Ridin’ The Tails (Live)

Category: My Failed Music Career

This was a song about what happens when a band in an area “makes it.” In 1988, the Boston band Extreme were signed to a major record deal. They were one of the best bands on the scene. And…as a result, a bunch of good bands, suddenly changed their style to mimic what Extreme did, in hopes that they too would be signed. It’s not a unique thing. It’s been happening since day one. The Beatles had a thousand copycat bands. And today, you can’t turn the radio on, without some band trying to sound like Nickelback, or whatever flavor of the month band is currently getting huge airplay. So…we wrote a song about it. The first lyrics; “Ten years gone, it’s the same old song & dance.”  obviously referencing Zeppelin & Aerosmith. The only clue we gave to the fact that we were clowning our peers was the line “and everyone around you, starts to sound extremely alike.” At that point, our guitarist Barry, would rip a lick from Extreme’s “Decadence Dance.”

The number of bands that came up to us to tell us how much they liked the song was considerable. Never once did they realize that we might’ve been clowning them. We had a good time.

Ten years gone, it’s the same old song & dance
What the hell went wrong? You’ve given it every chance
You’re out on the road but…you’re not doin’ your own thing
You’ve got a long way to go…Just a puppet…on a string

I’ve seen this kind of thing
Seen it all before
You grab the golden ring
With one foot in the door

Song for a buck
You know your style’s for sale
Don’t give it up
Just stop ridin’ the tails

Night after night, and stage after stage
It’s always the same fight, with your inner feelings of rage
You think that you’ve done it all…but something’s still not right
And everyone around you…starts to sound extremely alike

I’ve seen this kind of thing
Seen it all before
You grab the golden ring
With one foot in the door

Song for a buck
You know your style’s for sale
Don’t give it up
Just stop ridin’ the tails
Had some bad luck
Starting to feel like you failed
Don’t give it up
Just stop ridin’ the tails

Oh, get off my tail!

(Solo)

I’ve seen this kind of thing
Seen it all before
Yeah, you grab the golden ring
You’re knockin’ on that door

Song for a buck
You know your style’s for sale
Don’t give it up
Just stop ridin’ the tails
Had some bad luck
Starting to feel like you failed
Don’t give it up
Just stop ridin’ the tails

Tails? You’re ridin’ the tails