Freehold

This one's for you, mom

I was born right here on Randolph Street in Freehold
Here right behind that big red maple in Freehold
I went to school right here
Got laid and had my first beer
Here In Freehold

Well, my folks all lived and worked right here in Freehold
I remember running up the street past the convent to the church here in Freehold
I chased my daddy down in these bars
And first fell in love with this guitar
Here in Freehold

I had my first kiss at the YMCA canteen on a Friday night
Maria Espinosa, baby, where are you tonight?
You were thirteen but way ahead of your time
I walked home with a limp but I felt just fine
That night in Freehold

Well, the girls at Freehold Regional they looked pretty fine
I had my heart broke at least a half a dozen times
I wonder: do they miss me? Do they still get the itch?
Would they had dumped me if they knew I'd strike it rich
Straight out of Freehold?

Well, a lot of good folks gave us kids a hand in Freehold
Man, we started up a rock-and-roll band in Freehold
And we learned pretty quick how to rock it
I'll never forget the feeling of that first five bucks in my pocket
That I earned in Freehold

Well, I got outta here hard and fast from Freehold
Everybody wanted to kick my ass back then in Freehold
Well, if you were different, black or brown
It was a pretty redneck town
Back in Freehold

Well, then something broke my daddy's back in Freehold
He left for thirty years and never come back
Except once he drove from California in just three days
Called my relatives some dirty names
And pulled straight out of Freehold

And I was there by the highway buried in the dirt
His ghost flipping the bird to everybody in Freehold

Well, my sister got pregnant at seventeen in Freehold
Well, back then, people they can be pretty mean
Oh, honey you had a rough road to go now you ain't made of nothing but soul
I love you more that you'll ever know
We both survived Freehold

Well my buddy Mike he's the mayor now in Freehold
I remember when we had a lot more hair in Freehold
I left and swore I'd never walk these streets again, Jack
Now all I can say is "Holy shit! I'm back."
Back in Freehold

Oh, I've read something in the paper a few weeks ago
It was pretty funny
The town council was debating where to put up a statue, a statue of me in my home town
But it cost too much money
Well, I'd like to thank the town council, my friends
For saving me from the humiliation and displaying the good heart common sense
We learned in Freehold

Well, this summer everything was green
Rode my kids on the fire engine through the streets of Freehold
I bored them with where dad was born and raised
And first felt the sun on his face
In Freehold

Well, I still got a lot of real good friends back there
I can usually find me a free beer somewhere
With free dinners I am blessed
Should I go crazy, blow all my money hit the tabloids become fodder for moronic talk shows, turn my life into a complete fucking mess
But at least I'll never go hungry I guess
In Freehold

I got a good Catholic education in Freehold
It led to an awful lot of masturbation here in Freehold
Father, it was just something I did for a smile
Hell! I still get a good one off once in a while
I dedicate it to Freehold

Don't get me wrong, I ain't putting anybody down
In the end it all just goes and comes around
In my home town
In Freehold