038: The Ballad of Toby Ziegler (my first original song)

In an attempt to encourage the budding songwriters at home, Paul plays the first song he ever wrote (way back in April 2009): a dedicated to his favourite West Wing character, Toby Ziegler.

Personal channel: http://www.youtube.com/songsfrompaul
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/spinachpuffs

Lyrics and all that jazz:
There was a man - a man of great intellect
This man was not very thin
He had a beard on his chin

There was a man who had the ear of the President
His mood was not very tame
He helped out in Bartlet's campaign

This is the ballad of Toby Ziegler
But I can't think of a word that rhymes with Ziegler

Born on Christmas Eve-Eve, the son of a criminal
Bursting with sarcastic wit
Shame that he never kept fit
Thoughtful and kind - though he'd never confess as such
A brother to all of his staff
He'd help them along on their path

This is the ballad of Toby Ziegler
But there's still no word that rhymes with Ziegler

But oh, the skies turned black
He knew he never could go back
He leaked secrets to the press
Though it was the right thing, I guess
But still he had to go
It was never quite the same show
Without our good friend Toby, though...

On Bartlet's last day - his last act as President
Toby was pardoned of all
It was a brilliant call
Spared life in a cell by the one who he had let down
He now shares his brilliant mind
To inspire the rest of mankind

That was the ballad of Toby Ziegler
And there ain't no word that rhymes with Ziegler


Chords:
Verse - C, G, F, C
Chorus - F, G, C
Bridge - Am, Em x2; Am, G, F, G

Category:

Music

Tags:

• original
• song
• toby
• ziegler
• ballad
• west
• wing
• president
• bartlet
• acoustic
• songsfrompaul
• wwrock
• is
• the
• new
• trock

[RedVines730]

Toby is my favorite. Thank you for this. It's great. :)

[proverbialcheese]

I like the guitar on your song. Nice strumming pattern. I have started to create songs on my guitar, however Im still not smooth enough to sing and strum at the same time. hnestly my singing needs lots of work anyway. Maybe you could do a video on singing while playing guitar? Any advice?

[boirlesnow]

Ziegler, dealer, freezer, weezer, Fiddler, wheeler, pleaser, tweezer, screamer, etc. Just sayin'. And thanks for that, I love Toby Ziegler especially because his father was a gangster and he was 180 degrees away from that.

[jimbobjimminy]

I hated it when Toby went...

Even Richard Schiff said Toby wouldn't actually have done something like that.

Schiff rationalised it to himself as Toby taking the fall for CJ

[blithium]

Could've sworn that guy in the thumbnail was wheezywaiter. . .

[tjbailey08]

I actually think that the chord progression is awesome, and Im kinda diggin the song!

[DeniseBeeVlogs]

That was nerd-tastic. I approve.

[IJethrobot]

Oh man, The Fiancee is going to love this song. She's a huge fan of the show.

Great song Paul, and (I deliberately don't say "but") I will acknowledge that your songwriting skills have grown since your first. : )

~ Jethro.

[doctornoise]

sounded like a pretty good first song to me.  I can't even remember what my first song was, but I have an idea, though.

[artvandelay13]

(epic x epic + epic)^epic

West Wing ftw!!