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Posted By: floyd jane Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 03:15 AM
I'm not a real political kind of guy.
I have my opinions (like most folks), but you generally won't find me on a soapbox.
There is, however, one thing that riles me...
At work, every year at the beginning of the school year, there are boxes set out so that we can fill them with school supplies to be distrubuted to the local schools. Because they don't have the money to buy books and pencils and paper.
Education should be the top of the heap - not the bottom.
We can spend BILLIONS killing people. We can spend BILLIONS bailing out the banks 'cause they apparently forgot how to run a business...
But we can't supply our schools. Or pay our teachers. Or keep people working, for that matter...
People who WANT to work can't find jobs. What has happened?????
Seems to me...


SOMETHING'S GONE WRONG


ain't afraid of a little hard work
mud on my boots and a sweat stained shirt
long as i'm paid... it's never been that tough
i'm good with my hands... i can drive truck
never been one to depend on luck
or charity... but it's never been this rough

thought i'd try the hardware store
turns out chuck isn't there no more
there's not enough work for the extra hand
checked the warehouse and UPS
they got all the men they need i guess
or they'll just make do with what they got if they can

tell me what i missed.. who made that call.. who changed the game
how'd it come to this.. who dropped the ball.. tell me who's to blame
oh, when a good man can't find work feed his family
and hope is gone
something's gone wrong
something's gone wrong

i cast my vote.. i help put them there
i was damn proud when i heard them swear
they're gonna make things right.. they're gonna change the rules
there's plenty of cash for a war or two
gotta help the banks what else could we do
but there's not enough left to send my kids to school

tell me what i missed.. who made that call.. who changed the game
how'd it come to this.. who dropped the ball.. tell me who's to blame
oh, when a good man can't find work feed his family
and hope is gone
something's gone wrong
something's gone wrong


I played the rythym acoustic and rythym mandolin
and did vocals and harmonies.

And here is the rest...
RealTracks in style: ~~520:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 165
RealTracks in style: ~~407:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 165
RealTracks in song: 633:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealTracks in song: 1684:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopPromiseCrispHeld Ev16 100
RealTracks in song: 1000:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockLAFuzzyHeld Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 1540:Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopBelieve Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: 1838:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGrooveSync4s Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 2035:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 120 .... (the outro)
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven8^6-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat Open

Have fun.

floyd
Posted By: gibson Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 05:07 AM
I totally agree with the sentiments and the song is brilliant. I am chomping at the bit, so just whisper Health too.

I like the written way you introduce the song in the post, it is almost like a "live" intro.
The mandolin at the end was a MASTER TOUCH that evoked a feeling of despair, in my mind, sort of like *shrugs shoulders, my life has to go on, somehow*

And so the song is excellent.
Production etc up to you high standards
and back to the live analogy ---

*rapturous applause*

Alyn
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 05:49 AM
Hi Floyd,

Just a sec, I'll put on my 'critical thinking' hat. Nope, that doesn't help. I can't find anything to be critical of. This song is eccellentissimo, loistava (I put that one in for Dani48), très bien!

I'm totally behind you on this theme. While most governments seem to realise that employment is important, so few of these governments seem to acknowledge that education is such an important requirement for long-term economic prosperity. The thing is that it takes about 20 years for education mis-management to be seen. By that point in time, most people forget what the cause was.

A standout for me in your writing was the head of the chorus. I LOVED the lyrical acceleration you achieved with the ABCABC quick succession of rhymes. This was VERY VERY effective and was a great way of flicking on the spotlight to say "Listen up! Here's the chorus."

While I'm not a fan of fade-out endings, I have to say that it was absolutely the perfect choice for this song. For me, it was 'thinking time' and allowed my brain the chance to process what you had said and to think about it relative to my own experience in Australia. (Yet again, you've shown me a few tips and tricks in your writing that I've taken on board. Thank you smile )

Overall: great harmony, very catchy melody, super arrangement, top-notch singing and capped off with a gold-star for superb mixing.

Really excellent work!
Noel
Posted By: rsdean Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 12:06 PM
Floyd,

Great song - love the vocal and production as well. Nice work.

Bob
Posted By: Scott C Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 12:58 PM
Hi Floyd

Incredible song. The lyrics were heartfelt and music was excellent. Your words hit the nail right on the head. Things are definitely mixed up. Watched a documentary about kids coming out of University with massive student loans and no jobs. Billions being spent and very few seeing the reward.

