Rules of the Road

michael_a_streeter

Comal

michael_a_streeter

country rap, spoken-word rap, southern drawl

+ Show full styles

V5.5

(Intro) [0:00 - 0:40]
(The track opens with the distinct acoustic hum of tires rolling over loose river gravel, transitioning into the low, echoing purr of a '98 Tacoma idling on the highway shoulder. A simple, heavy stomp-and-clap beat starts up—one slow thud, one sharp slap, over and over, building an organic rhythm.)
Comal: (Speaking calmly, close to the microphone, with a thick Texas drawl)
Yeah. Look out the window.
If you’re coming down the 306, you better roll your windows down.
Smell that cedar? That's the Hill Country.
But before you put your keys in the ignition and head down River Road, we need to talk.
Because the city has lanes... but the river has rules.
(Verse 1) [0:40 - 1:15]
Rule number one: man, you gotta slow it down
You ain't on the highway when you’re rolling into town
If you’re tailgating tractors or honking at the deer
We’re gonna know exactly how you ended up right here
Rule number two: check the cooler at the gate
No glass on the gravel, yeah, we don't negotiate
We leave the limestone clean, we leave the water clear
We don't need your city trash floating down the pier
And rule number three: if you see an old-timer stuck
You don't just drive on by in your shiny rental truck
You put your boots in the dirt, you grab a towing chain
That's just how we do it through the heat and through the rain.
(Chorus) [1:15 - 1:40]
Yeah, these are the rules of the road
The unwritten laws of the 830 code
From the bridge at Hueco Springs to the Gruene Hall floor
We’ve been living this way since the days of before
So pull your tailgate down, let the evening ride
If you can't respect the current, keep your truck outside.
(Verse 2: NEW SUBSTANCE) [1:40 - 2:15]
(The stomp-and-clap grows wider in the mix. A low, bluesy slide guitar chord rings out on the backbeat.)
Rule number four: when the low-water bridge is high
You don't try to test it just to see if you can fly
You back up the rig, turn around, and take the long way
Respecting the weather is the price that we all pay
And rule number five: if you're pulling up a chair
At a local icehouse, don't just sit back and stare
You buy a round for the table, you listen to the band
Shake the grease off your fingers, get the dust on your hand
We don't care about the rush, we don't care about the clock
We measure our dynamic by the baseline of the rock.
(Verse 3) [2:15 - 2:50]
(A deep, vibrating 808 sub-bass drops into the track, locking into the stomps and claps.)
Now I see 'em every May, bringing Austin to the banks
With their fancy navigation and their overfilled tanks
They don't know about the shallows, they don't know about the roots
Trying to cross a low-water bridge in designer leather boots
If you’re waving money 'round like it buys you a pass
The river’s gonna take it and dump you on your ass
You gotta wave at your neighbors, gotta say your "yes, ma’ams"
We don't care about your numbers or your curated 'Grams
Just keep your eyes on the canopy, your mind on the slow
And listen to the stories where the cypress knees grow. [1] 
(Bridge & Extended Instrumental) [2:50 - 3:30]
(The trap drums drop away. A heavy, rhythmic country-acoustic guitar solo takes over, playing over loud, echoing handclaps and a distant, whistling wind.)
Because when the summer fades and the tourists head home
It’s just us and the limestone, standing alone
And the river keeps moving, steady and wide
Carrying the history on the turning of the tide.
(Chorus) [3:30 - 3:55]
Yeah, these are the rules of the road
The unwritten laws of the 830 code
From the bridge at Hueco Springs to the Gruene Hall floor
We’ve been living this way since the days of before
So pull your tailgate down, let the evening ride
If you can't respect the current, keep your truck outside.
(Outro) [3:55 - 4:15]
(The heavy stomp-and-clap beat slowly fades out, leaving only the sound of a screen door slamming shut and the distant, soothing sound of rushing water.)
Comal: (Spoken softly)
Yeah. Track one.
Welcome to River Road.
Keep it under thirty.
(The guitar takes one final, lazy slide down the fretboard before fading into total silence.)

