Get all 28 Sparta Sound releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Live at the Guthrie 3/24/03, Out There, Trepidation, Greetings From the Island of Guitars, Skylights, Totem, Aeroplane Mode, Starmaps, and 20 more.
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Greetings From the Island of Guitars
lyrics ©2022 Rich Mattson
Locked myself up in a room, or a tomb, or is it a womb?
I’ll find out pretty soon
I’m so glad for the tunes, and for you
Without which I’d be sad and blue
You would too, what to do, except follow the muse
To my friends, I bring you
Greetings from the island of guitars
Oh the fireglo so warm, and the country gent never meant no harm
And the telecaster speaks even if the signal’s weak
And the Harmony sounds so full, when it howls it’s wailing screed
and the Custom’s always there when perfection’s what you need
What’s your desert island fantasy
Coz I’m living mine with you right here with me
The law it says I ain’t fit to drive a car
So HEY! Greetings from the island of guitars
Greetings from the island of guitars
Greetings from the island of guitars
….guitars … Greetings from the island of guitars
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2. |
Trepidation
03:18
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Trepidation
lyrics ©2022 Rich Mattson
It was early in the winter of COVID
And I came inside after a smoke
And the news was on the television
But I couldn’t make out what was spoke
I had to focus what I was breathing
I had to settle back into the chair
I had to figure out what I was feeling
But my mind it wasn’t really there
Trepidation - fear and restlessness
Trepidation - tension and distress
If I start to see flashing colors
And I start crushing things in my hands
I’m just dealing with a situation
That is hard for you to understand
I don’t like it, I don’t like it
Just hold my hand, baby come hold me
Don’t say nothing at all
Tell me, “Take your time”
Tell me, “It’s ok”
Take a walk with me
Let’s go outside
Trepidation - make it go away
Trepidation - nothing anyone can do or say
Trepidation - shivers up my spine
Trepidation - I’m gonna lose my mind!
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3. |
Apex
03:22
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Apex
lyrics ©2022 Rich Mattson
Guess you were really at your apex there
You could see both sides and you felt prepared to deal with it
But you turned your back and they all caught up
You won’t be drinking from your silver cup much longer
Not much longer
(Chorus:)
Pretty obvious to me
What you planned to do
I could see
And I don’t believe that
I was the only one
Who could see
Yes you were up on high and you cast the first stone
You’d be so helpless out on your own
But you still get by
Coz there’s a certain percentage that still love you
You’ll never shake ‘em no matter what you ever do
Don’t you know it too
(Chorus)
repeat first verse…end…
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4. |
Tired Yet
03:53
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Tired Yet
lyrics ©2022 Rich Mattson
From the summer of love
To the winter of discontent
Did I find out what it’s worth
Did I understand what it meant?
If I can’t shake your hand
Does it mean we haven’t met?
If I reach out and touch you will it be something I regret?
Ooh-oh, are you tired yet?
Ooh-oh…
I felt it disconnect
I saw the whole world around me freeze
Makes me think that every day
Before this happened must have been a breeze
I didn’t shake your hand
Doesn’t mean we haven’t met
If I go for a ride with you will it be something I regret?
Ooh-oh, are you tired yet?
Ooh-oh, are you tired yet?
Ooh-oh..
From the summer of love
To the winter of discontent
Did I find out what it’s worth
Did I understand what it meant?
What it meant?
Did I understand what it meant?
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5. |
No More Fighting
03:05
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No More Fighting
lyrics ©2021 Rich Mattson
No more fighting
No more cursing
No more calling people names
If it can’t start with you why should it start with Dick and Jane
No more smoking
Back talk, joking
Unless you do it to my face
I will learn to keep a promise
I will try and win the race
No - no fighting
No - no fighting
No - no fighting
No - no fighting,
Please don’t argue
You can feel free to walk away
But when it gets you
I had warned you
You were going the wrong way
No more fighting
No more fighting
Tolerance is through the roof
To release is called surviving
And why I do this right here for you
No - no fighting
No - no fighting
(repeat first verse, end)
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6. |
All Hallow's Eve
04:28
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All Hallow's Eve
lyrics ©2021 Rich Mattson
My God it’s a full moon Halloween, it’s a blue moon Halloween
The wind is howlin’ the snow is blowin’ ain’t nobody to trick or treat
Just sitting round watching a movie
About chess! yeah, back when things was groovy
And people did stuff like write and play games and read books
And smoke
I was looking through old cards and letters
And I found one I never sent
It was funny but it made me sad
About my dying friend
Coz he never did get to receive it
He was gone before I could leave it
In the mailbox for the postman
To bring it to St. Paul
There’s gonna be some lonely days and nights
Just the dog and the kitties and you and I
With no place to go unless you wanna just get high (get high)
We’re gonna try a lot of new, dumb things
We’re gonna see what this winter brings
But so far the plan is just to stay alive
I got me a used ice shed from my friend Jimmy
And an auger from my neighbor Dave
They both need repair, but what do I care, I got ‘em both for free