Scott
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 02:38 PM
Alyn,

I actually included Health in my initial rant, but removed it - and some other stuff before finishing so that it wasn't quite so long...

I think an bit of an introduction is a good way to get going, so I'm glad you like that. It is how I would introduce songs when I used to actually play out. Never liked introductions that started with...
"Umm...this is a song about... ummm..."

Thanks for your comments...

floyd
Posted By: boehm Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 02:51 PM
Hi Floyd,

your lyrics apply to many countries.
Let me quote Noel: great harmony, very catchy melody, super arrangement, top-notch singing and superb mixing.

Guenter
Posted By: Skyline Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 05:03 PM
Excellent work Floyd, an important and heartfelt song extremely well delivered. Well done my friend.

I had a twinge watching the BBC new lunchtime. There was a man in India, shopkeeper by trade but by no means wealthy, who decided something needed to be done to try and give local street urchins a chance in life and he'd set up, with his own time and money, an open air 'school' right under the noisy city concrete overpass, open to the elements. He'd painted a black square on a wall to serve as a blackboard. The kids sit on mats on the ground while he delivers basic lessons. The occasional volunteer donates exercise books but they didn't look like they had much of those. It's a topsy turvy world.
Posted By: tommyad Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 05:07 PM
Floyd, nicely written, well recorded and nice vocals. This is a subject I have approached in songs before. It's important to write things like this once in awhile so we can all help each other make sense of this crazy world. Thanks for posting, Tom
Posted By: Sundance Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 05:26 PM
Floyd,

I absolutely LOVE this. Great vocal and lyrics that are sad but true and very well written.

All that said, my favorite thing about this song is the tune(melody)and the hauntingly beautiful arrangement. So many of these types of songs I hear don't have that. This one left me wanting to hear more.
Posted By: ROG Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 06:13 PM
Hi Floyd.

I've been missing for a couple of weeks, but I'm really glad I didn't miss this one.

The protest song has always had an important role to play in our musical heritage and this one hits right to the heart of a subject which is on a lot of people's minds.

The standard of the writing, performance and production is excellent, as usual.

ROG.
Posted By: Don Gaynor Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 06:36 PM
Floyd, my comments on your works are not very helpful. I absolutely love everything you do to a song so I'm not very much help, sorry.

The theme is very topical and could as well be taken from any headline in the world.

I, too, liked the mando outro. A pleasant surprise.

Well done, my friend.
Posted By: Danny C. Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 09:18 PM
Floyd,

Although the title states something has gone wrong, I can state for sure that IMHO anyway, "nothing" has gone wrong with this project".

Well done!

later,
Posted By: RichMac Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/29/13 11:02 PM
Good one Floyd! Enjoyed the rhyming scheme and the emotion in the song as it built towards the end. Like the way you use a lot of tracks without the backing sounding crowded. Cheers.
Posted By: Guitarhacker Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 11:51 AM
I'm not 100% sure of the rules here on political speech (it's off limits on other forums I go to) but putting it into a song is totally legit. So I will tread lightly....

They are simply two sides to the same coin....


I like the song and totally agree. My wife is a teacher and we buy her classroom supplies from our own pockets. If we didn't she would have to do without.

Check out my web site: I have 2 political songs there that name names and spell it out... Hope & Change and Leave This Country Alone

I enjoyed your take on this situation.
Posted By: dani48 Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 01:44 PM
Hi, Floyd !

I think that what you are singing about
is a global thing, and I also share your
sentiment whith these absolutely brilliant
lyrics to this touching tune ! I am sure there
a couple of billion people agreeing with you
on this pressing issue!

I do not find the right words to
prize this magnificient song and performance !
I think I have to use the word loistava = shiningly brilliant, as brought up by Noel !:))

Thank you Floyd !

Cheers
Dani
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 02:22 PM
Noel,

Always enjoy your assessment of a song!

>>> the ABCABC quick succession of rhymes

I thought you would like (and mention) that. One of those spots that looks fairly simple once it's in place, but can take a bit of thought to get there in the first place. The trick is to "make it look easy". It should never stand out as "oh..he worked on that one!"..

>>> While I'm not a fan of fade-out endings..

That has been said by others. I happen to really LIKE fade out endings. For a couple of different reasons. Many of the endings that I hear here are so "standard" as to be uninteresting - they don't reflect what has gone before (meaning the song) - they are just a standard "wrap up of this final chord". They don't have the flavor that one would actually find studio musicians doing to complete a particular song. That is in no way a "knock" on BIAB. It does all that it can possibly do given the situation. And... second, the RT soloists can do some really cool stuff if you give them time. I'm not fan of long solos in the middle of a song. At the end, the listener can choose to "go with it or not". I enjoy that final ride...

