Download: Scooter Boy (MP3)

If you enjoyed listening to the Vespa anthem I posted the other day, here’s another tune which you will find equally engaging. It’s a funny story of a superhero adventure story with our mainman astride his Vespa scooter 150.

The song is by an indie band called Tales from the Bird Bath which only got one regular player — Ean Hernandez (frontman of the defuct band, Sicko) — and the others guys just play along like it’s a temporary gig. In an email exchange, Ean told me that he’s not a Vespa rider just yet but his wife, Reba, had a very pro-scooter experience lately and they are talking about getting one. His hometown is Seattle, Washington but currently in England to do some schooling in Oxford.

When I asked Ean about the story behind the song, he said that it was the result of an auction item he pledged for a socialist club.

“They asked if I would write a song for a donation, and that sounded like fun, so I said OK. This girl Maria won it, and was dating this dude who was a scooter rider, and had big glasses, etc. She wanted him to be some sort of a superhero in the song.”

“I wrote the song, but it took nearly a year to get it recorded, and by the time I had it ready for her to give to him, they had broken up. I didn’t know this when I invited her over, and she showed up with a bunch of beer and looking a bit worn. She was a sport about it, and was really appreciative, etc. And then a couple of weeks later, I found out from somebody that they had broken up, and I felt semi weird about it.”

“Then, about 6 months later, I met the dude whom the song was actually for, and he was clearly uncomfortable with me regarding the song, so I felt even more weird. I like the song though, and had fun making it, so it’s all good.”

Yeah, that’s weird. Now, listen to “Scooter Boy” (to download, right click the link and ‘Save Link/Target As…’). As usual, You can sing along as you click play with the lyrics below.

Scooter Boy
words & music by: Ean Hernandez

I
Seattle: rainy November day
There’s trouble at the US bank (Broadway)
Bank robbers have got the place tied down
All the cops are eating donuts across the town

II
Out of the blue there’s a guy on a scooter driving
Driving into this hostage situation
Whipping out all the kung fu moves
And giving all of the bank robbers the blues

Refrain
Skinny tie and big black glasses
on a Vespa scooter 150

Chorus
Yeah! Go… Go… Scooter Boy!
Yeah! Go… Go… Scooter Boy!
Yeah! Go… Go… Scooter Boy!
Yeah! Go… Go… Scooter Boy!

III
Seattle: rainy November night
Maria’s stuck out on I5
Cars are passing no one wants to stop
All the cops are still at the donut shop

IV
Out of control there’s a donut truck that sliding
Maria’s way… it looks like it’s the end
A shining white Vespa carries her away
Scooter Boy saves the day!

(repeat Refrain & Chorus)

Coda
Go!

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Yeah! Go… Go… Scooter Boy!
-o-
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J0HNRANA

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com