Shortly after The BOKS of ROCK published Thinking Outside Of and created a website for the band, the site started getting a large number of hits from South Africa. It wasn’t hard to figure out that the band name was the same as the nickname for South Africa’s national rugby team, although BIl and Steve had no idea until then. In the spirit of global camraderi, they wrote a song for Boks fans.
Liner Notes and Lyrics
Dear Listeners:
What is Hip???
The eternal question. Hip was a tribal choir, flutes carved from bone, lutes played by travelling minstrels, glockenspiels, orchestras and Gregorian chants. It all morphed into gospel, folk, country, blues and jazz. It was all hip, and there are adherents for all of the above to this day. So -- hip -- is a moving target; fast moving. And for each generation, it takes less and less time for something to become hip, and even less time for it to become unhip.
Only one thing seems to have stayed truly hip since the 50’s. It wasn’t always called rock and roll, and today it goes by so many names that keeping track of them requires a database. Every once in a while though, a band comes along that is difficult to categorize; the proverbial square peg that just won’t fit into a round genre; a band that redefines hip. Their music fosters a revival of old debates that the current generation is unaware of and so the arguments seem fresh. What is the difference between rockabilly and surf? What makes a song psychedelic? Frankly, I don’t care.
What I do care about; what woke me from my long malaise; what caused me to put pen to paper, was a desire to share with the world my opinion of the importance of a groove.
My friends, living and beyond, what you all need to know is that what you are holding in your hands is groovy in a way that hippies never intended. Not drug addled nonsense, but a depth of feeling that can only be experienced by falling into the continuum. No discrete points here. Even if you’re using a laser to track pits in a plastic disk as opposed to a diamond needle dropped into an actual groove, you will feel the metaphorical equivalent of that groove when you listen to these songs.
What is hip, remains, as it always has, and always will, identical to what is beauty; truly in the mind of the beholder. Answering that question forces one on to a path that is far too treacherous. The question that can be answered is: What is the groove? Well, that’s right here. Let your diamond aura drop in and go around and around. And if you think the groove is hip, you won’t be alone.
Sincerely,
Mark Time
LYRICS
1. Put It In The Hole
Verse 1: Lefties get it easy // There’s no one in their way // Righties keep shifting // because the oil doesn’t stay // Put the ball in the pocket // Ten pin standing there // Looks like it’s laughing // Gonna break it on the spare // When the lanes are walled up// and the scores are getting scary // You gotta keep throwing strikes // or the guys will call you Mary // Well I had a couple beers // and I put one in the ditch // As I stepped off the approach // the guys said you stupid bitch, don’t you know // Chorus: You gotta put it, put it, put it // Put it in the hole // You gotta put it, put it, put it // Put it in the hole // Bridge: Put it, yeah put it, put it in the hole // Put it, yeah put it, put it in the hole // Grab your sticks // VERSE2: Were standing in the box // Fairway’s kind of tight // You gotta play it straight // but I push it to the right // I’m deep in the trees // Nowhere near any turf // Then I skull it in the water // Wish I knew how to surf // We’re playing number eight // The guys are on the green // but I’m still in the rough // on number seventeen // I finally need my putter // I’m ten inches away // And as I start to stroke it // I can hear the guys say, don’t you know // Chorus// VERSE3: You can bring it from the side // or come straight over the top // You can get there from behind // or you can mix it all up // Just one thing that matters // One thing you need to know // Now listen to me boy // You gotta put it in the hole // Ooh yeah, put it in the hole // You gotta put it, put it, put it in the hole // You gotta put it, put it, put it in the hole
2. Rain, Rain
Verse 1: Rain, rain is the lifegiver // Fills our lakes, swells our rivers // How can something so good // sometimes be so bad. // You start out going full throttle // Down the line you hit the bottle // We’re all like that // Crazy happy leads to sad // Chorus: Rain, rain go away // Don’t come back unless you’re gonna stay // My heart can’t stand being broken anymore // Verse 2: She drove off in my pickup truck // It was pouring, but she still kicked up dust // I closed the door // Then I closed my eyes // In my dreams I chased her down // We fought like teenagers on the edge of town // When I said I loved her // I knew it was a lie // Chorus// VERSE3: When you’re slippin and slidin through the days // Feelin like you’re in a purple haze // Too many memories // you want to wash down the drain // On the back roads of your life // All your smiles, all your strife // All your happiness and pain // will be washed away by rain // Chorus// Rain, rain go away // Come on back some other day // to find old fools who chose to stay // and forgotten how to play // Rain, go away // Rain, go away // Rain, go away // Rain