In this case, the main lead instrument had been the electric, so I let him start to take it out. But this is a "working man's song" so the mandolin seemed like the guy to "have the last word".

Thanks for you kind words. Greatly appreciated. floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 02:24 PM
Originally Posted By: rsdean
Floyd,

Great song - love the vocal and production as well. Nice work.

Bob


Appreciate that, Bob
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 02:49 PM
Originally Posted By: Scottt709
Hi Floyd

Incredible song. The lyrics were heartfelt and music was excellent. Your words hit the nail right on the head. Things are definitely mixed up. Watched a documentary about kids coming out of University with massive student loans and no jobs. Billions being spent and very few seeing the reward.

Scott


Thanks Scott.

It is mind-boggling how so much gets spent for the wrong things...
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 02:53 PM
Originally Posted By: boehm
Hi Floyd,

your lyrics apply to many countries.
Let me quote Noel: great harmony, very catchy melody, super arrangement, top-notch singing and superb mixing.

Guenter


Guenter - that is an interesting thing that has come from this... finding that these "problems" seem to be worldwide. And, is a reminder of the fact that we, on this forum, are "a community" made up of people from all walks of life and many different country. That in itself is a very cool thing...

And... thanks for the listen - floyd
Posted By: Janice & Bud Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 04:04 PM
What a great way to express a powerful sentiment. Beats the heck outa watching talking heads ad nauseum. I'd rather listen to a great song with a great message any day. I really like this and as usual your high productions standards accompanied a great vocal!!

Posted By: sixchannel Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 09/30/13 07:58 PM
Amen to this, Floyd.
We are heading for a similar situation in this country. The money is getting spent the wrong way round.
Education should be right up there when it comes to spending the money that WE, the taxpayers put in there for our Government to spend WISELY.
Top Dollar, Floyd.
cheers
ian
ps - I loved the fade out ending - not usual for you and just seems to add to the Professionalism of the whole thing somehow.
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:04 AM
Originally Posted By: Skyline
Excellent work Floyd, an important and heartfelt song extremely well delivered. Well done my friend.

I had a twinge watching the BBC new lunchtime. There was a man in India, shopkeeper by trade but by no means wealthy, who decided something needed to be done to try and give local street urchins a chance in life and he'd set up, with his own time and money, an open air 'school' right under the noisy city concrete overpass, open to the elements. He'd painted a black square on a wall to serve as a blackboard. The kids sit on mats on the ground while he delivers basic lessons. The occasional volunteer donates exercise books but they didn't look like they had much of those. It's a topsy turvy world.


John,

Thank you for that.

An awful lot of the good that happens in the world is because one man stood up and did something...
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:05 AM
Originally Posted By: tommyad
Floyd, nicely written, well recorded and nice vocals. This is a subject I have approached in songs before. It's important to write things like this once in awhile so we can all help each other make sense of this crazy world. Thanks for posting, Tom


Tom,

Thanks. And you're right.. it is important that we do that once in a while - floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:08 AM
Originally Posted By: Sundance
Floyd,

I absolutely LOVE this. Great vocal and lyrics that are sad but true and very well written.

All that said, my favorite thing about this song is the tune(melody)and the hauntingly beautiful arrangement. So many of these types of songs I hear don't have that. This one left me wanting to hear more.





Josie,

Appreciate that. Sometimes the right package is all that is required to really get the message heard. I like that you think that this song accomplished that to some degree. - floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:11 AM
Originally Posted By: ROG
Hi Floyd.

I've been missing for a couple of weeks, but I'm really glad I didn't miss this one.

The protest song has always had an important role to play in our musical heritage and this one hits right to the heart of a subject which is on a lot of people's minds.

The standard of the writing, performance and production is excellent, as usual.

ROG.


ROG,

Always good to have you drop in...That is a very nice thing to hear. One of things that I like about this song is that it is fairly simple and gets to the point - and requires little else.. - floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:13 AM
Originally Posted By: Don Gaynor
Floyd, my comments on your works are not very helpful. I absolutely love everything you do to a song so I'm not very much help, sorry.

The theme is very topical and could as well be taken from any headline in the world.

I, too, liked the mando outro. A pleasant surprise.

Well done, my friend.


