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With Him By My Side on Soundcloud
With Him By My Side on YouTube

A song about how my dad, who would've turned 100 last December, has remained by my side throughout my life. You can hear my socked foot accidentally stomping on the mic stand in the first verse where my dad is coming home. It was like the 5th take or so cuz I my throat was crying too much.

Shigeki Adachi, who my dad would've loved, created the string arrangement, which for me is the highlight of the tune. I must also mention our good friend Dan Simmons... well, for so much really. When he heard this song last December he was auditioning voices for his four new singing groups, and made an even better version of this song, which with his permission has a private link With Dan By Our Side .

Style is _SEEDS.STY (Seeds Acoustic Quintet)

RealTracks in song: 1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 3267:Cello, Background CelticAirFlowingNatalie Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 3715:Guitar, Baritone Acoustic, Fingerpicking AmericanaRootsy Ev16 085
RealTracks in style: 2820:Harp, Rhythm ClassicalSlow8ths Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2693:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm ModernPop16thsMike Ev16 075
RealDrums in Song: NashBrushBalDbKEv16^1-SdSBr,SrKc
RealTracks in song: 1949:Piano, Acoustic, Soloist PopRootsyJohn Ev16 100
Shigeki Adachi (animal records) provided the string arrangement, and I played bass and sang. My dad would've been embarrassed.

With Him By My Side

When I was a little lad, I loved the times we had with dad.
He came home from work each day enjoying family time at night.
In summers he would come to all our games always sitting on our side.

Soon I grew and moved away, yet somehow by my side he stayed,
always giving me advice filling me with loving pride.
I would go through life smelling his Old Spice with him by my side.

Even though he's gone I know he's by my side,
standing here right next to me.
Whatever I may do, he's there to guide me through.
I know that's where he'll always be.

With him by my side I sail through my life.
He will always help me rise.
One day he will see just what he meant to me,
and I will know my father's pride.
He gave us his all, and I'm still standing tall with him by my side.

INTRO-- C-Em Am F-G C

V-- C-Em Am F G C-Em Am F-G C
F-G Am-Em Dm G-G7

BR-- (C Am F G)2

SOLO-- C-Em Am F-G C F-G Am F-Dm G...G...G/A...G/B...

END-- C Em7 F G C Am F G
C-Em Am-G F...G... C-C...

Marty,

This is such a beautiful heartfelt song and video... I'm sure your Dad would love this.

Shigeki's strings add the perfect touch and really support the emotion in the song. I'll go back later on and listen to Dan's version as well.

Again, a beautiful tribute.

Bob

What a great, loving tribute. It's such a great honor and priviledge to be a father, and your love for him shows. Besides that, it's a wonderful composition and really nicely arranged track. Great idea to collab with Shigeki.

Marty...a magnificent tribute to your dad...gorgeous arrangement...beautiful song...beautiful family...you know how to tug our heartstrings!

Hi Marty!

Oh man! What an honouring and heartfelt song about and to your Dad. It was a pleasure to watch the video and gain some small insight into the impact of your Dad on you and the wider family.

Musically, the arrangement was perfect for the lyrics - those soaring strings and the use of piano to set the scene through the intro and, absolutely loved the piano solo in the middle.

Well done, and may the example your Dad gave you live on and be multiplied through your own relationships with your current and future generations!

Andrew D

Well, Marty, this makes for a very happy Father's Day indeed! Majestic arrangement, and Shigeki's strings are perfect. Super vocals, too! Dads are the best, and so is this song. THANKS for making my day!

It's a sweet, lovely thing Marty.
Side note...I think your voice is overwhelmed on the 1st line by the band.
COOL video for a lovely song & a wonderful vocal performance.
Glad you're healing body & soul.

Marty (& friends),

Touching. Dad-writes are cool. Well done.
Love your vocal! Passionate!

Strings by Shigeki Adachi are delightful, soaring...

Awesome video!

fj

This is the perfect Father's Day song. It sure evoked lots of happy memories for me...my Dad smelled of Old Spice too. Your vocal is exceptionally passionate (I hope your throat has recovered!). Love the piano solo. I suspect that while Dad as you knew him might have been embarassed, Dad wherever he is now would be touched.

Hi, Marty.

I'd hate to use "heartfelt" again, but that's the right word.

Dan's version is an excellent production, but you bring you to the song.

Lovely strings!

Marty, this is exquisite. A profoundly touching elegy to a father's enduring presence. The song resonates with a quiet, powerful grace, a testament to the invisible threads of love that bind us across time and space.

Hearing this felt like stepping into a beautifully preserved memory; each note, each carefully chosen word, a brushstroke painting a vivid portrait of a man whose influence clearly continues to shape your world. The "Old Spice" mention struck a chord of nostalgia , and the image of him cheering from the sidelines, a steadfast pillar of support, is deeply moving.