3. Middle Aged Crazy
Verse 1: He had lesbian neighbors // They liked to smoke pot // He told them he was curious // For their seeds he found a spot // The plant started to grow // He thought it was exciting // His wife thought he was crazy, but // It didn’t lead to fighting // In a few short weeks // with some water and heat // it had grown high enough // so you could see it from the street // He wasn’t concerned // He knew how to abide // He used a wheelbarrow // to hide it // Chorus: Yeah he’s middle aged crazy // He’s not taking it too hard // No Porsche or big truck // Just a garden in his yard // He’s a little bit hazy Is he in the right place // Does he have enough bucks // Is he a man of good taste // Verse 2: It was harvest time // He picked some leaves to try // He baked Betty Crocker // He achieved a new high // He didn’t know any better // No one told him beware // In the distance was a siren // He couldn’t help being scared // He ran outside // Pulled the plant out of the ground // Then he buried it deep // where it couldn’t be found // He leaned on his shovel // as he stared at the moon // The radio in the window // was playing his favorite tune // Chorus: Yeah he’s middle aged crazy // but no need to make haste // No sailboat or big truck // For his money that’s a waste // Repeat from above // Hit It // Yeah he’s middle aged crazy // but he’s got more than a clue // He’s not so different from // me and you // He’s a real good guy // Pays the bills when they’re due // But sometimes you wonder //Did you do all you could do?
4. StarbucksGirl
VERSE1; There’s a coffee shop two blocks away // We can walk there in five minutes or less // Coffee’s good, ground here in town // but good isn’t good enough for some I guess // On her drive to school with daughter number two // she goes over the bridge right by the lake // and on her way back she passes a place // where the coffees great, but her thirst it won’t slake Chorus: She’s a Starbucks girl // She’s a Starbucks girl // In her heart of hearts // She’s a Starbucks girl // verse 2:They built a new one over by St. Lukes // doing their part to keep the nurses sane // There’s a drive-thru up on Hwy 100 // If you get over there be sure you’re in the left lane // Sometimes she likes a nonfat chai latte // Talking about a woman who’s hip to the beat // But when it comes to coffee, no need to be fancy // just keep the caffeine in, get her back out on the street // She’s a Starbucks girl…….
5. My Success
VERSE1: Well I was right and you were wrong // It wasn’t about being strong // You pushed me out on thin ice // and you expected me to be nice // You thought you were so cool // but you’re a corporate tool // Chorus: Some say revenge is sweet // My success is all I need Repeat // VERSE2: Look at me now just two years later // Up on the stage no room for haters // Going around the world jamming for our fans // Just got an email saying show’s sold out in Japan People pay to hear us play // For you it’s just another day Chorus// All I need, All I need, All I need, All I need, // I need
6. Girl You Want
VERSE1: She sings from somewhere you can’t see // She sits in the top of the greenest tree // She sends out an aroma of undefined love // It drips on down in a mist from above Chorus: She’s just the girl. She’s just the girl. // The girl you want. Repeat // VERSE2: You hear her calling everywhere you turn // You know you’re headed for the pleasure burn // but the words get stuck on the tip of your tongue // She’s the real thing, but you knew it all along // Chorus// VERSE3: Look at you with your mouth watering // Look at you with your mind spinning // Why don’t you just admit it’s all over // She’s just the girl you want. // Chorus// Yeah you want; she’s the one you want // Repeat first verse // Chorus
7. Perambulate
They tell me that I’m wonderful // They don’t know, they don’t know // They tell me that I’m beautiful// It’s time to go. It’s time to go.//
Go, go, go. Go, go, go// Let’s go // VERSE1: The question where is not important // It’s just a matter of time// The question why is relevant // If I stop I’ll change my mind// So I perambulate, perambulate // but I mind my direction // I’m careful not to circulate // I might end up where I started from// And I can’t go back. I won’t go back // to those learned men who bad-mouth facts// I’ve had quite enough of their // preaching theory // It only makes me swear // BRIDGE: They don’t know it’s time to go // They don’t know it’s time to go // VERSE2: They didn’t want their self-aggrandizement // seen by other than clones eyes// and to those who believe their advertisement // I’d like to say goodbye // Unfortunately the spaceship Earth’s a sphere// and I can’t change this physiology // So it’s true my liberation from here // has been prevented by a tautology // And I perambulate, perambulate // I feel I have to try // refraining from systematic hate // but can I run til I die // Repeat last phrase
