Although this was the first album as the current line-up, this 2001 release sounds as though Tonic Sol-fa has already been together for years. The cover songs are masterfully arranged, and the original tunes are done well. Style starts with the light, pop sound of “Na, Na, Na”, then onto the doo-wop feel of “Love You Forever”, both originals. The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” is made for acappella. “The Road”, another original, could (and should) be the mandatory graduation song across the country. “Man Of Constant Sorrow”, from the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack gives the Soggy Bottom Boys a run for their money, and “Witchy Woman” would make Don Henley smile. “Ready-Made” has a nice, strong, booming bass lead, and while “Go Tell It On The Mountain” is traditionally considered a Christmas tune, the latin-feel makes the song’s presence on this album far from out-of-place. “Land Of 1,000 Dances” is far more hip and rockin’ than the original played on the Oldies station, and “Oklahoma Wind” is one of the group’s most requested original songs, hands-down. You must get this album.
LYRICS
Na Na Na
Words by S. Johnson, Music by G. Bannwarth and S. Johnson, Arranged by G. Bannwarth, S. Johnson and Tonic Sol-fa
Verse
I write you love notes
You never write back
Still I’m waiting for your reply
Though I may be crazy
I don’t wanna say goodbye
Chorus 1
I wanna swim in your ocean
When I get the notion
I just wanna hold you
I need you, c’mon
My love is so strong
I just wanna be with you
Verse
And so our love song
It might not last long
Could you dream of me please, please
You overlook me, but
You wanna kiss me
There’s a simple remedy
Chorus 2
I wanna climb through your window
Blast away like Solo
I just wanna hold you
I need you, c’mon
My love is so strong
I just wanna be with you
Love You Forever
Words by G. Bannwarth and S. Johnson, Music by G. Bannwarth, Arranged by G. Bannwarth, S. Johnson and Tonic Sol-fa
Chorus
I’m gonna love you forever, baby
I’m gonna love you forever, never let you go
I’m gonna love you forever, baby
I need you so
Verse
Do you remember? I do
When you’re thinkin back to summertime and
Everything was fine
Bein’ with you
Stuck together
Remembering times that we shared
Now every time I close my eyes you’ll always be there
CHORUS
Verse
Girl, in my dreams
You’re here with me
Softly we do sail across the tangerine sea
Each night I lay down
With one single prayer
That every time I close my eyes you’ll always be there
Bridge
Let’s bring back
True love that
Goes on indefinitely
And when we hear that our love won’t last
We’ll hold onto each other and we’ll never look back
CHORUS
Eleanor Rigby
Words and music by J. Lennon and P. McCatney
The Road
Words by S. Johnson, Music by G. Bannwarth and S. Johnson, Arranged byG. Bannwarth, S. Johnson and Tonic Sol-fa
Verse
Everyday I make my way
Through the ups and the downs
I get broken and tired, I lose my way
Then I hear you say
Chorus
When the road is long
And you can’t go on
You can depend on me
I know in my heart
You’ll come back to the start
You can depend on me
Verse
You’ve always been a friend to me
You got me through
And when I am down and don’t understand
I can still hear you say
CHORUS
Bridge
Not a day goes by
I don’t miss your smile
Or the way that you changed my life
But what can I do
I still hear you say
CHORUS
Man of Constant Sorrow
Words and Music by Carter Stanley
Witchy Woman
Words and Music by B. Leadon and D. Henley
Scooby Doo, Where are you?
Words and Music by D. Raleigh and D. Mook
Ready-Made
Words and Music by G. Bannwarth and S. Johnson, Arranged by G. Bannwarth, S. Johnson, and M. McGowan
Verse
A cigarette
A telephone
And one more day
I’ve been driving ’cross the country just looking for a place to stay
In thirty words or less I’m a tall, dark bass-man,
Ready-made
Chorus 1
I got love, I got the moves
I got the shake, shimmy, guarantee to chase away your blues
Call me up anytime
You can tell me all your problems, girl
As long as it’s on your dime
Verse
In the East
And in the West
I am known
Girls from every corner tryin’ to ring me up on the phone
Well I don’t have nothing, but I’ll give you everything that I own
Chorus 2
I got love, I got the moves
I got the shake, shimmy, guarantee to chase away your blues
Call me up, honey-do
We can take a trip to Bali, girl
I’ll send the bill to you
Verse
Down the road
Here I go
One more day
Got a pocket full of quarters and a long, cool lemonade
If you’re ever feelin’ lonely call me three times everyday
Chorus 3
I got love, I got the moves
I got the shake, shimmy, guarantee to chase away your blues
Call me up, anytime
You can leave me a message
And I’ll call you back by…
Verse
Christmastime
My favorite time
Of the year
Yeah, Santa Claus is worried now cuz all of his mail comes here
And I went to see the doc but he said “sorry son”
There’s no cure
Tag
Give me hal-an-hour to…shoo-bi-di-bop
And I’ll be on my way
You won’t need to fix me up
I come Ready-made
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Traditional
Land of 1,000 Dances
Words and Music by F. Garcia A/K/A Cannibal
Oklahoma Wind
Vs. 1
Today he cried at work and everybody stared
Lately he don’t even smile
And somehow all the things he’s worked for in his life
They haven’t mattered in a while
Chorus
Oh that Oklahoma wind
Like a love that’s never gonna end
Oh that Oklahoma wind
Her love is calling him again
Vs. 2
After work he drives just to hold her hand again
He wonders if she knows he’s there
The doc says “take a break” but he grabs a cot to stay
He’s not going anywhere
Chorus
Bridge
Sunday morning comes too soon
He bows his head to pray
All the things he never gets to say
The bells ring and the choirs sing
No one seems to know
How to help a man who’s letting go…
Chorus
