From the recording Stone & Fire
A witty lyric from Dave Holt from his youth in Toronto.
Lyrics
Toronto Tonto and His Cowboy Guitar
Well I took my Caledonia down to sunny California but she didn’t stay long,
(She’s goin’ to California just to soak up some rays)
Yes, I took my Caledonia down to sunny California but she didn’t stay long,
(She’s goin’ to California but she ain’t gonna stay)
She said the people here they got it all wrong, all laid back and lettin’ it flow,
I’m gonna hitch myself to the next express, I gotta go.
So I rode up to Toronto with my sidekick Tonto and his cowboy guitar,
(Toronto Tonto wants to play his guitar)
Yes, I rode up to Toronto with my sidekick Tonto and his cowboy guitar,
(Toronto Tonto thinks he’s gonna go far)
He sang a song and they made him a star, it broke the ice and melted away,
They said, “ You’re okay,” and they let him back into the place.
Bridge:
It doesn’t matter where you land, as long as you do it in style,
And everybody will smile as you pass by,
You don’t have to be cool, just stay true to yourself,
And get yourself back down from offa that shelf, come on and ride.
Well, I’m goin’ to Mississippi ’cause my blues gal Minnie wants to ride a freight train,
(Blues gal Minnie wants to ride a freight train)
Yes, I’m goin’ to Mississippi ’cause my blues gal Minnie wants to ride a freight train,
(Woo, woo)
“When people wear a ball and chain, it’s gonna make ‘em wanna moan and cry,
I wanna show them how to catch that train and ride.”
Catch that train and ride.