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This is the first and very likely the last time I write a song about a punctuation mark! I appreciate any and all comments. Tom https://soundcloud.com/tommyad/the-dashhttp://tommyadamsmusic.com/musicRealTracks in style: 691:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming AcRockBright Ev 120 RealTracks in style: 2541:Pedal Steel, Background ModernPopCountry Ev 110 RealTracks in song: ~2494:Piano, Acoustic, HeldChords 120 Royalty Free Loops, Multitrack Instrument and Song Files and Multitrack Drums from Drums on Demand Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Tom Adams We used to spend our nights Beneath an autumn sky looking at the stars And simply wondering why There’s nothing quite as cold as a graveyard late at night We’d dream about a world where no-one ever dies It’s the dash that counts that’s the only thing that’s real make the most of what little time you’re here I don't care when you were born or what year you will die What matters most is in between those years Every other year We’d pledge to meet again a bottle of cheap red wine Go back to where we’d been Take a midnight walk just like we used to do A cemetery talk Reminds us we’re not through It’s the dash that counts that’s the only thing that’s real make the most of what little time you’re here I don't care when you were born or what year you will die What matters most is in between those years Written on your tombstone between the years there is a line That's the place your lifetime is defined It’s the dash that counts that’s the only thing that’s real make the most of what little time you’re here ©2017 Thomas Adams
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Wow, so good! Loved everything about this. Killer job on the mix too, wish I had your skills in that department! Nice looking tele in your profile pic over there BTW.
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Hi Tom.
Now that is one extremely sophisticated piece of arranging. And then, just when you think you've heard it all, you're left with that wonderful unresolved ending. Any professional producer would be proud of work like that.
On top of all that, it's such a brilliant song.
This simply has to be some of your best work to date.
ROG.
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PG Music Staff
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Hi Tom.
Now that is one extremely sophisticated piece of arranging. And then, just when you think you've heard it all, you're left with that wonderful unresolved ending.
Yep, I came here to mention that amazing ending. The way the guitar climbs up and then vanishes is just perfect! Great example of "always leave 'em wanting more." The vocals in this are such high quality, too, really wonderfully layered and recorded.
Will - PG Music
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That repeating guitar lick in the chorus is just phenomenal, too... such nice tone, and it really stands out as a creative addition.
Will - PG Music
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Hi, Tom !
You know, your song made me think
how funny it is that as we reach
a certain age, those things you´re
writing about really starts to count
and we are getting more interested
in what we still can do before our
departure !
I am awed at what you achieved here
What a superb tune and so superbly
performed too ! that goes for those
deepdiggin´lyrics too - a masterpiece !
Cheers
Dani
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Really nice listening.
Everything is right, great production and performance.
Excellent guitar playing
Sergio
Sergio
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Loved this tune Tom. Super vocal and arrangement. Love the guitar as well, Super tone....
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Tom,
Terrific song! My favourite of yours to date.
I`ve just spent the afternoon with a 93 yr old friend who`s full of cool stories about all he`s packed into his "line"... you`ve really captured something essential here.
Robert
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Tom,
An excellent write. A really clever idea for a write. The thing that struck me most about it (the writing) was the strength of the verses - and how you advanced the thought in the second verse. Strong.
Nice arrangement. Excellent mix. The DoD drums are nice. Another strong vocal. The harmonies are so well done that they almost slip by "unnoticed" (yet add so much). Nice guitar work - tasty fills. Nice ending.
More and more, your songs stick in my head long after I hear them - in a listen or two.
Another top-notch-er.
fj
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Tom,
WOW! This is GREAT! I really enjoyed it. The mix, vocals, guitar... Everything is very polished. Outstanding!
A fine write.
Greg
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Tom
You never disappoint - fabulous song, wonderfully arranged, melodic, and a nice set of lyrics.
Great stuff.
Peter
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It's not the dash that counts, it's the quality of this song  And it's a high level as always! Rob and Anne-Marie
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Hi Tom.
Now that is one extremely sophisticated piece of arranging. And then, just when you think you've heard it all, you're left with that wonderful unresolved ending. Any professional producer would be proud of work like that.
On top of all that, it's such a brilliant song.
This simply has to be some of your best work to date.
ROG. ROG said it so well, you make the sounds your own very Pro, very good Enjoyed Kenny
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Hello, Tom
Very catchy and very pop!
The melody and the chord progression are the royal road of the pops.
Vocals and Guitars are superb.
The eighth notes of Bass engraved throughout the music are very pleasant.
The unresolved ending chord is also wonderful.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
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Wow, so good! Loved everything about this. Killer job on the mix too, wish I had your skills in that department! Nice looking tele in your profile pic over there BTW. Dave, This mixing thing is an ongoing process. This forum has been an invaluable resource. I am always trying different mixing and mastering techniques and have come a long way from several years ago. Your stuff sounds great now and I'm sure it will sound even better in the future. Tom Hi Tom.
Now that is one extremely sophisticated piece of arranging. And then, just when you think you've heard it all, you're left with that wonderful unresolved ending. Any professional producer would be proud of work like that.
On top of all that, it's such a brilliant song.
This simply has to be some of your best work to date.
ROG. Professor, I've been meaning to tell you I have been using the ROG technique on vocals. I record the chorus and harmonies on separate tracks from the verses. As you pointed out this allows different processing and is a real time saver by copy and pasting the choruses. Simply a great idea that works like a charm. Thanks for fine review, Tom
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Great work Tom! This one has some of the best sound (production) that I've heard on this forum. So clean! By the way the song was great too. Thanks, Torrey.
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Hi Tom.
Now that is one extremely sophisticated piece of arranging. And then, just when you think you've heard it all, you're left with that wonderful unresolved ending.
Yep, I came here to mention that amazing ending. The way the guitar climbs up and then vanishes is just perfect! Great example of "always leave 'em wanting more." The vocals in this are such high quality, too, really wonderfully layered and recorded. Will, Glad you came by and thanks for the nice comments. Tom Hi, Tom !
You know, your song made me think
how funny it is that as we reach
a certain age, those things you´re
writing about really starts to count
and we are getting more interested
in what we still can do before our
departure !
I am awed at what you achieved here
What a superb tune and so superbly
performed too ! that goes for those
deepdiggin´lyrics too - a masterpiece !
Cheers
Dani Dani, You're right. The older we get the more we think about these things. Glad you liked it. Tom
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Really nice listening.
Everything is right, great production and performance.
Excellent guitar playing
Sergio
Thanks, I appreciate it. Tom Loved this tune Tom. Super vocal and arrangement. Love the guitar as well, Super tone.... Thanks for the nice words Scott. Tom
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"It’s the dash that counts that’s the only thing that’s real."
It's the most profound of punctuation marks. We've walked through many an old family cemetery that we often find long since abandoned in forests and pondered what that dash might represent for those that lived out there lives there.
And speaking of profound you again show how a powerful, perhaps even spiritual, concept can be distilled down to relatively few finely crafted words.
Then surround the write with your trademark playing and vocals and production value and voila another Tommyad tune worthy of many listens.
Outstanding!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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