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*Song Description By Noles*

The origin of "The Rambler" dates back to 2004. I was in high school and living with my parents in Peterborough. Our house was on a street corner with 2 acres of property. One day, along the fence line of the pool area appeared an abandoned bicycle. It was unlike any bike I'd ever seen. With it's porteur-style handlebars, it actually looked like Pee Wee Herman's bike. Except there were no tassels on the handlebars. And instead of the colour red, it was the colour teal. The bicycle was made in England and the brand name on the bike was "Rambler". I ended up using that bike for years. My friends would always talk and joke about The Rambler. The bike became a story of legend because of how different it looked. In those days, I wanted to write a song about The Rambler. My first attempt was sometime in 2005. I wrote 4 lines and that was it.

After playing in a few bands throughout high school, I joined a band called Mr. Nothin' in March of 2007. We were a power-trio and mainly covered Pink Floyd, Rush and The Who. As the group's lead singer and guitarist, I felt like I needed to write an original song for us. So on May 4, 2007, I finally wrote "The Rambler". The lyrics are about the bike, but are also left open to interpretation. You might even say there are some sexual innuendos in the lyrics for "The Rambler". The guitar riff was inspired by Wolfmother's "Joker & The Thief". I was really into Wolfmother after their 1st album came out in 2005. And I wanted my band to sound like them. Mr. Nothin' started rehearsing "The Rambler" after I wrote the tune. We performed at a party that summer, then I started my first year of Radio Broadcasting at Algonquin College in Ottawa. The next summer, Mr. Nothin' got back together again in Peterborough. We recorded one of our jam sessions and called it The Basement Tapes. Because we rehearsed in the drummer's basement and it was named after the compilation album from Bob Dylan and The Band. "The Rambler" was featured on The Basement Tapes. We would often extend the song's guitar solos. Bassist Ian Lavery and drummer Alex Mickee we're excellent at improvising during my guitar solos. Mr. Nothin' was no more after that summer of 2008.

Fast forward to the spring of 2013, and I'm recording the final songs for Plaid On Flannel's 2nd album Mission Of Mercy. My girlfriend at the time loved "The Rambler" from The Basement Tapes and convinced me to record it for my new album to go with all of the new songs. I started recording "The Rambler" on March 28, 2013. I tried to make it sound as much like the way Mr. Nothin' played it on The Basement Tapes as I could. While tweaking a few minor adjustments. I finished recording "The Rambler" on April 5, 2013, and the entire Mission Of Mercy album was released on May 20, 2013.

After moving to Toronto from Peterborough in September of 2013, the Plaid On Flannel band started on February 15, 2014 as a 3-piece. "The Rambler" was part of the first batch of my original songs I brought to the band, and we played it regularly at shows. Keyboardist Jen Doyon joined Plaid On Flannel on February 22, 2015. "The Rambler" remained a concert staple for the band. Here we are performing "The Rambler" at The Velvet Underground in Toronto on July 18, 2015... youtu.be/BKbUhi3uzys With "The Rambler" being one of my oldest songs that has endured over the years, it just might continue on in POF's live repertoire for more years to come.

lyrics

Words and music by Nolan Randall

The word is on the street is that you're lookin' alright
I won't give in a fight unless I put up a fight
The flavor's in the heat, oh yeah, I guess I just might
Feelin' outta sight, all day I'm holdin' you tight

Come on, get a taste of the rambler
Go on, I'll even give you a sampler

It's too legit, it's too far-fetched, I guess I'll propose
That the testimony I have sketched is takin' a dose
It's the way it was, they way it is, the way it will be
It's a far cry from the evil lies in your history

Come on, get a taste of the rambler
You won't appear as if you're a gambler
Come on, take a ride on the rambler
Go on, I'll even give you a sampler

The word is on the street is that you're lookin' alright
I won't give in a fight unless I put up a fight
The flavor's in the heat, oh yeah, I guess I just might
Feelin' outta sight, all day I'm holdin' you tight

Come on, get a taste of the rambler
You won't appear as if you're a gambler
Come on, take a ride on the rambler
Go on, I'll even give you a sampler

credits

from Vol. II: Mission Of Mercy, released May 20, 2013

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Plaid On Flannel Toronto, Ontario

Plaid On Flannel is an alternative indie blues rock act from Toronto, Canada. With 80+ original songs recorded since 2011, singer-songwriter Nolan Randall has remained the sole constant member of the band. POF's music is known for guitar riffs/solos, memorable hooks, catchy melodies/harmonies, evocative lyrics, & superb musicianship. While keeping a focus on originality and songwriting quality. ... more

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