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A new one. well, kind of. This started well over a year ago and kinda sat, untouched for most of the time. This was sent to me as a rough draft by my cowriter and friend, Brad. Neither one of us really worked on it. Then, a couple of weeks ago, a simple change of direction made it all make sense. This is Alt-country, kinda like Stapleton. While this is a kind of finished version, another friend and collaborator I've worked with in Atlanta is working on redoing the vocal track. Currently, this has a synth vocal. So, put it on your favorite listening system and turn it up. The Band: Drums Modern Country Real Drums Bass : 1825 B3 2692 Slide 1339 I'm playing : Piano: Addictive keys & All Guitars, Tele with the Quilter and Spark Liar LIAR It's hard for me to say the right things My pride don't let me give up the reins I lie, oh I'm a liar She cries and asks me, are you alright? Try to tell her that I love her but I get tongue-tied I lie, yeah I'm a liar Don't twist my words, don't get me wrong I'm faithful, I'm honest as the day is long I lie, oh I'm a liar Chorus I'ma lie'er down in the moonlight Draw the curtains and I hold her tight And I hope, I hope to God she knows I'd be lost without her, couldn't even breathe Like a 4-wheel drive without a key And in her arms' where I feel most alive So that's where I lie Verse 2 In the depths of my soul, there's a fear That if I open up, she'll disappear I lie, oh I'm a liar But deep down I know I need to change Break these chains, let the truth rearrange I lie, yeah I'm a liar Don't wanna lose her, can't bear the thought Gotta find the courage, show her what I've got I lie, oh I'm a liar Bridge But every lie I tell, it eats me inside I'm tired of living in this disguise I'll break free from this web of deceit And show her the love that's always been beneath Chorus I'ma lie'er down in the moonlight Draw the curtains and I hold her tight And I hope, I hope to God she knows I'd be lost without her, couldn't even breathe Like a 4-wheel drive without a key And in her arms' where I feel most alive So that's where I lie Outro (Where I lie) (That's where I lie) Yeah, that's where I lie Music & Lyrics Copyright 2025 Herb Hartley/ Brad Hunnings
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 06/24/25 03:37 PM. Reason: I've posted a new version with new tracks
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Herb,
That's some great country... That synth vocal is really excellent.
Love the arrangement and mix as well. Everything about this works so well.
Bob
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Herb and Brad, this is Nashville Country at it absolute finest!
I never knew that was a synth vocal - outstanding work on that as it does sound "organic".
Great arrangement and backing band
Super mix
Loved it
Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
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That is a very good write on every level.
The backing band provides the perfect platform for a song that has some memorable lines (e.g. "like a 4wd without a key")
I liked the way the other instruments fell away at about 2:42 leaving the piano to carry the load.
The synth vocal is the most realistic I've heard so far.
Well done.
Last edited by Ghostgum; 06/23/25 06:55 PM.
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Hi, Herb. Excellent job on this - love the arrangement and the guitars. Nice twist with the "liar" idea. The synth vocal is very good, but I think a real vocal will really push this over the top - and it's already really, really good. One nit, but I'm sure it's only me: the line "Like a 4-wheel drive without a key" feels out of place, like it was inserted to remind the listener it's a country song. As if we hadn't figured that out already.  And you're right - it sounds best loud. 
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Echo all the positives here..I’m amazed at the quality folks are getting out of synth voices—esp this with the CW twang—I’d love to know what tools you used. Excellent composition and top-notch production. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Good write. The vocal sounds great so your friend in Atlanta has his work cut out, and I can't wait to hear it. This one sounds like something from Marshall Tucker. No lie. Love that guitar work. Excellent lyrics too.
"I'd be lost without her, couldn't even breathe
Like a 4-wheel drive without a key"
Excellent pro production.
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When AI voices sound this good, it's scary. It'll be interesting to hear the version with your friend's track. It's a really powerful song. Love the band and melody.
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This is really nice song, and it sounds GREAT! Those guitars are really nicely played and placed in the mix. If that's a BiaB slide, it's the best use I've heard.
