Hi Forum friends. Here is a silly song about my favorite subject: retirement. That has been my favorite subject since the day I started working. I never got the mix to sound quite right but here it is anyway. I'd love to hear what you think. I'll post the lyrics very soon. Take care. Greg

https://soundcloud.com/gjohnson-2/how-lifes-supposed-to-be

THE WAY LIFE’S SUPPOSED TO BE

Started thinkin’ about my golden years
The style of life I’d like to grow accustomed to
Went down to talk to this finance guy
To ask him what it is I should do

He started talkin’ equities, annuities, securities, I said “help me please”
I handed him my papers and he took a little look and said
“I’ve got some good news for you”

I said “Yeah?”

He said

The sun still shines down on the poor side of the town
It don’t take money to appreciate a joke
You can’t lose a fortune that you never even had
And it’s healthier to be too poor to smoke
I once read where this wise man said
“The best things in life are free”
So get your pleasure from the flowers and playin’ with the kids
That’s how life’s supposed to be

I said, “Wait a minute, wait”

Let’s not give up on the plan so fast
Retirement should be my best years yet
He said I could give up the booze and my indulgences
See what kind of second job I could get
Sock it all away in a 401K
I could be flush in only ten or fifteen years
He said, “tell me man, what do you think of my plan?”
I said my future’s now abundantly clear

He said “How’s that?”

I said, the sun still shines….

Cause it’s the little things, the simple things, the basic joys that living brings
I’ll find my pleasure in the flowers…

This is a good write all around.
Vocal is up front and delivered well, lyrically, along with the minimalist music. (which rarely works for me :))
I'm only on a laptop now and couldn't hear any defined bass line as in maybe a stand-up bass.....just an observation only
That lazy horn line on the vamp works well too.

Not a genre I have any knowledge about but you did a fine job on this one.

Carry on....

Greg,

This is a fun change from the other songs I`ve heard by you.
The lyrics tell a good story (I hope the news from your advisor wasn`t that bad!) and you got the style and tone just right on the vocals - nice chorus parts too.
I think I can hear a bass line, but it seems far back,otherwise I liked your backing and especially the tuba (if that`s what it is).

Robert

Greg,

Loved it! Great set of lyrics - beautifully sung (and spoken) great stuff.

Peter

We think Robert had this right. Great song - loved it! Great vocal over a super vocal.

You had asked what we thought about the mix. The only thing we noticed was that it sounded as though the tuba had some reverb on it. If so, perhaps back off of that just a bit. If no reverb on the tuba, ignore that - our 70 year-old ears sometimes are a little out of adjustment.

I've (Alan) been retired a little over 10 years. Di has been medically retired since 1996 - 100% disabled. It's nice making out your own calendar/agenda. But, it's easy to lose track of the days! Almost every day's a weekend!!!

Great fun here. loved the song! Best to you ...

Alan & DI

Greg, This is outstanding. New Orleans style, laid back easy delivery. It sounds like a Randy Newman Co-write. I believe he would have been proud to be a part of this one. Fabulous lyrics and vocal. What's not to like in this wonderful listen and look into your current state of mind. A superb piece of art. Tom

Super vocal Greg. Loved the tune Greg. Retirement has been sneaking into my thought allot more frequently lately. Well done

Greg, this is another fabulous write from you.

I really like the 'unexpected' stops and the overall tacit delivery on 'how life is supposed to be'.

The fading horn at the end made all the right statements too.

A great write, and an excellent delivery too.

I was thinking Randy Newman, but I see Tom beat me to it A fun listen!

I think that this such a clever write

and wonderfully performed

and how appropriate for all of us old geezers here

lots of humor, lots of truth and wisdom

very cool song Greg, enjoyed the listen

Kenny

Tom hit all the salient points...

DRIPPING Newman!

Phenomenal write. Clever and tight.

The “help me please” after "equities, annuities, securities" was off-the-charts good.

The perfect instrumentation. Wonderful vocal. And fun!

Great listen.

fj

This is great Greg!! Most of us regular folk can relate to this one. For some reason I was thinking Jim Croce in this one, which is a compliment to any song writer! Thanks, Torrey

The key word here is clever. I totally enjoyed this song. From the soft easy vocal delivery to the trumpet at the end.

And some sage advice in there too.