And that Arctic Cat Panther is smoking like hell,
But I think that I can fix that too
I’m gonna sit on that ice and fish into the night
Until I catch enough to feed me and you
And there’s snowshoes and skis and sleds in the shed
And I think we even got some skates
So let’s live it on up, we can make like we’re kids
Except our bones are more apt to break
Let’s go through all those boxes, re-read Rural Foxes
And listen to them old cassettes
Let’s turn off the tv, let’s learn to play chess
But let’s forget about those cigarettes…
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7. |
In My Cave
03:25
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IN MY CAVE
lyrics ©2022 Rich Mattson
I had a nothing day
Just stompin’ around my cave
Don’t have no runs to make
Ain’t got no bills to pay
And I’m well stocked but the creek’s running dry
I cast my litanies up to the sky
I may know who but I don’t know why
Walk out that door and that tiger will strike
Will strike
Will strike
Will strike…
Out there where the big river flows
The whole world needs rock and roll
Such a primal feeling inside
Some things you can’t leave behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Stompin’ around so long
Waiting so long to leave here
How can it last so long
Relieve me from these lashes
Waited to long
To leave here
To leave here
I had a nothing day
Just stompin’ around my cave
Out there where the big river flows
The whole world needs rock and roll
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8. |
Wild Hutch's Crutch
03:15
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Wild Hutch’s Crutch
lyrics ©2020 Rich Mattson
Found a packed tight wad of assorted bills
Picked ‘em up and man, I was thrilled
To see they added up to 85 bucks
Now I’m on to Wild Hutch’s Crutch
I was travelin’ hard since I sold my car
Lost it all in that casino bar
The folks were friendly but not so much
Once they found that I was on to Wild Hutch’s Crutch
Wild Hutch’s Crutch
He was a grey old man
And he didn’t care about anything
Might tell a little story about the war and such
Then he’d fix up a dose of Wild Hutch’s Crutch
I remember the time, on that uphill ride
Colorado wildfires lit up the sky
Then the rain came down - it was a beautiful sight
And we still got to play our show that night
Seemed at every turn we slipped under the wire
But we had big dreams and we had desires
And we weren’t gonna quit ’til we got higher!
But the air was gettin’ thin and we just got tired
So we went on down that musty hole
Hutch was there - and we shared a bowl
He said, “Hey boy, you got a lotta soul”
Then he fired up his rig and he let it roll
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9. |
Echo Chamber
03:13
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Echo Chamber
lyrics ©2021 Rich Mattson
I’m so accustomed to my echo chamber
In my hometown I feel like such a stranger
Bust through them doors like the ol’ Lone Ranger
Wearing a mask and I emit such danger
(Alas) You feel like a confrontation
(Ahoy) You see the girl I’m dating
(Aloud) You shout and it’s so grating
I’ll never understand why you hate meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I’m so accustomed to my echo chamber
I’ve got some cash and I’d be willing to wager
I’ll walk away before I endanger a life
And you’d best to redirect your anger
(Surprise) I’m not the same as you
(No lies) I tend to follow what is true
(You’ve got) You’ve got your echo chamber too
(It’s time) It’s time for you to see right through
(Surprise) I’m not the same as you
(No lies) I tend to follow what is true
(You’ve got) You’ve got your echo chamber too
(It’s time) It’s time for you to see right through
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10. |
Look On the Bright Side
05:11
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Look On the Bright Side
lyrics ©2022 Rich Mattson
I told myself today - look on the bright side
So easy if it comes from you - but that’s just in your mind
Every morning I look and see - who's alive and who has died
Don’t put your money on me - I’m too old and I’m too fried
chorus:
It’s sick
What a dirty little trick
To say it’s okay to lie, the law don’t apply
Pretty slick, I can’t get used to it
How can I just sit idly by
And watch as the creek runs dry
I told myself today - look on the bright side
After fall winter’s on it’s way - no sense denying
Meanwhile in the hoosegow - they’re planning a riot
Comin’ in from out of state - the law don’t apply
(chorus)
I told myself today - look on the bright side
Choppers whirling right over my head - couldn’t find me if they tried
I’m still a free man - long as I ramble
Long as I can take it - running through the brambles
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Sparta Sound Sparta, Minnesota
Hello, my name is Rich Mattson. Here are some bands that I sing, play guitar and write songs with at my studio in northern Minnesota. Enjoy!
Sparta Sound recommends:
A great band.
go to album
Great 3-piece heavy rock band from Duluth.
go to album
Brood: Oat-takes
by The Glenrustles
Rock band fronted by Rich Mattson 1988-1999
go to albumIf you like Out There, you may also like:
Thank you, Dancers!
by Slim Dunlap Band
supported by 11 fans who also own “Out There”
I knew Bob before he was 'Slim'. Then lost touch. Always followed him musically from Buzz Barker and the Atomic Bums to his solo work. I was never much into listening to live music at First Ave or bars so I didn't really get to watch him play and sing. I did see him open for Roseanne Cash once. Take care Bob!
go to album
supported by 8 fans who also own “Out There”
go to album
Magic Mountain - EP
by Powerbunny 4x4
Jangly college rock-tinged pop from New Jersey (where else?)
go to album
