It was the early 80's...it was night...I was on the home stretch of a five mile run when the words "there's a blue light special on love tonight down at the local bar and grille" came to me...a few more words added the next day and then passed along to my guitar playing friend. A few months later he surprised me with a recording of him playing a song with those lyrics.
First time my words were put to music.
Flash forward to late January, 2013...I pulled out those now very dated lyrics, kept the theme, re-wrote the words, kept the groove and plugged in.
Hope you enjoy.
Blue Light Special
It’s Friday night
I just got paid
But there’s one thing
A little different these days
There’s been a change in my money supply
I took a pay cut so I wouldn’t get fired
I’m short on cash and I’m long on desire
But I won’t be denied
‘Cause there’s a blue light special on love tonight
The word’s been goin’ round
There’s a blue special on love tonight
And I’m gonna hunt it down
There’s a blue light special on love tonight
Somewhere in this town
It used to be I could go out
And make it rain
Now I can only make it drizzle
But I still got game
I’ll give a little wink flash a little smile
Blow a little smoke start a little fire
I may be short on cash but I’m long on desire
And I won’t be denied
‘Cause there’s a blue light special on love tonight
The word’s been goin’ round
There’s a blue special on love tonight
And I’m gonna hunt it down
There’s a blue light special on love tonight
Somewhere in this town
- - -
I’m gonna hit every bar on the downtown scene
And all the places in between
And if I still can’t find what I’m lookin’ for
I’ll check the seven-eleven and the grocery store
‘Cause there’s a blue light special on love tonight
The word’s been goin’ round
There’s a blue special on love tonight
And I’m gonna hunt it down
There’s a blue light special on love tonight
Somewhere in this town
There’s a blue light special on love tonight
Somewhere in this town
©Standridge/Toll 2013
(check out my friend, Bill Toll, aka "Sweet Willie Tea" if you get the chance!)