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DC Ron Offline OP
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Small Town Boy (What Am I Doing Here?)

I can relate to these lyrics (not mine) about the duality of the big city. Spent most of my life working in big cities, but still consider myself a small town boy...

Haven't used a LOT of soul styles, though most of them sound really good to me. I just don't normally compose organically in soul styles. Not this time though. Every instrument in this song is from the 2026 _SWOLLEN.STY soul RealStyle.

The song is a bit longer and more simple in construction than most of ours, so I I'm selectively resting instruments in each section for dynamic effect. And for the bridge I'm switching the pair of guitars to held chords for variety. Am also using harmonies and BGVs to keep the arrangement from lying TOO flat. Not sure I succeeded in sustaining interest, but I didn't want to pump the song up TOO much dynamically. It's just not that kind of song...

When we release the single we'll probably cut the 3rd verse/chorus to be more radio friendly. Ha!

THANKS in advance for any listens and comments!

R.W. Davis: lyrics
Me: music, arrangement, vocals, mix, master
AI: not employed

Style is _SWOLLEN.STY (Swollen Americana Soul Groove)
RealTracks in style: 4855:Bass, Acoustic, SoulJazzGroovinFunk Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 2906:Piano, ElectricVintage, Rhythm BluesyPopMike Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 4233:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Soul70sRelaxed Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 3716:Guitar, Baritone Acoustic, Rhythm AmericanaFolkStrum Ev 110
RealDrums in style:Americana16GroovinBrushFred^1-a,b:Brushes,Toms

SMALL TOWN BOY (What Am I Doing Here?)

The sidewalk is crowded
All the girls are pretty
What am I doing here
In new New York City?

Time Square is glistening
The lights are all too bright
What am I doing here?
The big city at night

You know, I’ll always be a small town boy
That this metropolis tries to destroy
The life they offer is hard to enjoy
Chasing their shiny things like a decoy
Running out in traffic, oh boy

The Rockettes are dancing
And they’re sold out tonight
What am I doing here?
I must not be too bright

Broadway is gearing up
For a well-reviewed show
What am I doing here?
I just don’t want to go

You know, I’ll always be a small town boy
That this metropolis tries to destroy
The life they offer is hard to enjoy
Chasing their shiny things like a decoy
Running out in traffic, oh boy

The taxis are yellow
No one waits for the light
What am I doing here?
I better grab a bite

The food on the corner
Is expensive at best
What am I doing here?
You never would have guessed

You know, I’ll always be a small town boy
That this metropolis tries to destroy
The life they offer is hard to enjoy
Chasing their shiny things like a decoy
Running out in traffic, oh boy

Like a dog who catches a car
What do I do now?
It doesn't matter anyhow
It doesn't matter anyhow
Everything I see seems a little highbrow


You know, I’ll always be a small town boy
Running out in traffic…

Last edited by DC Ron; 03/16/26 04:58 AM.

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Ron,

This is such an awesome song! Love the lyrics, arrangement and excellent mix. Amazing use of the guitar tracks - that bridge part is so impactful.

Another great vocal - a very cool and distinct delivery. You have a great identifiable sound.

Worth many listens! Loved it!

Bob

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Great, great song and a superb vocal from you, I liked the whole thing but especially the bridge and the harmonies on the outro. It's under four minutes, not too long at all. I'd keep the single as is ; ) Your streak continues in fine, fine form. The worst food I ever had in my life was NY street corner food in 1986. And yes, it was pricey, even then.


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I really enjoy singing and backing vocals on a good song.
Laurent

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D.C., I empathise.
Me too.
Great production and vocal.

Vic

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Oh, yeah, you sure did accomplish what you intended, Ron. My favorite part is that upright bass. Always love those lyrics --one of my favorite lyricists. Vocals sound perfect --outstanding. Excellent arrangement and production.


Enjoy whatever happens!
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A beautiful, slightly depressing song.
I love the lyrics and the way you deliver them.
A tasteful choice of instruments.
I LOVE the call-and-response vocal harmonies in the outro - I would have included them in the choruses too, because they’re so good.
Enjoyed my listen.
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DC & RW,

Very Cool Song.
Excellent arrangement. Nice use of in-and-outs.
Super vocals. Super BGVs.
Good mix. Love that Bass sound. Vocals are So Clear.

