Imagine if Bruce Springsteen grew up in Tokoroa? I wrote this lyric based on that scenario. I reckon he will have identified with the blue collar vibe of Tok. And it was/is a musical town. I fondly remember local bands like Tim Armstrong’s City Edition.

My words, Suno music (don’t shoot me : I can’t play a guitar).

“A couple of vans and an old Bedford bus

Pick up the workers and head out of town

Down the state highway to the mill five miles south

I light up a rollie and let it hang from my mouth

Working all day on a paper machine

Home on the bus put on a shirt and new jeans

Tonight we’re playing a gig for the teens

But it’s only practise for us till we find a new scene

Oh the kids down on Bridge street are all under-age

They cruise down to the old town hall for a rage

The guys in our band don’t get paid any wage

But we got fire in our belly, we just need a new stage

The mill pays good coin, and the boss ain’t a jerk

But they hold the town ransom for each sweaty day’s work

On the roller machine I feel weighed down like a stone

Sometimes I choose to walk the five miles all alone

I feel I could walk till there’s blood in my boots

But deep down inside I know it’s still too soon

I walk past my dad’s house and down to the lake

I’d like to rip off this work shirt, leave this town in my wake!

Oh the kids down on Bridge street, a Friday rampage

Out to cause mayhem and a little outrage

The guys in our band feeling trapped in a cage

But we got fire in our the belly, we just need a new stage

So there’s cities up north and they are calling for me

I grab my old duffel ready to pack up and leave

Tell the boys they need a new singer to play the next rage

It’s time for us all to turn the next page

I’m heading for glory but afraid to ride

Build up the dreams to make it outside

Built up the lies that can’t let you hide

Try to build up the courage to let myself start

But I head back to the town that gave me dreams

..but broke my heart

Oh the girls down on Bridge street all want to engage

But I don’t want to stay here and die of old age

The guys in our band might wanna stay in this cage

But I still got fire in my belly, I just need a new stage.”

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Copyright: Rod de Lisle.