I'd HATE to be a 2nd tier country studio vocalist right now, listening to AI CRUSHING every country vocal sub-genre, and wondering how I'm going to make the mortgage...
Super job, Herb! Looking forward to the human vocalist.
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Herb,
That's some great country... That synth vocal is really excellent.
Love the arrangement and mix as well. Everything about this works so well.
Bob Thanks Bob. AI/synth vocals are really amazing.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Herb and Brad, this is Nashville Country at it absolute finest!
I never knew that was a synth vocal - outstanding work on that as it does sound "organic".
Great arrangement and backing band
Super mix
Loved it This is my second song collaboration with Brad. The first one was a song called Too Soon. He's a great writer and easy to work with.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Great vocals, instrumentation and production. Had me from the start.
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.
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That is a very good write on every level.
The backing band provides the perfect platform for a song that has some memorable lines (e.g. "like a 4wd without a key")
I liked the way the other instruments fell away at about 2:42 leaving the piano to carry the load.
The synth vocal is the most realistic I've heard so far.
Well done. Thank you. I do like to use dynamics as you mentioned. It takes a little bit of work to make them happen smoothly, but I think it's worth it and it really adds to the experience of listening to the song. The AI/Synth voices are really coming along quickly.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Hi, Herb. Excellent job on this - love the arrangement and the guitars. Nice twist with the "liar" idea. The synth vocal is very good, but I think a real vocal will really push this over the top - and it's already really, really good. One nit, but I'm sure it's only me: the line "Like a 4-wheel drive without a key" feels out of place, like it was inserted to remind the listener it's a country song. As if we hadn't figured that out already. And you're right - it sounds best loud. Man, thanks....Those plays on words are really cool, you know every country song has to give a nod the pickup trucks. We did it without actually saying "pickup".
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Herb...sounds radio ready to me....great mix...the guitar work is crazy good...if you can find a singer in Atlanta or anywhere else that can do what the AI did you need to become his agent...five stars!!
www.soundclick.com/firesongBiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10 You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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Echo all the positives here..I’m amazed at the quality folks are getting out of synth voices—esp this with the CW twang—I’d love to know what tools you used. Excellent composition and top-notch production. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Many thanks for listening. This is done with live tracks and real tracks. The voice is an AI synth. Mixed in Sonar.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Good write. The vocal sounds great so your friend in Atlanta has his work cut out, and I can't wait to hear it. This one sounds like something from Marshall Tucker. No lie. Love that guitar work. Excellent lyrics too.
"I'd be lost without her, couldn't even breathe
Like a 4-wheel drive without a key"
Excellent pro production. Thanks Marty. Yeah, when he hear it he admitted to being a little concerned that he wouldn't be able to get that quality. I told him don't sweat, he's got this. Thanks again
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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When AI voices sound this good, it's scary. It'll be interesting to hear the version with your friend's track. It's a really powerful song. Love the band and melody. Thanks for listening. It seems that a lot of people are against using AI voices. However, they are a godsend to people who can't sing or sing in foreign accents or just want something different. My friend is a little bit intimidated by the high bar but it should be interesting to hear his version. I'm in agreement. This is a good song.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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This is really nice song, and it sounds GREAT! Those guitars are really nicely played and placed in the mix. If that's a BiaB slide, it's the best use I've heard.
I'd HATE to be a 2nd tier country studio vocalist right now, listening to AI CRUSHING every country vocal sub-genre, and wondering how I'm going to make the mortgage...
Super job, Herb! Looking forward to the human vocalist. I was pleased with the slide. I had played a solo fill that worked well but I didn't want the same old typical guitar solo. This was a real track. I only had to edit a few notes here and there. The phrasing was spot on. I absolutely agree. All those folks on fiver and other sites are hurting. I was one of the artists one one of the big custom song sites. I had a fair amount of work coming in and when AI blew up a few years ago and people could make their own song in 30 seconds for a few dollars, work from the site stopped dead in the water. Why pay around one hundred dollars, wait a week for the song when AI could deliver it in a minute? I suspect those studio singers are feeling the pinch now. Thanks for listening and taking the time to comment
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Great vocals, instrumentation and production. Had me from the start. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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