about
The titular Ronnie of the song is Ronnie Spector, the greatest female singer of the girl-group era of rock & roll. She is badass, and she's not dead, which is awesome, considering she was married to a psychopathic (yet admittedly brilliant) svengali named Phil Spector. I wrote this song after hearing Ronnie on "Fresh Air with Terry Gross". Ronnie's voice reminds me of home . . . that hard, unabashed New Yawk accent like my mother's. I was grinning from ear-to-ear, and started writing the song after I heard Ronnie tell Terri, "I don't do regrets!"
lyrics
"Ronnie Got Free"
(R.F. Restaino)
When Ronnie Got Free of Phil and started singing again
All the rock and roll fans shouted, "Hallelujiah, Amen!"
She'd been locked away too long,
but now she's back where she belongs
Ronnie got free, Ronnie got free, whoa-oh
Ronnie and her cousin Nedra and her sister Estelle
Learned to dance on the streets of Spanish Harlem
that they loved so well
But Ronnie caught the record man's eye
and he really took her for a ride
But Ronnie got free, Ronnie got free
And that just made me so damned happy
Ronnie's got bad memories, but she don't do regrets
And don't talk to her about Phil's troubles
'Cause that's one thing she deserves to forget
When Ronnie got free of Phil and started living again
She called up some of her old pals and she started a band
She's back home up on the stage and
Phil, he's loked up in a cage
But Ronnie got free, Ronnie got free
And rock-and-roll's got back it's queen
Ronnie got free, Ronnie got free
And that just makes me so damn happy
Ronnie got free, Ronnie got free, whoa-oh
credits
from
The C'est La Vie EP,
released January 1, 2009
Written by R.F. Restaino (C) 2009 Dick Frank Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Rich Restaino
Recorded by Rich Restaino & Randy Avenell
Mixed & Mastered by Randy Avenell
Rich: guitars, lead vocals, percussion
Dave: drums
Zimmy: bass
Hunt: guitar
Lloyd: piano, organ
Sara: backing vocals, percussion
Roz: backing vocals, percussion
Elzie: backing vocals, percussion
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