREET
AINT NO ADMISSION, THERE'LL BE NO CHARGE HERE
JUST GIVE WIEHOFF SOME BUSINESS, BUY A BOTTLE OF BEER
AND BRING IT ROUND BACK TO THE PARKIN LOT
OPEN UP YOUR EARS, WE'LL GIVE IT ALL WE GOT
WE MIGHT EVEN TAKE A REQUEST OR TWO
IF WE KNOW THE SONG, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO
WE MIGHT HAVE TO FAKE IT THROUGH A NOTE OR TWO
BUT WE'LL BE MAKIN MUSIC ON MAIN STREET
LET OUR SOUND GO UP AND DOWN ALL THE STREETS OF THIS SMALL TOWN
THE SHOW IS FREE AND OUR MELODY SHOULD BRING THEM ALL AROUND.
NO OCCASION, NO HOLIDAY, DON'T ASK WHAT WE'RE PLAYIN' FOR
WE'RE JUST MAKIN MUSIC IN A PARKING LOT
BY WIEHOFF'S LIQOUR STORE
WHEN THE SHOW IS OVER, THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOIN' WEEKEND CHORES TODAY
BUT THERE'S NO STOPPIN US ONCE WE START TO PLAY
THE WORK WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER DAY
CAUSE THERE AINT NO BETTER SOUND THAT WE CAN HEAR
AND THAT'S WHEN THE SONG IS OVER AND THEY CLAP AND CHEER
MAKES US ALL HAPPY THAT WE'RE ALL DOWN HERE
MAKIN MUSIC ON MAIN STREET

Category:

Music

Tags:

• johnfern99
• jthomas7876
• melrose
• MN

[90265SE14]

I knew it! I knew you had music runnin in your veins and from your dad! I listened to your rendition on your keyboard and the brownie pan drum haha! Great job there and this simple acoustic is awesome! I finally did an upload of a Brucie from 'Nebraska' after how many months. P'haps I can be more consistent. Have a great day and stay warm!

[Johnfern99]

@90265SE14 Thanks Robin, glad ya liked both versions and I'll check out your new Springsteen tune first chance I get! Stayin' warm here for now since it's 39 degrees! Wish it would stay like this all winter. Take care.

[Zsolto66]

I am so ashamed, John, I was not aware of this upload. I got no notification from YouTube -- it happens sometimes -- and I did not visit your channel either. Anyway, you know how much I like your reminiscence songs and videos. This is another one that captures a long-gone moment so vividly I almost feel I am in the crowd gathering for that performance. I like the repost of this with just the picture as the video. Glad to be able to post a proper comment here. Thank you,

Zsolt

[Johnfern99]

@Zsolto66 Don't worry about it, Zsolt. Glad ya got to check out both versions and I appreciate your kind words. Take care, my freind.

[batsinyourbelfry]

As usual, good idea. To me, it's good enough to re-record after the wording is a bit more fluid and familiar to you. I particularly love the unison voice overdub passes, they somehow evoke "Gary Lewis and the Playboys" or "Circle"-era vocal stylings, which I dig, too. Additionally, I, of all people, can relate - though my format generally differs from that of the guys in the picture.Just so I have it straight, was your dad one of the players in the photo? If so, which instrument?Merry Christmas!

[Johnfern99]

@batsinyourbelfry Thanks very much and I do have another version I did of this after I learned it better and will post it eventually. I always liked Gerry Lewis too and Cyrkle also so maybe it was a subconcious influence. My dad was the guy with the trumpet who is partially obstructed in the photo. He's behind the guy with the bass drum. Merry Christmas to you too!

[Johnfern99]

@sherrilynn115oo Hi Sherri! Thanks very much and hope things are well with you.

[sherrilynn115oo]

Hi John! How nice to see and hear you! I always enjoy your songs my friend! Take care!

[Johnfern99]

@memphis3dude Thanks very much! I wanted to do something a little faster this time around. I would love to step into a time machine and hear whatever they played also! Thanks for your comment!

[Johnfern99]

@denkar1891 Thanks, appreciate that, Dennis!