I wrote this with struggling songwriters in mind, as it is not easy to get your material listened to let alone get it to the right person!!
For some reason I think it has some Dr Hook vibes in there (not that I am any Shell Silverstein!! )
Words/Music:- (c) PMcNaught 2025 Track produced in BIAB 2025 Vocal/Harmony Vocals :- P McNaught Mixed/Edited in Mixcraft Pro Studio 10 Mastering in AAMS
Thanks for listening
Pete
Down On Music Row
[Verse] He's got an old guitar strapped on his back, A notebook that's filled with every heart-felt track. Drove down I-40 with a dream rising in his chest, Trying to make it where the best meet the best.
[Verse 2] Sits in a café, orders coffee plain, Writes down his storys of joy and of pain. Pitches his lyrics, knocks on every door, Most just say, "Son, we’ve heard that before."
[Chorus] But he keeps chasing, keeps playing, Though the neon lights are fading. Every “no” another fire he's gonna burn. They say it’s a fool's game, But he’s staking his own name, For that one big break he’s still trying to earn.
[Verse 3] A big-shot producer in a flashy suit, Said, "Kid, here's the deal," seemed all resolute. Signed all his rights, gave his heart and his hand, Next he heard his melody with some other band.
[Bridge] There’s nights he calls mama, says, “I can’t go on,” The stars in this city shine for someone long gone. But she reminds him, "You’ve got spirit, my son, Even storms pull the sky toward the sun."
[Verse 4] So he strums his guitar till fingers turn raw, Sings out his soul with every line he draws. He’s a poet, a fighter, with stories to sow, Still chasing his dreams down on Music Row.
BIAB Info
Title: Down On Music Row V3 File:Dreams On Music Row V3.SGU Key=G , Tempo 125, Length (m:s)=4:24 No intro. 134 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 134. Repeat x1 chorus No Melody Soloist track has 185 notes, Soloist harmony is < no harmony >(0) Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0, Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,RealDrums Changes, Style is _CUT.STY (Cut Folky Americana)
RealTracks in style: 3588:Bass, Electric, NashvilleRadioPopPushA Ev 110 RealTracks in style: 4456:Mandolin, Rhythm AmericanaMovinAB Ev 135 RealTracks in song: ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120 RealTracks in style: 1681:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 120 RealTracks in song: 4516:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BroCountryPopBrent Ev 110 RealTracks in song: 4516:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BroCountryPopBrent Ev 110 RealDrums in Song:NashvilleEven8^4-a,b:Sidestick, HiHat
Last edited by PeteMcN; 05/25/2507:38 AM.
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
I can just imagine a bunch of flashy hot-shot producers lining up for this. Reminds me a little of Kevin Johnson's "Rock and Roll I Gave You All The Best Years." Awesome!
I can just imagine a bunch of flashy hot-shot producers lining up for this. Reminds me a little of Kevin Johnson's "Rock and Roll I Gave You All The Best Years." Awesome!
Thank you so much. I'm now off to Google Kevin Johnson!
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
Very nice, Pete. I made a pretty decent living playing lead guitar in several bands. I wasn't in Nashville that much, but it was country music.
Excellent song - well written and great production. Vocals are spot-on.
About 20 years ago, when i actually was in Nashville, I wrote a song called "The Outbound Lanes". Just another story about not making it in Nashville.
I enjoyed this very much. As they say back where I'm from, "Yas did good, son!"
Alan
Thank you Alan, as a Brit I appreciate even more the comments from you guys across the pond.
I was the front man/acoustic guitarist in my own country rock outfit over here, but unfortunately I had to play covers inorder to get work..... That said we did do 20+years lol. I always wanted to write and knew country was the direction I wanted to go in, but having never been to the States I do find it hard to try and get that authentic feel into my lyrics. Comments like yours and the others I've received give me the push to continue.
Much respect
Pete
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
Good write and delivery that harkens back to the "hat acts." A good thing. Our departed best friend chased that Nashville Dream all the way to a grammy nomination ... one of the rare ones.
Well done!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Good write and delivery that harkens back to the "hat acts." A good thing. Our departed best friend chased that Nashville Dream all the way to a grammy nomination ... one of the rare ones.
Well done!
J&B
Thank you both, I was introduced to country by my late father as he was a huge Merle Haggard fan..... Loved the genre ever since! Chased my own dream here in the UK for over 20 years but it obviously wasn't meant to be lol. Such is life. 👍
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
I can play the piano enough to get by. Couldn't strum a guitar if it saved my life. THIS is the beauty of BIAB, session guitarist on hand and ready to lay down some tracks. I loved how you kept kinda simple and allowed your vocals to shine. That guitar sounded incredible!
Beautiful song, vocals and mix all around. I really enjoyed listening to this,
I can play the piano enough to get by. Couldn't strum a guitar if it saved my life. THIS is the beauty of BIAB, session guitarist on hand and ready to lay down some tracks. I loved how you kept kinda simple and allowed your vocals to shine. That guitar sounded incredible!
Beautiful song, vocals and mix all around. I really enjoyed listening to this,
Trax
Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it👍
Pete
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
Peter, super song! Love your vocals, and those harmonies are just perfect. Nice dynamic flow for a longish tune, and the modulation shows up at the right time. I'd pull that solo up a bit, but it's well placed, too. GREAT job!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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