Don,

Always pleased to see you coming around for a listen. This should be brought up more often in the news. Perhaps it should always include a mandolin following the story. Make people think.. - floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:15 AM
Originally Posted By: Danny C.
Floyd,

Although the title states something has gone wrong, I can state for sure that IMHO anyway, "nothing" has gone wrong with this project".

Well done!

later,


Danny,

Thanks. You made me realize how strong the title itself is. Kind of makes ya want to see what's inside. - floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:18 AM
Originally Posted By: RichMac
Good one Floyd! Enjoyed the rhyming scheme and the emotion in the song as it built towards the end. Like the way you use a lot of tracks without the backing sounding crowded. Cheers.


Rich,

Glad you liked this.

There seems like a lot of tracks, I know - and I actually forgot at least one, I know... but several of those were used just to get the "big burst chords" that define the chorus - and they aren't playing anywhere else.

floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:19 AM
Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker
I'm not 100% sure of the rules here on political speech (it's off limits on other forums I go to) but putting it into a song is totally legit. So I will tread lightly....

They are simply two sides to the same coin....


I like the song and totally agree. My wife is a teacher and we buy her classroom supplies from our own pockets. If we didn't she would have to do without.

Check out my web site: I have 2 political songs there that name names and spell it out... Hope & Change and Leave This Country Alone

I enjoyed your take on this situation.


Thanks, Herb.
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:21 AM
Originally Posted By: dani48
Hi, Floyd !

I think that what you are singing about
is a global thing, and I also share your
sentiment whith these absolutely brilliant
lyrics to this touching tune ! I am sure there
a couple of billion people agreeing with you
on this pressing issue!

I do not find the right words to
prize this magnificient song and performance !
I think I have to use the word loistava = shiningly brilliant, as brought up by Noel !:))

Thank you Floyd !

Cheers
Dani





Well, Dani, thank you for the comments. It has been quite eye-opening to hear the response that this song has generated. And, in particular, that it seems to be a global issue. - floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:24 AM
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
What a great way to express a powerful sentiment. Beats the heck outa watching talking heads ad nauseum. I'd rather listen to a great song with a great message any day. I really like this and as usual your high productions standards accompanied a great vocal!!




Bud,

Thanks. The right song at the right time can make a difference. Not saying that this is one that will, but it is a good point to remember. - floyd
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/01/13 12:26 AM
Originally Posted By: sixchannel
Amen to this, Floyd.
We are heading for a similar situation in this country. The money is getting spent the wrong way round.
Education should be right up there when it comes to spending the money that WE, the taxpayers put in there for our Government to spend WISELY.
Top Dollar, Floyd.
cheers
ian
ps - I loved the fade out ending - not usual for you and just seems to add to the Professionalism of the whole thing somehow.


Ian,

Nice to see you back! Thanks for the nice words. If we at least keep talking about the issue, there's always hope. - floyd
Posted By: aleck rand Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/02/13 12:24 PM
Floyd -

I'm sure that I'm not the only one for whom your song struck inflamed nerves. The brilliant lyrics are entirely up to delivering the message.

And how prophetic, as 80 individuals hold the country hostage in the noble cause of denying 80 million of their American brothers and sisters the health protection that the rest of us enjoy to some degree.

So Satanic is this law of the land, already having survived a Supreme Court challenge, they must take the law into their own hands. There's a word for that.

Dean
Posted By: cubanpete Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/02/13 12:51 PM
Good production, i would send it to a local conservative talk show host. I'm sure they would play it. I for one, enjoyed it. My feelings exactly.

Mike B.
Posted By: molsenhouse Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/02/13 09:20 PM
Great song! Great performance! Great lyrics! :-)
Posted By: JoanneCooper Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/02/13 11:56 PM
Hi Floyd. I read somewhere that it cost $250 000 to send a kid to university in the states. In Germany it costs $0. (Guenter can correct me if I'm wrong). In South Africa we are somewhere between the two. Since when is being rich a prerequisite to getting a tertiary education? Not being bright or enthusiastic or having an aptitude for something but being rich? A nation that looks after it's old folks and it's sick people and educates all it's children must be a nice place to live! Something's also gone wrong in South Africa!
Kind regards
Posted By: Danny C. Re: Something's Gone Wrong - 10/03/13 02:22 AM
Not trying to hijack this thread and take focus away from this fine song but while we are on the subject, I just read this interesting study FWIW . . . By Country Education Spending

Seems like we are spending plenty, maybe just not in the right places.

Later,
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