4100/7500

(Intro) [0:00 - 0:40] (The track opens with the distinct acoustic hum of tires rolling over loose river gravel, transitioning into the low, echoing purr of a '98 Tacoma idling on the highway shoulder. A simple, heavy stomp-and-clap beat starts up—one slow thud, one sharp slap, over and over, building an organic rhythm.) Comal: (Speaking calmly, close to the microphone, with a thick Texas drawl) Yeah. Look out the window. If you’re coming down the 306, you better roll your windows down. Smell that cedar? That's the Hill Country. But before you put your keys in the ignition and head down River Road, we need to talk. Because the city has lanes... but the river has rules. (Verse 1) [0:40 - 1:15] Rule number one: man, you gotta slow it down You ain't on the highway when you’re rolling into town If you’re tailgating tractors or honking at the deer We’re gonna know exactly how you ended up right here Rule number two: check the cooler at the gate No glass on the gravel, yeah, we don't negotiate We leave the limestone clean, we leave the water clear We don't need your city trash floating down the pier And rule number three: if you see an old-timer stuck You don't just drive on by in your shiny rental truck You put your boots in the dirt, you grab a towing chain That's just how we do it through the heat and through the rain. (Chorus) [1:15 - 1:40] Yeah, these are the rules of the road The unwritten laws of the 830 code From the bridge at Hueco Springs to the Gruene Hall floor We’ve been living this way since the days of before So pull your tailgate down, let the evening ride If you can't respect the current, keep your truck outside. (Verse 2: NEW SUBSTANCE) [1:40 - 2:15] (The stomp-and-clap grows wider in the mix. A low, bluesy slide guitar chord rings out on the backbeat.) Rule number four: when the low-water bridge is high You don't try to test it just to see if you can fly You back up the rig, turn around, and take the long way Respecting the weather is the price that we all pay And rule number five: if you're pulling up a chair At a local icehouse, don't just sit back and stare You buy a round for the table, you listen to the band Shake the grease off your fingers, get the dust on your hand We don't care about the rush, we don't care about the clock We measure our dynamic by the baseline of the rock. (Verse 3) [2:15 - 2:50] (A deep, vibrating 808 sub-bass drops into the track, locking into the stomps and claps.) Now I see 'em every May, bringing Austin to the banks With their fancy navigation and their overfilled tanks They don't know about the shallows, they don't know about the roots Trying to cross a low-water bridge in designer leather boots If you’re waving money 'round like it buys you a pass The river’s gonna take it and dump you on your ass You gotta wave at your neighbors, gotta say your "yes, ma’ams" We don't care about your numbers or your curated 'Grams Just keep your eyes on the canopy, your mind on the slow And listen to the stories where the cypress knees grow. [1] (Bridge & Extended Instrumental) [2:50 - 3:30] (The trap drums drop away. A heavy, rhythmic country-acoustic guitar solo takes over, playing over loud, echoing handclaps and a distant, whistling wind.) Because when the summer fades and the tourists head home It’s just us and the limestone, standing alone And the river keeps moving, steady and wide Carrying the history on the turning of the tide. (Chorus) [3:30 - 3:55] Yeah, these are the rules of the road The unwritten laws of the 830 code From the bridge at Hueco Springs to the Gruene Hall floor We’ve been living this way since the days of before So pull your tailgate down, let the evening ride If you can't respect the current, keep your truck outside. (Outro) [3:55 - 4:15] (The heavy stomp-and-clap beat slowly fades out, leaving only the sound of a screen door slamming shut and the distant, soothing sound of rushing water.) Comal: (Spoken softly) Yeah. Track one. Welcome to River Road. Keep it under thirty. (The guitar takes one final, lazy slide down the fretboard before fading into total silence.)

0/500