This is a story of how one guy choses to get his frustrations/anger out. It is present tense. Uptempo and fun hopefully. One of my favourites I have penned. Many thanks to my co-writer Rick Carroll of SWP.
Let me know what you think. Cheers
If this is your first time creating a melody, good job. Sounds like you are a good lyricist and are well on your way to creating good melodies too.
April 11, 2018
Thanks Haydee. I really appreciate the kind comments.
I have absolutely no experience creating melodies and I cannot read or play music. This was just the way it all flowed in my head and yes needs a great deal of help from someone who can create musical melodies.
I do kind of get stuck in the whole formula thing but if someone is willing to collaborate I am quite happy to move things around to create a great rockin song. I see this as definitely country rock - perhaps a Bon Jovi vibe as well as what I put in the summary of the song.
Thank you very much again. I’m so excited to see if this can become an awesome joint venture.
April 11, 2018
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I’m like you in a lot of ways, I don’t play instruments. This was a great attempt at a melody, a solid start. It’s kind of a rowdy song, fun in It’s own way. Yes, I’m definitely getting a Bon Jovi vibe from it now that you mention it .
April 11, 2018
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Anything with a photo of the General Lee on it has to be listened to (grew up watching Bo, Luke and Daisy, even on British TV!)
Just my opinion (as ever) so do please feel free to ignore - I’d actually cut out a lot lines. I think it becomes more dynamic that way, and doesn’t seem to lose the story or emotion at all - Verse 3 is already shortened for isntance, and I think that gives it much more punch!
See what you think, this is just quick so may not be what you are looking for, but I think less is more, to keep everything moving right along at high speed - just like the General Lee!
She started on me soon as I walked in the door
Rantin and ravin and layin down the law
I turned back round, grabbed my keys and headed for the barn
Called back to her – Darlin I don’t give a darn!
It’s gonna get ugly, I’m gonna start to shout
Gotta get out of this house - gotta go and Duke it out
Slid in through the window of my ’69 Dodge
Took it down past the creek and old huntin’ lodge
Found the lake by Hazard where we used to catch trout
Grip the wheel hang on tight – It’s time I Duke it out
Dropped it down into second, slammed the pedal to the floor
Woah mumma!, nothing heals like listenin’ to that roar
Got my own General Lee slidin’ through the bends
I know it ain’t the done thing but that’s how my mind mends
I feel so much better – I’ve had time to Duke it out
April 12, 2018
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Hey M.C.
Thanks so much for that. Glad you can feel it.
If you feel inclinded to collaborate, I would love that. I feel like you have the perfect kind of sound.
Cheers
Sonya
January 14, 2026
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DUKE IT OUT
Written by Sonya Dauth
20th April, 2017
(Revised March 2026)
Co-written with Rick Carroll of SWP
V1
She started on me, soon as I walked in the door
Rantin and ravin and layin down the law
Jumped up, grabbed my keys and headed for the barn
Callin' back to her – Darlin' I don’t give a darn!
It’s gonna get ugly, I’m gonna start to shout
Gotta get out of this house and let this tension out
PRE-CH
Like Bo, I slid through the window of my ’69 Dodge
Took it down past the creek and old huntin’ lodge
CH
Dropped it down into second, pedal slammed to the floor
Woah mumma!, feel the pow’r and listen to the roar
Got my own General Lee slidin’ through the bends
Grip the wheel, hang on tight, my mind is on the mend
Dust in my rearview, stones flyin' all about
I feel so much better – I’ve had time to Duke it out
V2
I drove back to the house and left it by the tree
Could tell she's still fuming by the way she looked at me
Heard the engine start to rev, tyres burnin' down the drive
I’m guessin’ that it's her turn to get out and feel alive
PRE-CH
She'll find a little backwoods drive nobody else knows
A place in Hazard where the rubber meets the road
CH
She'll drop her into second, pedal slammed to the floor
Woah mumma!, feel the pow’r and listen to the roar
She’s got ol' General Lee slidin’ through the bends
Grip the wheel tighter, her mind is on the mend
Dust in her rearview, stones flyin' all about
She’ll feel so much better when she’s had time - to Duke it out
BR
Sometimes all you need is time to clear your head
No fightin’ and shoutin’, just some gasoline instead
CH
So drop it down to second, slam the pedal to the floor
Woah mumma, feel the pow’r and listen to the roar
We got our own General Lee slidin’ through the bend
Grip the wheel tighter, our mind is on the mend
Dust in our rearview stones flyin' all about
We feel so much better when we can Duke it out
OUTRO
Yeah, we feel so much better
When we’ve had time to Duke it out
1
Your singing is just fine, you are able to sing on key. The lyrics sound like they have as good flow. The thing is I know most songs have a verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, etc. Some have a pre-chorus, others have a climb. That sounds rather formulaic at times and I don’t always write in an exact way, sometimes what comes out is raw. The verse has a solid but rather repetitive sound. It’s only when you get to “It’s time to duke it out” that the song gets a bit of a break from the repetitive melody. It probably needs to be edited a little and needs some work on the melody so that different parts of the song sound more distinctive. Again, the melody I hear does sound like it has a good starting point, but there has to be more points where it changes up a bit to really catch the ear. Now I’ve heard some have choruses that are only one line. That may be the case here. Also, this song sounds like rock or country, not sure, but I don’t think it’s pop. Hope that helps, thanks for sharing.
