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Hi, all:

Here's my latest collaboration with John Vaughan, who wrote these lyrics following the passing of a close friend. I'm determined to get better at mixing, so have sworn off taking on any new song projects until I YouTube myself to death on tutorials (lol), so be patient with me on this one. . . . but I think (and hope) it's well enough along to share. Thanks for the listen!

Here's the song:

Raise a Glass

Here are the lyrics:

Don’t want no flowers on my grave;
my life down on paper—the words will only fade.
Why not say those things to me when I’m still alive?
We’ve shared so many things, pal, now don’t be shy.

Let’s raise a glass to us today . . .
two old friends who go back a long way.
With a bond sealed with memories,
old friend, you mean a lot to me—
Who knows who will go and who will stay?
Let’s find a place to pass some time away,
and raise a glass to both of us today.

Poor preacher one day has to eulogize me
though I’ve been a stranger in his church most of my life;
see, when my time comes to go . . .
just say my friend wasn't perfect—he told me so.

Let’s raise a glass to us today . . .
two old friends who go back a long way.
With a bond sealed with memories,
old friend, you mean a lot to me—
Who knows who will go and who will stay?
Let’s find some place and drink the night away,
and raise a glass to both of us today.

I don’t want you going all down hill.
Go find yourself a new best friend.
But I’ll tell you straight right now
it will never be the same somehow.
Damn, my eyes are watering again.

Let’s raise a glass to us today . . .
two old friends who go back a long way.
With a bond sealed with memories,
old friend, you mean a lot to me—
Who knows who will go and who will stay?
Let’s find a place and laugh the time away,
and raise a glass to both of us today.

And here's the Band:

Drums: Shaker Even 8ths
Bass: Real 2488, Acoustic, Bowed Held
Guitar: Real 2936, Fingerpicking Folk Waltz Fintan
Guitar: Real 2533, Acoustic, Held Chords
Accordion: Real 1752, Rhythm Pop 8ths
Harp: Real 2775, Rhythm Celtic Waltz
Viola: Real 2336, Background Pop
Mandolin: Real 1875, Soloist County

(c)2019 John Vaughan/DJ Lekich

Really good vocal performance.
the mix is pretty tidy and the arrangement is cool.
the one thing that bothered me most is what seems like a constant pick scrap on one of the guitars.
It's actually the shaker but there's something strident in it that sounds like a pick scrape.
Nice lyric - excellent melody.

Hi Deej,
This is a nice waltz about a sensitive subject. Christian

This is really, really beautiful and sensitively done, for me at least. Just one small quibble: in some of the D major chords (towards the beginning), one guitar seems to often play a G natural (instead of an F sharp, perhaps?) Anyway, the foreign note jars a little, to my ears at least, that's all. It's a small quibble, but it happened about two or three times, that's why I thought I'd mention it. If it's deliberate - my apologies, haha ... it's just that it broke the spell a little for me. Otherwise - a really well and, again, sensitively done piece - good job!

EDIT: forget the quibble. Listening again - it seems to be a deliberate chord progression after all. Apologies - that's what happens when one comments after only one listen ...

Man, the older we get and the more we see friends pass on the more contemplative songs like this get.

It's an obvious heartfelt write and vocal performance. Nice touch with the falsetto.

The light touch with the backing tracks helps accent the soulful vocal and the lyric.

Nice band and mix!

Well done and may he RIP.

J&B

Really fantastic tune!! Lyrics are beautiful and you completely did them justice....melody and vocal could not have fit better!! Wonderful vocal performance! This is a VERY moving song!! Take care. Greg

Deej,

A nice song.

Your choice of backing works well for it and carries the sentiment nicely.

Your vocal on this is really well done. Nicely recorded and processed. Crisp and clear, but still "warm"....

Good mix all around.

fj

Touching lyrics in an enjoyable warm and lush arrangement, I especially like how the viola brings color. Your excellent vocal delivery amazes me once again.

Janne

Loved the vocal. Super backtrack. Well done

Hi Deej,

You and John have some mighty fine collaborations and this sits comfortably alongside the best of them. I found the lyrics very visual as I listened. And as always, your singing is 24 carat gold.

I enjoyed the journey.

All the best,
Noel

'Deej56'...

Right off the bat, the lyrics of Raise A Glass take center stage. The tone and the rhythm of them, the ease with which they flow, complement and connect to each other -- what I have learned is called 'prosody' -- is ear-catching, startling. It caused me to sit up straight to listen to them being sung.

And then, there's the emotional impact of the lyrics, the way they describe the commonality of the feelings we experience as we cope with the phenomenon of death, the way they validate the sentiments we express to console ourselves and others as we grieve and become lost in nostalgia for the dead. It's all true, man, every last single word of it -- to my ears and heart, at least.

The Real 'Band' is simply stunning in its artificially intelligent musicality, as it becomes one with the mood of the lyrics. This is as much a testimonial to your compositional skills as it is yet another head-shaking affirmation of the ever-increasingly 'real-sounding' instrumental accompaniment that Band in a Box produces.

It's powerfully obvious to me that you can't help but sing from your soul. Your voice has a unique character, sound, and style. You may as well be speaking, so easily do you communicate the meaning of Mr. Vaughan's lyrics. The vocal harmonies are haunting and soothing at the same time.

I raise my glass to your talents, and for sharing them with us, 'Deej56'.

Really impressed,

- bluage -

Great lyric. Very natural and conversational. You deliver it well and with a melody that is both fresh and comfortable. The band is just enough. With so many tracks, I was expecting "bigger", but your production and mix kept it simple...something not always easy to do.

Nicely done A solidly executed waltz. It flows effortlessly and is beautiful and tender. A fine example of 'less is more' - I liked that you gave it lots of breathing room. It manages to sound lush and full without being crowded.

Thanks for sharing!

+1!

Sensational lyrics, Sensational presentation.

This could be something Dillon might have delivered.

Fantastic!

Deej,
A very good write that rings true all the way through- love the hint of humour that`s there to balance the sadness.
The Fintan guitar track is great - and using a hold to emphasise the falsetto parts a nice touch.
As always your vocal is expressive and unique... processing sounding warm and clear.

Robert

Ray, James, J&B, Greg, Floyd, Janne, Scott, Noel, blueage, Tangmo, Deryk, Josie, videotrack, Robert:

Thanks all for the listen and glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like the mix was closer to OK than I thought . . . oh well, blind squirrel and all Really appreciate the kind feedback and support.

Ray: Not sure I’m hearing the “pic scrape”, but I’ll need to put on the headphones and give it a closer listen—and then figure if there’s something I can do about it.

James: Yes, the chord change in the last measure before the chorus (which is where I think you are referencing) is intentional—although I likely could have kept it playing a single chord (can’t quite remember what key I ended up playing in this version, but it’s F, G when I play it on guitar—I could just play the F).

bluage: Your feedback is too kind . . . but really appreciated. Thanks.

My kind regards to all,

Deej

Fantastic vocal performance. Well crafted, mixed, and produced song. I liked the vocal "oohs" going into the end of the song.
I did hear the "pick scrap" thing that Ray mentioned, but I think it was only because I was subconscious of it after reading his comment. Enjoyed listening.

Back for another raise of the glass...we very much like this song.

J&B

What a great song!

Excellent writing, and man, that vocal! Just outstanding.

Mix sounds good to me, well done.