songs
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100% original material drawn from the lives of OKOLONA, a real honkytonk band founded in East Atlanta in 1969. To fully experience the true essence of  the honkytonk sound, we strongly encourage you to quaff a couple of Pabst Blue Ribbons, dim the lights, gnaw on a Penrose Pickled Sausage, and  listen 

THE LAW IS THE LAW:  Listen
 

“It don't pay to mess around where the law is the law;” those who have been on the wrong side of the law will appreciate this hard driving tribute to the small town cop who is “tough as twenty kinds of hell,” and doesn't allow nuthin’.

NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'M IN:  Listen

Inspired by a great view of the City of Atlanta skyline going north on 42 highway from I –285. If ever everything in your life has turned to manure, this is your song. “Got an old Ford truck with a busted cam, a teen-aged daughter that's in a jam,” you got the drift-open another cool one and pity the poor country boy in this swing song. 

GOOD OLD DAYS:  Listen

“Take me back to good old days again", Tony's song about growing up in the South, with rich imagery, mandolin, pedal steel, and powerful memories. 

TRUCKIN’ MAN:  Listen

Every great Country Band should add to this sub-set of the genre. Truckin’ Man is one of several songs literally written on 42 Highway in South Atlanta, a road that runs past the Starlight Drive In and through Okolona’s history as thoroughly as BS runs through a honky tonk full of truckers. “Get out of my way and have a good day, I'm a Truckin’ man.” Dedicated to Tommy Blake our late, great trucking’ hero. 

That's Right You're WRONG ! Listen

 Left high 'n dry? Don't get mad, get even !

Old Man Tatum : Listen

We all got to go sometime. Old Man Tatum was a neighbor on Tony's who made that long, lonesome journey inspiring this reflection on the life of a good man. Open one for him. “Old Man Tatum didn't deserve to die. . . .” None of us do. "

In Georgia :  Listen

 A tribute to life in a simpler time in OKOLONA's home state of Georgia.

LIVIN' IT UP (Trying to Live It Down):  Listen

One of several songs inspired by Wayne’s Uncle Billy Drummond, a real stampeder through the Highway 42 honky tonks of the 50’s and 60’s. Based on a true story from the Navy days when he woke up in a cheap hotel sporting a new tattoo and rolled over to discover an obese lady of the night.... 

YOU AIN’T CHEATIN’ FAIR:  Listen

“I don't parade down mainstreet with ribbons in my hair, you ain’t cheatin’ fair.” Lunatic southern rocker with Allman Brother’s inspired break about a good ol’ boy who is ‘splaining the finer points of cheating etiquette to his true love.

We're OKOLONA:  Listen

Kicks off with straight James Burton licks opening an Elvis rocker capturing the band's history of “breezing into town and burning beer joints down.” A highlight of our Nashville session. 

Cage without a Key: Listen

Addiction to a substance or a person is like this if you want to be free.

HELLO BOTTLE: Listen

Hey, is there a pattern here or what. Open another and listen to Okolona’s newest honky tonk standard that was probably channeled from 1956 when Ralph Mooney wrote Crazy Arms. “Hello bottle, how you been? I been missing you like a long lost friend.” 

ALIVE AND KICKING: Listen
 

Twin guitar intro and a text book Bob Wills ending bookend this biographical tribute to the fact that Okolona’s music is live and kicking. Dale Watson inspired this one after dedicating several songs to Wayne and Jim at an Atlanta appearance. 

DEAR JOHN LETTER: 
 

Classic country song about getting left with wailing lyrics and syrupy steel guitar to boot. Open another cool one. 

I WANT TO LOVE YOU: 

An ethereal slow rocker with classical violin by Osama drops in the middle of a honky tonk set like the Time’s Square New Year’s Ball on steroids. Great stuff, totally and completely out of character. 

I WISH I WAS IN TENNESSEE: 

You would too if you were on the short end of a lesson that the “Law is the Law” and “Nobody Knows” the trouble you're in. Great song with great imagery of our beautiful neighboring state with a special thanks to those with curves so pleasing to the eye. 

ODE TO BILLY:

Our inspiration. Wayne still plays his ’59 Stratocaster. Billy's final crossing was missed because of a hangover resulting from lessons Billy taught and Okolona learned too well. “A man's gotta do what a man's got to do.” One thing a man had to do was to write this homage.