2005 Joel Smoker's Big Combo

With the Road to Nullagine CD, Joel has released a suite of four songs that deals specifically with going out into the regional areas of Western Australia.

Red Dog tells the story of the Kelpie/Heeler cross that became well known around Dampier and Karratha and now has a bronze sculpture erected in his memory at Dampier.

Get off My Case is a song about those people who seem to get on everyone's nerves out there on the road.

Tojo Dreaming is a song about getting in your 4 WD Toyota (Tojo) and going to see this big state.

Individual tracks can be purchased at the Apple iTunes Store

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Credits

Joel Smoker - Vocals and acoustic guitar
Lucky Oceans - 8 String Dobro, national guitar, button accordion
Ron Smeeton - Electric guitar, percussion, harmony vocals
John Smoker - Bass guitar, harmony vocals
Vincent Donnelly - Mandolin

Track Listing

The Road to Nullagine
Red Dog
Get Off My Case
Tojo Dreaming

Lyrics

The Road to Nullagine

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

I did myself a favor; I took the road to Nullagine.
Turned my car north, left the bitumen be-hind.
I saw the red rocks blazing in the morning sunshine,
I started to slow down; it was another kind of time.

I kept right on driving, ‘till I reached Marble Bar,
I met all kinds of people; they’d come from near and far,
To see the great Outback, with their caravan and car,
And I wasn’t disappointed when I saw the jasper bar.

Chorus. ‘Cause there’s so much to see in this big wide land,
From the blue water ocean, to the desert sand.
Might see a bandicoot or a black tiapan,
Or a big emu running ‘cross the flat, saltpan.

I went on to Karajini and walked down Dales Gorge,
It was really worth the effort when we got to Fern Pool.
I let my camera do the talking where the three gorges meet,
Then climbed down Weano Gorge to escape the heat.

I camped a night or two on the Eighty Mile beach
I gave myself a rest, put the Kimberley in reach.
Strolled through China Town on the shores of Roebuck Bay,
Saw the Staircase to the Moon at the closing of the day.

Chorus. ‘Cause there’s so much to see in this big wide land,
From the blue water ocean, to the desert sand.
Might see a bandicoot or a black tiapan,
Or a kangaroo bounding’ cross the flat, salt pan.

I caught the boat up Geikie Gorge past the flying fox tree
Crocodiles and swallows nests, there was a lot to see.
Back at the Crossing Inn, I downed an ice-cold beer
And talked about the times when I lived around here.

I drove up to Wyndham Port to have a look a-round,
I went fishing off the jetty and then headed out of town,
To Kununurra on the Ord, it was last but not least,
Before the Territ’ry and places further east.

RED Dog

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Red Dog just appeared on the scene one day,
Up in the northwest, ‘round Nichol Bay.
A kelpie, heeler cross with a big canine grin,
No one really knew where he’d come from, where he’d been.

Red Dog was his own dog, he could never settle down,
He’d be days on the road, then he’d make it back to town.
He’d stay a week or two, didn’t matter rich or plain,
Then wanderlust would get him and he’d hit the road a-gain.

Chorus.‘Cause no-one owned Red Dog; he was everybody’s friend,
Might see him in the mess hall or up around the bend.

He’d cage a lift by bus or up front in a truck
Folks would give him tucker; he was never out of luck.
He was known far and wide as the dog that liked a ride,
He knew where he was going when he jumped up by your side.

He had a special friend, the driver of a bus,
Who got killed in an accident, he didn’t know the fuss.
He seemed to be searching, some say for his friend
Searching right until he met, his untimely end.

Chorus.No-one owned Red Dog; he was everybody’s friend,
Might see him in the mess hall or up around the bend.

And who-ever gave him strychnine; you’d better keep it to your-self.
If you let that story out, it won’t be good for your health.
‘Cause people have long memories, and not just the good
So keep your mouth shut and knock on wood.

They say if you’re driving that north coast road,
Pulling a trailer or some heavy load.
Keep a watch out the side, that might not be a log,
That might be the spirit of old Red Dog.

Chorus.No-one owned Red Dog; he was everybody’s friend,
Might see him in the mess hall or up around the bend.
No-one owned Red Dog; he was everybody’s friend,
Might see him in the mess hall or up around the bend.
Might see him in the mess hall or up around the bend.
Might see him in the mess hall or up around the bend.

Get OfF My Case

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Most people know just what to do
When they go to the theater, park or zoo,
But some folks just don’t have a clue,
They don’t care ‘bout what they do.

Chorus. ‘Cause they’re just ignorant, they’re just dumb,
They don’t know about how it’s done.
You can tell them straight, to their face,
They’ll just say, “Get off my case”.

Some folks don’t know the rules of the road
They don’t know ‘bout the highway code,
They’re the ones who’ll stay, on high beam,
It doesn’t matter how you rant or scream.

Chorus. ‘Cause they’re just ignorant, they’re just dumb,
They don’t know ‘bout how it’s done.
You can switch your lights, in their face,
They’ll just keep on with their race

When you’re camping in the caravan park
The sun goes down and then it gets dark,
There’s always one lot, you know I’m right,
Who’ll laugh and talk and drink all night.

Chorus. ‘Cause they’re just ignorant, they’re just dumb,
They don’t know about how it’s done.
You can shout at them, one by one,
They’ll just keep on with their fun.

Good thing we’re not like those jerks
We know what is fine and works,
We’ve been a-round for so long,
We can tell what’s right from wrong.

Chorus. ‘Cause we’re not ignorant, we’re not dumb,
We sure know ‘bout how it’s done.
We’ve got it down, to a tee
The world needs folks like you and me.

Chorus. We’re not ignorant; we’re not dumb,
We sure know ‘bout how it’s done.
You can pick us out, in a crowd,
We’re the ones who feel so proud.

Tojo Dreaming

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

I’ve got a four-wheel drive; I drive it in the city.
A Four-runner Tojo with a big bull bar.
It doesn’t get me far when I’m stuck in the traffic,
Sitting there like any other car.
Wishing I was somewhere other than there.

Chorus. Tojo dreaming, want to leave the city limits,
Tojo dreaming, gotta find some time,
Tojo dreaming, want to get out there,
Out where the road goes on forever in a line.

A mans gotta work to make a living.
Put food on the table, buy clothes to wear.
But there’ll come a time when he’ll ask the question,
Is this all there is, or is there more out there.
I’m going out to find whatever I can find.

Chorus. Tojo dreaming, want to leave the city limits,
Tojo dreaming, gotta find some time,
Tojo dreaming, want to get out there,
Out where the road goes on forever in a line.

There’s the Outback Highway, the Strezleki Track.
The Great Ocean Road and the north-west run.
They’re the roads you take to see this country,
You don’t need directions, just follow the sun.
Leave your computers and your DVDs be-hind.

Chorus. Tojo dreaming, Go on leave the city limits,
Tojo dreaming, yeah find some time,
Tojo dreaming, Go on get out there,
Out where the road goes on forever in a line.

I’d rather look at trees than rows of houses
I’m glad to leave behind the urban sprawl.
Camp at night by a flowing river,
Wake in the morning to the magpie’s call.
Out where the hills turn purple and the stars really shine.

Chorus. Tojo dreaming, want to leave the city limits,
Tojo dreaming, gotta find some time,
Tojo dreaming, want to get out there,
Out where the road goes on forever in a line.

Chorus. Tojo dreaming, Tojo dreaming,
Tojo dreaming,
You can be King of the Road, any old time,
Any old time, any old time, any old time.

Albums

Road to Nullagine CD cover