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Shimmy Boom Boom – New Faces ’95

LYRICS – SHIMMY BOOM BOOM

Well I left Vegas broke and ill
‘n took I-15 down to Victorville
Snuck into that old Roy Rogers Museum
And said “Hey is Roy in? ‘Cuz I gotta see ‘im”

Well now Roy came out said “Hi howya doing?”
I said, “Roy I’m down and I ain’t foolin’.
You see I got no money and a broken heart.
I need some of them there cowbody smarts.”

CHORUS
Once in Califor-ni-aye
I thought I heard Roy Rogers say
“If your life is doom and gloom
You gotta shake it with a stick and a Shimmy Boom Boom”

“Well now son I’m glad you sought me out
I’m gonna show you what Happy Trails is all about.
There’s just no time for doom and gloom.
You need a little of a Shimmy Boom Boom.”

Well Roy I must look like a fool
Don’t give me none of that there Cocky Bull
I’ve searched this museum in every room
And I ain’t seen nothin’ that looks like Shimmy Boom Boom

CHORUS

(Instrumental Solos)

CHORUS

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I lived in Victorville, CA for about 18 years and one of the main attractions of the town was the Roy Rogers Museum (they relocated to Branson, Missouri around 2005 or so). It was located right on Interstate 15 and anyone driving from Las Vegas back to Los Angeles would pass it. So I pictured someone losing all their money in Vegas, driving back and asking Roy Rogers for some “cowboy smarts”.

It’s a very silly song and I had a LOT of fun doing the vocals on it. I’m always surprised that among my friends it’s usually one of their favorites that I’ve done. Maybe because it’s just so silly. Some people HATE it.

By coincidence, in later years I ended up playing in the Roy Rogers Jr. band doing a lot of cowboy music, Roy and Dale’s songs and music from the Sons of the Pioneers. I never asked Roy Rogers Jr. (Dusty) what he thought of the song but I’m pretty sure he hated it.

In any case, we all love Roy Rogers. Playing his music with the band was a very fun experience.

This song also contains my worst rhyme ever: “doom and gloom” with “boom boom”. Was it Mozart who said there’s nothing so absolutely horrible as a forced rhyme?