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Blame it on Alan David. The last song I posted Al left me some terrific comments and he

concluded with a statement that was something to the effect of I could probably write a song

about an empty shoebox. He generously meant it as a funny compliment but I ignored the

humor and saw an idea. So if you make it to the end, AD gets the credit. If you don’t, Blame It

On Al.

There may be another song there but I’ll leave that to someone else.


This was written in Biab using the following tracks. I then substituted my Acoustic, Electric and

Steel. The bass and drums were built from loops. The only real tracks that made the final

starting lineup were 1033:Guitar, 12-String Electric, Strumming Ev 120 Held and

864:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockWaltzPulsingClean Ev 140



https://soundcloud.com/ta2-659414413/old-empty-shoebox


https://tommyadamsmusic.com/track/3709074/old-empty-shoebox


1189:Bass, Electric, HardRockWaltz Ev 140
856:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Rhythm RockWaltzStrumming Ev 140
861:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockWaltzSustainHeld Ev 140
864:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockWaltzPulsingClean Ev 140
1033:Guitar, 12-String Electric, Strumming Ev 120 Held
900:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming FolkRockWaltz Ev 150
RockModernWaltz^8-a:Snare, Open HiHat , b:Snare, Ride, Busy Kick
Royalty Free Loops
Recorded in Logic Pro X
Plug Ins : Nectar 3, Neutron 4, Ozone 10, Tonal Balance, Waves LinMB, Waves, L3-LL Multi Limiter, Logic Pro Metering, Waves Vocal Rider, Scuffam Amps S-Gear

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Pedal Steel,Vocals, Tom Adams








Old Empty Shoebox


There’s an old empty shoebox stuck way back in her closet

Waiting for the postcards she would send home in the mail

works the counter at the truckstop off of interstate 40

Dreaming of the moment she would head out on the trail


Where are they coming from where are they going

Time is a wastin so maybe in the morning

She really wants to travel with no one supporting

They say that she’s crazy better listen to their warning


She wants to see the mountains to find her family’s roots

spent half her weekly tips on her Danner hiking boots

She no longer sleeps at night and now she has to choose

Between the thrill of the danger or one more poor excuse


If she stays and never leaves what kind of life would that be

Never going nowhere or seeing what she wants to see

Hell of a future broken cigarette machines

And one night stands in cheap motels that rent by the week


There’s an old empty shoebox stuck way back in her closet

Waiting for the postcards she would send home in the mail

works the counter at the truckstop off of interstate 40

Dreaming of the moment she would head out on the trail

Hi, Tom.

That's one heck of a write. A great guitar hook that right away says it's going to be a melancholy tale.

Pro production, excellent vocals... As usual, sounds like something that should be on my radio, if I actually listened to the radio.

I blame this one on you - an excellent songwriter that can find a great song in a throwaway line.

Tom,

"She wants to see the mountains to find her family’s roots
spent half her weekly tips on her Danner hiking boots
She no longer sleeps at night and now she has to choose
Between the thrill of the danger or one more poor excuse"

YES! Wow! Love this song...

You have some big talent. I can see you on a stage in Austin singing this. The write, mix, arrangement and vocal are all superb.

My new favorite from you.

Bob

Fantastic storytelling ... I LOVE this song.
I totally agree with David, this should be on the radio.

Tommy...man that's a good song...thanks Al for the shoebox...your guitar work is always so appropriate for your music...most excellent...love the storyline and those riffs! your voice is so well suited to the stories that you tell...absolute Americana in its roots with a contemporary feel...loved it!

Tom, what a fantastic song
Great lyrics and vocal
Super mix!

Brilliant song from a great idea. Does Alan get 1% of the royalties?

David, that is a fine review. Thanks for all that!

HI Tom,

It gives me a ton of satisfaction to know a simple comment of mine led to something this wonderful. And - you proved my point!

When you sent me the preview, I told Di about it. She listened and gave it two thumbs up.

All I did was throw a seed out there. You picked it up, planted it, and nursed it into this. Seeds are a dime a dozen. Turning them into something else is a talent. And you have a lot of it. Nicely done!

Alan

Those are some very generous compliments. I do appreciate them.

Yeah, I blame everything on Alan --also give him credit. Credit is definitely due you, too, Tom. Challenge accepted and expectations exceeded. Well done <-- that's the next title Alan gave you.

Hi Tom,

Love the guitar hook! And I'm pretty sure I say that on all of your songs

Nice backstory with the shoebox comment from Alan, it turned into a pretty good song I think.

Enjoyed!

Another WOW! Great song, fantastic vocals and harmonies, killer guitar hook, tight mix...

Yep, think you knocked that one WAY out of the ballpark.

Great job finding inspiration in a comment for another song! Very creative and well delivered.

Dewey

Mix sounds great. The Drums and guitars, sound so pro quality. This lyrics tell the story. Excellent Job on this one.
Can I ask where you got the Loops from?

BDT, thanks for listening. I’m so glad you liked it!

Man, this is great!

I like both the musical hook and of course that empty shoe box hook is just wonderful for the lyric.

This is one great sound and tune all around.

Man I tell you Tommy, you could probably write a song about an old empty toilet paper roll and it would sound great.

I'm not trying to egg you on or anything or say that you might want to think about this, but all I'm saying is man you could probably write a song about an old empty toilet paper roll that someone forgot to replace and it would sound awesome.

Not that I think you should actually do it but I think you could write a song about an empty toilet paper roll sitting there and it gives a person some memories of the last sheet of toilet paper that they used in their life before they became so broke they had to start using the newspaper or tree leaves because America was in such bad shape economically or something.

Yeah I'm not saying you should do something like that, but all I'm saying is that man is as much talent as you got you could probably write a song about the decline of America just by writing about an empty toilet paper roll sitting there in an abandoned gas station with a person sitting there wondering where all the good stuff went to, while the creaky old metal door of the dirty gas station bathroom is wide open and they're looking out over a desperate landscape of an American apocalypse and an old empty toilet paper roll while some guy is sitting there without any toilet paper strumming his guitar writing a song about America.

I'm not saying that you should actually do that but man I know that you could, just write a song about an old empty toilet paper roll.

EDIT

P.S. Never mind...Tommy I wrote the toilet paper roll song last night, I couldn't hold off. Be back next week.

You Inspire me man!!!!!!!

Hi tommyad,

Very endearing song. I like the lyrics and the sweetness of the melody. I appreciated. Well done.

Jani

Thank you Dan for all the wonderful things you said, both this time around and previously.

Hey there Mario. Thanks for your uplifting comments.