Beyond the personal narrative, the song speaks to something universal, about the lasting impact of a good father – a quiet hero who guides us, supports us, and remains by our side long after they're gone. In your song, you've created a beautiful testament to that enduring bond, a song that will undoubtedly touch the hearts of many as it did mine because my late father would have also turned 100 this year, was supportive of my dismall sporting skills, wore "Old Spice" (was it the only aftershave in existance?😉) and served in the military. A parallel universe?

Shigeki Adachi's string arrangement is simply breathtaking – an ethereal tapestry that elevates the song to another plane. It's as if the strings themselves are whispering stories of a life well-lived, echoing the sentiments you so eloquently express.

Thank you for sharing this intimate glimpse into your world. It's a testament to the enduring power of family and a beautiful reminder that even in absence, love's presence can be felt, guiding our steps and illuminating our path. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

paying respect to your dad

Izzy.

Thanks, Bob. We had a big stereo in a bar room in our basement where mom & dad would have neighborhood parties. In between I would play my records. My dad (a Perry Como kinda guy) would gringe hearing Dylan sing but add that he liked some of the words --the ones he understood. With you I can hear him saying, "Now, that's how you tell a good story with good voices."

Thanks, Tom. Shigeki is a wonderful composer and a terrific collaborator. My dad would have loved so many of your songs.

Thanks, Dan. You know your rendition is my favorite. That's true of my sibs too. My one sister fell in love with it saying he sings like an angel. When I told her it was an Ai synth voice, she was undeterred. Then I turned her on to your site and she knew she was right all along.

Thanks so much, Andrew. We had a upright piano in our basement that was so out of tune that I put thumbtacks on the hammers to give it that honky-tonk sound. My dad and I would play together, me playing the low end and him going crazy on the high side. He did all the Chico Marx tricks, or at least tried them. Much fun.

Thanks, Ron. Happy (every day's a) Father's Day to you. So glad for you that you have that feeling.

Marty, all I can say is WOW!
This is the perfect tribute to a dad, i.e. a song about a loving father
Everything about this one is perfect
Loved it

A very beautiful and touching song.
The strings by Shigeki Adachi give it a very emotional touch and your vocals are really heart touching.
I think that's one of the best songs I've ever heard from you.
Your father would be very proud of what a good person you have become, Marty

As written in my YT comment, it's a beautiful song, so full of love, plus it's the most soulful I've ever heard you sing. I can imagine it's a tear-jerker for some.

Marty, the song is good, the strings are icing, but what stands out to me on this is your fabulous vocal. I have never heard you sing with such conviction. You really outdid yourself here. Congratulations, dude!

Thanks, Ray, and I always love your ears on the side notes. Man, when mixing I realized the vocal was all over the place especially regarding volume. I spent so much time bringing notes and phrases up or down, but you can hear it still has flaws.

Thanks, Floyd. Mom-writes are harder. Yeah, the vocals took a long time, and I even practiced before hand. Shigeki Adachi is a dream. I imagine what he will do with the song, and when he sends me the tracks they are always way over the top of what I expected.

Thanks, Beth. That's the first thing Hans said too. Very cool our dads all used Old Spice. For some reason I think that is really cool. Dad and I used to play the old piano in our basement. I'd play the bottom half and he'd dance around the high notes like Chico Marx. Wish I had a recording of that.

Thanks, David. Every song I've ever written I'd prefer someone else sing them, but this one... well, it only makes sense, huh? Still, I agree that Dan is the real deal when it comes to vocal productions.

Izzzy, m'man. Man, you KNOW how much I appreciate you and your words to all of us. Wow, Izzy, I wonder if you even notice the top as you soar over it so many times in so many ways. OverTheTop has become noticiably beneath you. HAHA I'm so glad you can relate to this song. It immediately calls upon the respect strings of my heart for your dad.

This song is a beautiful tribute and the video was special.
Bud’s Mama would have said, “what a precious son Marty is!”

(Janice said it would have taken her quite a while to sing it for stopping to cry. )

Your vocal is great and Shigeki’s string arrangement was lovely.
And we really liked the opening with the piano

This is one of those songs for which it's not necessary to parse out everything.
Just use the time to listen again.

Heartfelt soul to the max,

J&B

What a special song, a stunning tribute. I can see why you were fighting back the tears. You voice has never sounded stronger. Shigeki's strings are out of this world.

Thanks, Mario. That is a lot to say, and I love every word.

Thanks, Brain. My dad would've like you for sure.

Thanks again, Chay.

Thanks, Bob. It's about my dad so conviction is built-in.