Once I Had A Life on Soundcloud
Once I Had A Life on YouTube

This is a song about how some guys just shouldn't get married and have kids. Janice Merritt sang the part of the wife, and I was the selfish husband. Neither of us is anything close to the story characters, so there was some good acting in there as well. Of course Bud did a great job with Janice's track that made it as easy as drop-n-play.

File:Once I Had A Life.SGU
Key=D , Tempo 110, Length (m:s)=2:28
Song is saved with bar changes for Styles,Volume Changes,
Style is _LONESON.STY (Lone Son Acoustic Guitar Ballad)

RealTracks in style: ~~2478:Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 110
RealTracks in style: ~~2495:Piano, Electric, HeldChords 120
RealTracks in style: 2914:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Folky16thsBrent Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 3191:Mandolin, Soloist, CelticReelAndy Ev16 110
RealDrums in Song:NashBrushBalDbKEv16^1-a: Snare, HiHat , b: QuarterHat, TripletSnare

The dueling-mandos solo was a lot of Ctl+F8 doing. Love that feature.

Once I Had A Life

Once I had a life, and then I got a wife, and I was never alone.
She came and brought me joy. We had a little boy.
We made our house our home.

Our little man grew strong, and soon he was all gone.
The "we" became undone.
My wife she didn't care. She wasn't really there.
My life, it had no fun.

I know we once had a life. My son & I would thrive.
But he'd came home things just changed.
He'd get himself a drink, then threw up in the sink.
He never knew our son by name.

As the time ticked by, I looked her in the eye and asked,
"Do you know who I am?'
She said she didn't know, and told me I should go.
I turned away and ran.

Once I had a wife but then got back my life
in this house that once was home.
I like to sit and think, and mix myself a drink --enjoy my time alone. Now my life's my own.

LAST VERSE (other melody): I was his wife, I had no life. He was just drunk all of he time. Now my life's my own.

V--- D G D A D G D-A D

CH--- G Bm Em D G Bm Em-A D

Marty / Janice,

What a cool song! You guys sound great together.

The instrument tracks selection is outstanding. Love the mandolin. Great mix.

Loved it!

Bob

Made me smile - loved it! Especially the section where the voices are juxtaposed - that just sends it through the roof And yes, the mandolin was the icing on the cake What a great job - well done!!!

HAHAHA.

A delightful song. A dysfunctional "family".

This had all the markings of a long-ago traveling troubadour(s) singing to entertain the king's court.
(like Jaskier from The Witcher).

I can see the two of you in the costumes of the day...

Marty and Janice...great duet guys...I love the acoustic nature of the song and the mandolin solos...sad story too often true (relative to our culture it seems)...my only suggestion is that Marty your solos sounded a bit faint in spots IMO...I would love a few more dB in spots...loved it when you sang together...sad song delivered in a pleasant way...great job guys!

Marty, Janice, and bud have a winner on their hands.
Great lyrics, vocals, and mix.
Very clever song.

PS - I know a few families that experienced that!

Hi Marty.
Very amusing with the two sides of the story and mandolin on speed.

Vic

Hi Marty and Janice,

Very clever song, love the lyrics.

For my tastes the vocals, especially yours Marty, should be a bit higher in the mix. But no one else mentioned that, so I'm probably wrong

Loved it at the end when the two of you are singing together, nicely done!

Thanks, Bob. Right, if anyone wants to sing better, get a great singer to sing with you. Janice has a new album out today, too.



Thank you, James. The end was my favorite, too. Those mandolin's both ran fast and didn't step on each other too much. A musical interpretation of skedaddle.



Hahahaha! Thanks, Floyd. Once you blew my mind with your Firesign Theatre comment, and now the Jaskier jester. Man, you're a gas, and thanks for spreading the fuel of inspiration.

Thanks Bob. It was fun joining in!

Janice

Hi Janice and Marty
A good idea to sing a duet on this song
You guys are doing really great
A great production
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

Very cool match of voices and character actors.
The melody/counter melody part is fabulous.
Sadly it's a story of truth in so many ways.
Many, many men in 60s Australia went from work directly to the pub and eventually home for dinner when done. That fog of alcohol caused many families to worry & fret about how things would transpire over the evening meal.
Musically it's a cracker too. Jaunty and bouncing under a sad tale - almost a sea shanty.
Terrific work Marty & Janice.

Marty,

Love this sweet-sounding tune! Also enjoyed that little pick me up in the middle section! I played before reading your description and got a big wow moment when Janice came in! Nobody had to tell me who she was I knew! Sounding great as usual! She's on more recordings ( and rightfully so) than Micheal McDonald! Loved it man!

Thanks, TB

Thank you!

Janice

Thanks, Dan. By my "solos" I assume you mean singing without Janice. Yeah, I tend to agree with you because I see below where Dave also mentioned it should be louder. Janice is way too good for me to properly mix my voice. It's like trying to mix Celine with Dylan or something. I'm just thrilled she agreed to dress this one up in its best attire. Thanks so much for the feedback.


Thank, Mario. Much appreciated.


Thanks, Vic. Those mandolins rushed him right out of the relationship.


Thanks, Dave! Nah, you ain't wrong. Dan also mentioned it. Besides, I know my mixing would be down right crap if not for your guidance. You new one (Train, Train) is mixed so well with yours and Chris's vocals. Yeah, I always wanted to do a counterpoint melody from the first time I heard Bing do it so well.

Thanks, Andi. Much appreciated



Thank you, Ray. I grew up at the end of the coal-mining industry in our area. One town near us had the dubious distinction of being in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most bars on one street.



That is so cool that you experienced it that way, Torrey. That must have been fun hearing Janice all of a sudden. It's like a somewhat dull song rises to the highest level of special when she enters the stage --like watching a high-school play and seeing Johnny Depp walk on stage.

Thanks!

Janice

Thank!

Janice

Sounds like a fun song, first lyrical wizardry "Once I had a wife but then got back my life" and then the duelling mandolins made me smile even more. And finally the duetting Marty & Janice was the umbrella in this pleasant cocktail. Great mix, especially the drinks, enjoyed

Janne

Wow!

This is REALLY good.

Great song! Great performances.

And yes, some people just should not reproduce.

Thanks guys!

Janice

Thanks, Janne. I like how you say the fun just kept getting better.


Thank you, David. Unfortunately the drive to procreate is an equal-opportunity employer.

Thanks for mentioning my small part!

J&B

Thank you Torrey! Not so many as it might seem. J&B do at best one song a month ... and then a few collabs with friends here and there. Love your latest!

Janice






Thanks you two!!

Janice

Marty, Janice+Bud,
Good collaboration. Fun take on sad subject. Ace vocals by you and Janice. Solid musical bed + neat solo. If you don't think what song is about, easy listen Thank you for sharing,
Misha.

P.S. Marty you should try Alt-F8
This is non modal partial regen. If interested, shoot me PM, I will show you how I use it.

Wow!

A fun bit of silliness that's really well done... and then becomes even more delightful at the end.

Love it.

Thank you, Misha. Yes, I sometimes use the ALT-F8, too. Great idea. Usually now I go through each RT and redo any measure where they get carried away. They always do.


Thank you, David! Janice is such a treat. Silliness is good sometimes.

Thanks guys!

Janice

I like that you start with the male unreliable narrator, and then our perspective changes when the wife pipes in. Music bed is pleasant that belies the true nature of their relationship.

Excellent collaboration Marty and Janice. Very clever lyrics. Really well done. Mandolin break was very cool. Well done