King of Yesterday's Night

Russell Nomer · King of Yesterday's Night

King of Yesterday's Night

By: Russell D. Nomer

July 21, 2025 ASCAP Work ID# 931139439 ISRC# QT5AM2539439

[Music Intro - A slightly melancholic, clean electric guitar melody, tasteful and reflective, setting a nostalgic mood over a simple acoustic rhythm]

[Verse 1 - Vocals enter, clear and narrative. Instrumentation is sparse, focusing on acoustic guitar and a simple bassline.]

The signal fades to static where the picture used to gleam

There's a Hall of Fame for moments that live on inside a dream

Koufax on the mound, with a curve that broke so late

Eli Manning in the pocket, sealing Brady's fate.

Some guys own the diamond, some the forty-yard line

But one man owned the airwaves, from nine to ten-oh-nine.

[Chorus - Builds in energy. Drums become more present with brushed snares, Hammond organ swells, electric guitar melody echoes vocal line. Add subtle harmony on the last line.]

Oh, Johnny was the king on that late-night throne

He held his court from Burbank and he ruled it all alone

And though pretenders try to play the part, it's clear to see

They can't capture the heart of yesterday's TV.

[Verse 2 - Dynamics pull back slightly from chorus. Electric guitar adds tasteful fills between vocal lines. The vocal delivery is intimate, like sharing a secret.]

They trade in burning takes now for a quick and cheap applause

While Johnny made a space for the true comedic cause

He'd light George Burns' cigar and let the stories rise

Catch the wicked glint in Buddy Hackett's eyes

He'd give Mel Brooks the runway with no need to rush the bit

A king who knew the legends he was honored to sit with.

[Chorus - Full energy again, same as the first chorus. More confident harmony vocals.]

Oh, Johnny was the king on that late-night throne

He held his court from Burbank and he ruled it all alone

And though pretenders try to play the part, it's clear to see

They can't capture the heart of yesterday's TV.

[Bridge - Instrumentation becomes more atmospheric and sparse. Bass and a long, sustained organ note hold the foundation. Vocal is more reflective, almost spoken.]

The kingdom's getting smaller, the channels start to fray

A million fractured screens at the closing of the day

And in this noisy world where everyone must shout

Who's there to lean in closer, and help you figure out?

[Guitar Solo - Melodic and emotional, not fast or technical. It should follow the song's core chord progression, played on the clean electric guitar with passion and sustain. The band supports without overpowering.]

[Outro - Music becomes very sparse. Decrescendo. Vocals are quiet and intimate. Band fades out slowly, leaving the final electric guitar lick to ring out and decay naturally.]

From the monologue sunset to the stardust curtain call

The band plays him off now, down that legendary hall

No hot takes, no agendas, no fight he had to pick

Just a perfect set-up... and a pencil's gentle flick.

Yeah, a perfect set-up…

[end song]

Americana Folk Rock, Singer-Songwriter Ballad. Moderate 4/4 tempo. Centered on a clean, melodic Telecaster-style electric guitar and driving acoustic guitar. Simple, steady bassline, brushed drums, subtle Hammond organ swells for warmth. Sincere male baritone storyteller vocal. Diatonic harmony with a melancholic feel.

Remember when one voice could unite the country every night?

"King of Yesterday's Night" is a tribute to that bygone era. It's a nostalgic look at the golden age of late-night television, personified by the one and only king, Johnny Carson. It's a story about legends—on the field like Koufax and Manning, and behind the desk like Carson, Burns, and Brooks—and what it feels like when their signal fades to static.

This is a heartfelt slice of Americana and Folk Rock, built around a clean, melodic electric guitar, a storyteller's vocal, and a timeless arrangement.

Released July 21, 2025.

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LYRICS

(Verse 1) The signal fades to static where the picture used to gleam There's a Hall of Fame for moments that live on inside a dream Koufax on the mound, with a curve that broke so late Eli Manning in the pocket, sealing Brady's fate. Some guys own the diamond, some the forty-yard line But one man owned the airwaves, from nine to ten-oh-nine.

(Chorus) Oh, Johnny was the king on that late-night throne He held his court from Burbank and he ruled it all alone And though pretenders try to play the part, it's clear to see They can't capture the heart of yesterday's TV.

(Verse 2) They trade in burning takes now for a quick and cheap applause While Johnny made a space for the true comedic cause He'd light George Burns' cigar and let the stories rise Catch the wicked glint in Buddy Hackett's eyes He'd give Mel Brooks the runway with no need to rush the bit A king who knew the legends he was honored to sit with.

(Bridge) The kingdom's getting smaller, the channels start to fray A million fractured screens at the closing of the day And in this noisy world where everyone must shout Who's there to lean in closer, and help you figure out?

(Outro) From the monologue sunset to the stardust curtain call The band plays him off now, down that legendary hall No hot takes, no agendas, no fight he had to pick Just a perfect set-up... and a pencil's gentle flick. Yeah, a perfect set-up…

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Folk Rock Americana Johnny Carson Nostalgic Singer-Songwriter Storyteller Tribute Folk Indie Folk Rock Late Night The Tonight Show Legends Melancholy Reflective Heartfelt Acoustic Electric Guitar Guitar George Burns Mel Brooks Classic TV Burbank