8. AnotherDay
VERSE1: It’s a long way from here to there // It takes a long time but there’s none to spare // I’ve been hiding all my life // Been abiding all this strife // Some say too much is not enough but I’m ready now. You’re not that tough // Chorus: Doesn’t feel like I’m taking a chance // It’s not about love, not about romance // Take your best shot. I’ll knock it away // and live to fight another day // Verse 2: You know it all or so you think Your courage lives inside a drink // The people who say they are your friends // help you find the next dead end You are so oblivious // What’s in the mirror looks delicious // Chorus//Repeat first and second verse (double time) // Chorus
9. Cosmically Connected
VERSE1: We have senators and presidents // and we have kung-fu masters // We have priests and ministers// but army sergeants do it faster // We have major moral evangelists // and Muslims reading Korans // We have al quida and other terrorists/ / saying there’s only one right way man // CHORUS: Ba da, ba ba, ba da, ba ba // Ba da, ba ba, ba da, ba ba // VERSE2: We have hundreds and thousands of names // for those who claim to deserve fame and // We have millions and billions of people // who will say them // It seems that in their search for gods // they’re right on track and yet their wrong // It’s not true you can buy heaven// for a song // CHORUS // VERSE3: The solution is not search but see // They’re blind and they will not agree // And if you’re cosmically connected// you just might get resurrected // Ba da, ba ba, ba da // BRIDGE: Cosmic wings lift you so high //Get connected, it’s time to fly // Yeah it’s time to fly // It’s time to fly // VERSE 4: Shamans aren’t all we have // We have some who realize // that matter doesn’t matter // You don’t see with your eyes// We have Hindus and Zen Buddhists// and some who know the tao// of moving through tai chi and// that time is equal to now // CHORUS // VERSE5: They think their thoughts and do their deeds // while displaying their acceptance // of the reality of you and me // For this no need of penance // Oh,on this journey we call life // helping hands and open minds// being there for us sometimes // are all that we should hope to find // CHORUS // VERSE 6: No need to search for gods we’re here// and though it’s been 2000 years // I can live without hope of resurrection // zazen is my cosmic connection,// connection, connection // And though it’s been 2000 years // I can live without hope of resurrection // zazen is my cosmic connection
10. Woman Warrior
VERSE1: In a distant land so long ago I met a woman warrior // She fought a war against things wrong // with human spirit // with human spirit // VERSE2: She never asked to be a heroine // but history did it for her // I understand that she was strong // enough to fear it //enough to fear it // VERSE3: Although some might say it isn’t so // to let a dream die is murder // I hope her effort still may spawn // challenge to forfeit //
challenge to forfeit // CADENCE: Yeah, she’s a woman warrior
CREDITS
The BOKS of ROCK is:
Bill Ostrowski – Guitars, vocal harmonies
Stephen Latin-Kasper – Lead Vocals, vocal harmonies, percussion, keyboards
Put It In The Hole, Rain, Rain, Middle Aged Crazy, My Success, and Another Day, written by Bill
Ostrowski and Stephen Latin-Kasper. Starbucks Girl, Perambulate, Cosmically Connected and Woman Warrior written by Stephen Latin-Kasper.
Girl U Want written by Gerald V. Casale and Mark Allen Mothersbaugh. Published by DEVO Music and EMI/Virgin Songs Inc.
Guitars used included: Danelectro Dano Pro, Gretsch 5120, Squier Telecaster Custom P90, Fender California, Art & Luthurie Folk CW Cedar Antique Burst.
Percussion: Roland Octapad SPD-30, Yamaha DD-65.
Keyboards: KORG M50, Yamaha PSR-413.
Microphones: Shure PG42 and SM27
All tracks recorded directly to a ZOOM R16 Recorder:Interface:Controller.
Mixing done at Howl Street Recordings (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) by Shane Hochstatler for all songs except Put It In the Hole, My Success and Woman Warrior.
Mixing done at Fly Studios (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) by Guy Fiorentini on My Success and Woman Warrior.
Put It In The Hole mixed by The BOKS of ROCK.
All songs on Thinking Outside Of were mastered at Velvet Sky Studios (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) by Scott Finch.
Graphics, (including The BOKS of ROCK logo) package design, and CD booklet by Charles Snowden.
Photography by Ross Monagle