Very much enjoyed the listen.
Good Music.

fj

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Slightly different sounding arrangement, although not that "soul" in my ears, and not "hip-hop & rap" like it says in SoundCloud, but pleasantly calm pop that describes well that small town boy in the middle of the crowded sidewalk asking "what am I doing here?". The americana band, the lovely melody and your calming voice merge into an enjoyable whole, your voice beautifully expresses the longing desire to get away, sounds quite like a Barenaked Ladies style of song, meant to be a big compliment. Not too long, keeps interest to the end, definitely radio-friendly in my ears smile

Janne


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Originally Posted by rsdean
Ron,

This is such an awesome song! Love the lyrics, arrangement and excellent mix. Amazing use of the guitar tracks - that bridge part is so impactful.

Another great vocal - a very cool and distinct delivery. You have a great identifiable sound.

Worth many listens! Loved it!

Bob

Gee, THANKS, Bob! Took me a while, but I've finally figured out that earnestly imperfect vocals can be better than just ok. Glad you enjoyed our song!


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Hi Ron - very listenable!
Your 2026 RealStyle choice and tempo has a laid-back feel to it, which I thought illustrated the contrast of small-town-boy from a slower pace in a big city - one can never take the slower pace (or desire for it) out of a small-town-boy.
Andrew

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Hi Ron,

Love the pan on those guitars! Great intro. Excellent arrangement! Bringing the instruments in and out works a treat.

Really good vocal, and I really like the BGVs, the oohs and aahs, and especially like the outro part "running out in traffic".

Excellent mix too. Loved it!

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Ron, this small town boy who very rarely goes into a city loves this song.
Your arrangement and vocals are your best to date IMHO.
The backing vocals and band are perfect for this song and your mix is spot on.
Like I said I loved it.

PS - Don't worry about the length for the radio plays; it should be on the radio right now. Alice's Restaurant was 15 minutes long, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was 17 minutes long.


Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.

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Well done. As others have said, the vox are really nice. I like that play back and forth at the ending.

I don't hardly like to go to the small cities around here let alone find myself in a metropolis. I can handle the small towns just fine. People know you there.


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This is a great song and reminds of the 26 years I lived in London, my 20s to mid-40s. It's the usual brilliant production, but I wouldn't cut verse 3 as it come in just at the right place. An alternative would be to cut your least favourite non-chorus verse and play a solo over the following chorus, though that wouldn't shorten it a lot.


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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Originally Posted by TuneMonger
Great, great song and a superb vocal from you, I liked the whole thing but especially the bridge and the harmonies on the outro. It's under four minutes, not too long at all. I'd keep the single as is ; ) Your streak continues in fine, fine form. The worst food I ever had in my life was NY street corner food in 1986. And yes, it was pricey, even then.

Thanks, Rob. Hey, at least you stuck around for the outro...that's MY measure of a successful song. smile

Thanks for the complement on the vocals. Truthfully, I know they're not James Taylor-perfect, nor could they be, but at least nobody is confusing me for an AI vocalist. Ha!

Bad/expensive NYC street food is a real thing. Somehow, there's still a food cart on every Manhattan corner...


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Hey, DC. It has a really comfortable folk style like Kent LaVoie (Lobo). I lived in cities all my life...Los Angeles, Boise, Denver, Phoenix, and now on the edge of Los Angeles metropolitan in a small city of 58,000. Being anonymous has always been comfortable for me. Oh, and I don't trust food carts.
John

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Another quality production Ron,

Really loved those “Running out in traffic” harmonies at the end. Superb.

Kind regards.

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Originally Posted by laurent4114
I really enjoy singing and backing vocals on a good song.
Laurent

Thank you, Laurent.

Originally Posted by vicarn
D.C., I empathise.
Me too.
Great production and vocal.

Vic

Thanks, Vic. Big cities can be nice places to visit. Not for everyone though...

Originally Posted by BabuMusic
Oh, yeah, you sure did accomplish what you intended, Ron. My favorite part is that upright bass. Always love those lyrics --one of my favorite lyricists. Vocals sound perfect --outstanding. Excellent arrangement and production.

Hey, THANKS, Marty! Love this bass, too. Loved the bass pickup line for the chorus so much I saved the introduction of the bass until it was time for the chorus. Hence the acoustic intro section. Glad you enjoyed the tune (and the bass!).


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Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
A beautiful, slightly depressing song.
I love the lyrics and the way you deliver them.
A tasteful choice of instruments.
I LOVE the call-and-response vocal harmonies in the outro - I would have included them in the choruses too, because they’re so good.
Enjoyed my listen.
A lot [Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

Thank you, B.D.! Don't do it on every song, but on some songs (like this one) I intentionally put something cool in the outro that's a new twist. Keep thinking back to the songs I listen to all the way through just so I can hear that neat bit at the end. The most convenient example is "Best Friends Girl" (1978). Yeah, I probably SHOULD have used that bit earlier, but then I wouldn't amuse myself quite as well. Ha!


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