Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
My wife and I were watching TV one night and a commercial for camping gear came on and I guy said, "If you're like me..." I told my wife Donna, "I'm not like that. I don't even want to be like that. I should write a song called 'If You're Like Me.'"

That was the original title of this but there are other songs with that title (-which is permissible but why court confusion?). So I went with the first line of the chorus, which also works.





But If This Is My Last Day, That's OK by Mark Rhodes

I just got BIAB 2021 Ultra Pak but it was not used for this. This is the 2018 version, Dreamy Pop Quintet in G at 110 bpm. I muted the two guitars for the most part. (My Tele plays throughout the song.) The organ plays on the intro and chorus but not during the verses.

Vocal was done with CLA Vocals plug in on Rock Man preset.

But If This Is My Last Day, That's OK
Words & Music by Mark Rhodes

If you're like me, you don't wanna work at all.
Play guitar, write songs, watch a little football.
Read old books, take long walks in the local park.
God help me if I have to drive after dark.

[PRE-CHORUS]

I didn't see it coming
I'll hate to see it go.

[CHORUS]

But if this is my last day---that's okay
How did I measure up? Well, who's to say?
You want some famous last words, I'll quote my bride:
“Honey, put some pants on 'fore you go outside.”

If you're like me, you get called a bum a lot
And told you really don't deserve any good thing you got
“You're indifferent, lazy, you just stumble along
When life kicks your [*****], you just write another song.”

[PRE-CHORUS]

[CHORUS]

When I was a boy, I knew that I could fly
I didn't need a plane, or a reason why.
I was swirled up tingling into the moonlit sky
And I'm still, I'm still, I'm still enjoying that ride.

[PRE-CHORUS]

[CHORUS]

If you're like me, that's all you got to say.


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,180
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,180
That's fun. i like the band and arrangement.
Your rhythm guitar gives this extra life.
The only nit would be that I think you should tidy the backing vocals as, in a few spots, the timing causes a blurred confusion of who's who singing what.
COOL.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,749
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,749
Fun for sure.

I'd say I think I'd like it better if the backing vox where pulled back.

moto

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,472
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,472
Very good starting lines for a song, "If you're like me, you don't wanna work at all.", "When life kicks..., you just write another song" - I can relate to those parts and many other too smile Humorous story - did you consider to fit "if you're like me" also to the last verse?
Catchy chorus. Reminds me somehow of Barenaked Ladies... Simple arrangement works well, good vocals, although I agree with rayc that some timing with backing vocals could be tidied.

Janne


Hear My Music:

Soundcloud
YouTube

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: jannesan
Very good starting lines for a song, "If you're like me, you don't wanna work at all.", "When life kicks..., you just write another song" - I can relate to those parts and many other too smile Humorous story - did you consider to fit "if you're like me" also to the last verse?
Catchy chorus. Reminds me somehow of Barenaked Ladies... Simple arrangement works well, good vocals, although I agree with rayc that some timing with backing vocals could be tidied.

Janne


Thanks, Janne.

I considered starting the third verse also with "If you're like me." (That was the original title of the song.) But I changed my mind because the third verse has a different purpose: it really clarifies where "I didn't see it coming / I'll hate to see it go" comes from, and what it means.

Yes, the timing with the doubled vocal could be tidied, esp in the first chorus. I guess it is a backing vocal but I just thought of doubling the vocal to make it sound fuller in the mix. And it does, but the timing is inexact. Sometimes I think that's awful but other times I think it's okay.


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: CaptainMoto
Fun for sure.

I'd say I think I'd like it better if the backing vox where pulled back.

moto


Thanks, Moto.
As I told Janne, I didn't think of that as a backing vocal but as doubling the lead vocal to make the chorus bigger. And I think it does. But maybe too much....


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,381
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,381
Really well put-together. I mean excellent. Loved the laid back delivery and humor of the verse--really fit the theme. And that chorus has a bar-room sing-along vibe that made me laugh. Excellent fun package. and the ending was very good.


BIAB 2021 Audiophile. Windows 10 64bit. Songwriter, lyricist, composer(?) loving all styles. Some pre-BIAB music from Farfetched Tangmo Band's first CD. https://alonetone.com/tangmo/playlists/close-to-the-ground
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: Tangmo
Really well put-together. I mean excellent. Loved the laid back delivery and humor of the verse--really fit the theme. And that chorus has a bar-room sing-along vibe that made me laugh. Excellent fun package. and the ending was very good.


Thank you, Tangmo.

I like to write fun(ny) songs with simple, catchy choruses. They don't always work out but this one seems to.


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: rayc
That's fun. i like the band and arrangement.
Your rhythm guitar gives this extra life.
The only nit would be that I think you should tidy the backing vocals as, in a few spots, the timing causes a blurred confusion of who's who singing what.
COOL.


You're right, rayc, the doubled vocals are out of synch at times. Worst of all, it happens in the first chorus!
A quick fix might be to copy the second (backing) chorus where the first one now is. They don't have to be exact---I think it's better if they're NOT exact---but if they're too different, it's a distraction, as here.

Glad you liked the song!
This one is special for me. For starters, my wife actually said to me, "Honey, put some pants on before you go outside." I told her that was going into a song.

And when I was a boy, I knew that I could fly. I seemed to remember having done it already. I don't remember a time in my life before the time that I knew that I could fly. As an adult, I know I can't actually fly, but there is something to being swept up and carried along on a wind I don't control---or even want to control---and just enjoying the ride. That's creating---that's my favorite feeling.


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,184
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,184
Cool lyric and excellent vocal. Loved the backtrack. Well done.


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: Scott C
Cool lyric and excellent vocal. Loved the backtrack. Well done.


Thank you, Scott. I really appreciate that.


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window

In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®

With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
  • Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
  • Playable RealTracks Set 5
  • RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
  • SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
  • Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:


  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
  • RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
  • SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Video: New User Interface (GUI)

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,474
Posts792,490
Members39,899
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
matteob, Rahul baghel, markfrancisco, Emilly Thomas, Alex Carey
39,898 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 198
DC Ron 120
jpettit 119
Noel96 99
Today's Birthdays
Kapiti Keith, Togman
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5