April 11, 2018
1
If this is your first time creating a melody, good job. Sounds like you are a good lyricist and are well on your way to creating good melodies too.
April 11, 2018
0
Thanks Haydee. I really appreciate the kind comments.
I have absolutely no experience creating melodies and I cannot read or play music. This was just the way it all flowed in my head and yes needs a great deal of help from someone who can create musical melodies.
I do kind of get stuck in the whole formula thing but if someone is willing to collaborate I am quite happy to move things around to create a great rockin song. I see this as definitely country rock - perhaps a Bon Jovi vibe as well as what I put in the summary of the song.
Thank you very much again. I’m so excited to see if this can become an awesome joint venture.
April 11, 2018
0
I’m like you in a lot of ways, I don’t play instruments. This was a great attempt at a melody, a solid start. It’s kind of a rowdy song, fun in It’s own way. Yes, I’m definitely getting a Bon Jovi vibe from it now that you mention it .
April 11, 2018
0
Anything with a photo of the General Lee on it has to be listened to (grew up watching Bo, Luke and Daisy, even on British TV!)
Just my opinion (as ever) so do please feel free to ignore - I’d actually cut out a lot lines. I think it becomes more dynamic that way, and doesn’t seem to lose the story or emotion at all - Verse 3 is already shortened for isntance, and I think that gives it much more punch!
See what you think, this is just quick so may not be what you are looking for, but I think less is more, to keep everything moving right along at high speed - just like the General Lee!
She started on me soon as I walked in the door
Rantin and ravin and layin down the law
I turned back round, grabbed my keys and headed for the barn
Called back to her – Darlin I don’t give a darn!
It’s gonna get ugly, I’m gonna start to shout
Gotta get out of this house - gotta go and Duke it out
Slid in through the window of my ’69 Dodge
Took it down past the creek and old huntin’ lodge
Found the lake by Hazard where we used to catch trout
Grip the wheel hang on tight – It’s time I Duke it out
Dropped it down into second, slammed the pedal to the floor
Woah mumma!, nothing heals like listenin’ to that roar
Got my own General Lee slidin’ through the bends
I know it ain’t the done thing but that’s how my mind mends
I feel so much better – I’ve had time to Duke it out
April 12, 2018
0
Hey M.C.
Thanks so much for that. Glad you can feel it.
If you feel inclinded to collaborate, I would love that. I feel like you have the perfect kind of sound.
Cheers
Sonya
January 14, 2026
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Haydee Ahrens
Your singing is just fine, you are able to sing on key. The lyrics sound like they have as good flow. The thing is I know most songs have a verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, etc. Some have a pre-chorus, others have a climb. That sounds rather formulaic at times and I don’t always write in an exact way, sometimes what comes out is raw. The verse has a solid but rather repetitive sound. It’s only when you get to “It’s time to duke it out” that the song gets a bit of a break from the repetitive melody. It probably needs to be edited a little and needs some work on the melody so that different parts of the song sound more distinctive. Again, the melody I hear does sound like it has a good starting point, but there has to be more points where it changes up a bit to really catch the ear. Now I’ve heard some have choruses that are only one line. That may be the case here. Also, this song sounds like rock or country, not sure, but I don’t think it’s pop. Hope that helps, thanks for sharing.
April 11, 2018