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Like Kerouac

by J Oscar Bittinger

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about

In 1974, young J Oscar Bittinger took a cross-country road trip with a fellow church camp counselor to contemplate his future in ministry. The path for the adventure included many places mentioned in "On The Road" and "The Dharma Bums".

Upon return, a long journal song - originally called "Two Days Behind Kerouac" became the first "real" song J Oscar had ever written.

But, when it became apparent no-one was going to sit-though 22 verses, despite a fierce harmonica part, the classic struggle began of carving out a "true story" (for the listener) from the literal tale the teller insisted be told, no matter how rambling. Thus began a 40+ year balancing act between NOT-GIVING-the-f-UP, and learning what to let go...

In one version the teller attempt to cast the trip as "the hero's journey", in another it becomes a Dante-esque epic of faith lost and direction reclaimed, still another version attempts to make real and redeem every possible road trip cliche. Each were exhausting to work on, hard to hear, and not terribly fun to sing.

Then a happy accident happened. The lines "Forget the map - let's just drive" were improvised to fit in when chords got reversed. Recognizing the chorus was easier to sing, more lines were cut out or cleaned up.

But it wasn't till the song was brought to a band rehearsal, where Mark Hugger and Chris Ranney brought further electricity to the monster and we realized "it lives!" No doubt gang singing, tambourine swinging, hand claps and a trombone part (by Chris) in this recording also help to bring things to life. (And the harmonica survives as well.)

May "Kerouac" go with you on, or inspire, your next road trip.

lyrics

LIKE KEROUAC
© 2019 J Oscar Bittinger

This little town
I’ve got to blow, man
Wanna know what’s down the road
Comes a time
You’ve let go and
Gotta take your shot
Drop your nickel in the slot

CHORUS
. Call me Jack! Like Kerouac
. Forget the map
. Let’s just drive
. Windows down
. Music loud
. Ain’t it good to be alive

I ordered porter
You got a bourbon
The band was swingin'
Like a crazy parade
Here’s to the mad ones
That burn like Roman Candles
Feelin’ the lust of love…
…and revolution being made

CHORUS

BRIDGE 1
| When your wonder
| Turns to hunger
| Starts eating you up inside
| With desire
| Kiss me deep
| No time to sleep
| We’re gotta burn, burn, burn
| Like the clock’s on fire!

BRIDGE 2
Grab this a sad old world
In a mad embrace
Belly to belly
Face to face

CHORUS

VOX HORNS
...Bah-dah-dah-dap...

credits

released June 29, 2019
Chris Ranney - keys, vocals, drums & horn programing, trombone
Mark Hugger - bass, vocals
J Oscar Bittinger - song, vocals, guitars

Engineered by Chris Ranney @ Verbville, Greenville, MI
Mixed by Chris Ranney, Mark Hugger, J Oscar Bittinger

Produced by The Octoberday Assembly

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J Oscar Bittinger Grand Rapids, Michigan

"Love all the sensory images that place me directly in the world of your songs & the compelling and singable choruses." - Dan Hazlett

J Oscar Bittinger writes, produces, streams (www.facebook.com/Freewheelin.JOscar), plays live with musical friends & inventive acquaintances. SOUNDS LIKE: modern folk-rock, indie-pop, w/Americana ambiences, rock roots, + grooves with natural elements. ... more

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