It's something that I have been contemplating.... as I have reached the "official" retirement age..... I have to wonder if I even wish to retire at this point because I still enjoy getting up and going out to help people solve their issues and concerns.

Back to the song..... loved it.

Thanks so much for the kind words. I think the bass is a bit quiet. Appreciate the listen and comments! Take care. Greg

Well...my comment was subjective.
You may hear the bass fine on your end.

It's that style you chose.
For some reason as soon I heard it I was expecting s smooth stand up bass line.

Well done all around....

Hi Greg,
very nice song, well sung as usual.
Excellent chord line; a very gentle song.

Also for me retirement is the favourite subject, but unlucky I have to work for other 10 years about.
A life...

Thanks Robert. Much appreciated! The bass is pretty soft. Yeah, I enjoy the dixieland band in BIAB and decided to have a little fun with it. You've been posting a lot of great stuff lately! Take care. Greg

Hello, Greg

As Robert said, this is a fun change from the other songs I've heard by you.
Something may happen to your living environment?
But still positive and your vocals are awesome ahead.
Dixieland style sound is also very fun.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Greg,

This is stunning. I really, really liked it. Great humour, great instrumentation, perfect arrangement and terrific vocals made it a listening pleasure from beginning to end. This is very creatively made and put together. You've done a superb job.

I'm with floyd on the "Help me please" line... brilliant!

All the best,
Noel

Excellent write, arrangement and performance. Made me think about my first meeting with my financial adviser. Fortunately for me, he said I actually could retire...... so I did.

Great song and pretty much nails what retirement should really be all about....

Love to share this with my financial adviser, He'd get a kick out of it.

Charlie

Well stated by Tom...

Into my 18th year of retirement (went out at 53 with 31 years) I can assuredly recommend it. Had it been money driven I would have stayed a bit longer but..."I’ll find my pleasure in the flowers…" Amen!!

There are so many good lines in this write as always with your compositions. The choice of backing tracks is perfecto (great decision to use the Dixieland) for the vocal, the lyric and the entire vibe.

"The “help me please” after "equities, annuities, securities" was off-the-charts good" Yep, fj picked a stellar line to comment on...nice!

Superb write, performance, arrangement and production.

J&B

Thanks Peter. Much appreciated! Loved your blues guitar on your last one with J and B!! Take care. Greg

Greg,

This is just too much fun!

Love everything about it, especially the horns. Reminded me of Randy Newman, and I can see this/hear this in a Woody Allen movie.

Great job!

Greg,

This is great - love the vibe... Outstanding vocal and mix.

Excellent!

Bob

Thanks guys! It has been great to have you around so much. I've been pretty blown away by some of the great songs Al wrote! Keep posting! Take care. Greg

Thanks Tom. That's a very kind and flattering review! I always got a kick out of Randy Newman and a comparison is a great compliment. Much appreciated! Love Devil's Whiskey!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Scott! Thanks for your consistent support on the forum. Yes, retirement is sounding very nice! Hope to get there pretty soon. Take care. Greg

Thanks for your very kind words Trevor!! Always appreciate your thoughtful comments! Take care. Greg

Thanks so much Dave!! Just listened to your new one-fantastic!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Kenny. I love the fact that all us geezers hang on this forum! Thanks for the kind words. Loved your last one! Take care. Greg

hi Greg a great vocal and lyrics the mix sounds great on my system retirement oh yeah its not ugly for sure its been 4 weeks for me staying busy lots of honey do,s thanks for sharing love your stuff eric

Thanks Torrey! Appreciate the kind words. It's been great having you on the forum-lots of really great songs! Take care. Greg

Thanks Herb! I too am struggling somewhat with the balance of work/enjoyment. At this point, I'm looking forward to retiring but some days I really enjoy working. I guess I'd say the good days are as good as ever but my tolerance for the bad ones is declining. Take care. Greg

Thanks Sergio! I'm closing in on it but I always fear running out of money. Probably 2 years. Just heard your new one-very nice!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Shigeki! No, I'll be all right. Just having some fun with the concept. Always love hearing your music! Take care. Greg

First of: You don't sound nearly as old as your words suggest you must be!

Love the whole mellow vibe... and that tuba is just a stroke of brilliance!

Stellar song - very Harry Nilsson in the melody & lyrical wryness.
There're a couple of harsh esses that could be addressed but otherwise tres bonn.

Very nice work Greg and definitely different from your other stuff!

Rob