|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639 |
Gathering Millstones I wrote this song in August. I tried to create an underlying discomfort in the music. I progressively added piano, viola, and pedal steel to offset the repetition and to add texture and weight. Still learning the ropes in this weekend hobby. Real Tracks: RT1677 Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent RT896 Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Rhythm FolkRock RT2456 Cello, Background PopSwing RT2870 Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticAirDave RT2455 Viola, Background PopSwing RT2667 Pedal Steel, Background DreamySingleNote Don’t take the children (3x) They’re gathering millstones Someone is breaking the bond Of mother and child The wolves are running wild Can’t feel the wind blow Don’t take the children (3x) They’re gathering millstones Millions of silent cries Who heard their voice Who gave them a choice Can’t feel the wind blow Don’t take the children (3x) They’re gathering millstones Didn’t mean to leave them alone Just needed a buffer Who must suffer Can’t feel the wind blow Don’t take the children (3x) They’re gathering millstones Nobody did anything wrong Didn’t have a part to play Of leading them astray Can’t feel the wind blow. Don’t take the children (3x) They’re gathering millstones
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357 |
I like the mystery in the lyrics- enhanced by the repetition.
Good arrangement and a very clear vocal (good doubled vocal btw- sits beautifully in the mix).
Good song!
Robert
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,664
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,664 |
Hi Ezekiel, Fantastic work! The different elements really glue well together and the instruments are layered nicely. The guitar has a great tone and enjoyed the strings, they harmonize with the lyrics nicely. Well done!
Cheers,
Joe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647 |
A nice mysterious piece - really interesting instrument choices,dark lyrics and nice vocals.
Very evocative and different.
Peter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647 |
Hi!
The mystery in the music and the catchy lyric so nicely sung blend so smoothly with the backing tracks in a dissonant manner. The layering is a real nice touch - every verse is refreshed with the new addition. Unusual and quite enjoyable.
Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,065
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,065 |
I like Peter's word, "evocative."
"Someone is breaking the bond
Of mother and child
The wolves are running wild
Can’t feel the wind blow"
Love the way that established the feel for the lyric right from the get go.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,369
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,369 |
Great work! I think you did a wonderful job with the repetitive nature of the arrangement. When I’m working on something that has repetitious phrases, I often have a hard time visualizing where I’m at in the arrangement and I find that it can be quite complicated to get it all right. I think you did a wonderful job in this regard.
I’d love to know the backstory behind the lyric… A great hallmark of a song Is that it causes the listener to want to know more about the underlying message… So let us in on the story!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,553
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,553 |
Very interesting piece, mysterious lyrics, nice chording and some Beatles flavors. Good vocals mixed well. Effective use of the string instruments.
Janne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360 |
very pretty arrangement and clear strong vocals
enjoyed the listen,
Kenny
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,291
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,291 |
Very cool vocal and lyric. Well done
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,335
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,335 |
A very unique work. The lyrics fit the melody and production in that they are somewhat mysterious. It is up to the individual listener to determine the meaning. Definitely a Beatles influence. That is a good thing and somewhat unusual on this forum. I enjoyed the experience, Tom
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052 |
Very interesting music and lyrics!! You've really captured a mood with the combination of instruments......strings are beautifully weaved into this. Nice vocals and production. All of it works for me!! Take care. Greg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639 |
Great work! I think you did a wonderful job with the repetitive nature of the arrangement. When I’m working on something that has repetitious phrases, I often have a hard time visualizing where I’m at in the arrangement and I find that it can be quite complicated to get it all right. I think you did a wonderful job in this regard.
I’d love to know the backstory behind the lyric… A great hallmark of a song Is that it causes the listener to want to know more about the underlying message… So let us in on the story! I got the idea for the song from the news stories about the government taking children away from their immigrant parents. That is where the idea started and where the first verse starts, but the subsequent verses deal with other harms done to children. The song is not meant to be a political one, just a humanitarian one. (There are verses that would irritate both the left and right sides of the spectrum.) The line "They're gathering millstones" is a biblical allusion to Luke 17:2 "It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble." I also alluded to Bob Dylan with the line "Can't feel the wind blow" because the answer to these problems are not "blowing in the wind." I hope I shed some light on the song. I wasn't trying to be enigmatic. I should have listened to my wife when she said she had no idea what I was singing about when I wrote this song. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639 |
A very unique work. The lyrics fit the melody and production in that they are somewhat mysterious. It is up to the individual listener to determine the meaning. Definitely a Beatles influence. That is a good thing and somewhat unusual on this forum. I enjoyed the experience, Tom Yes, the Beatles are definitely my biggest influence (as I am sure they might be for some others too); consequently, there seems to be a piece of them in almost every song I write.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639 |
Thanks for taking the time to listen to and comment on my song. It's encouraging to hear when sometimes I feel like I'm just putzing around with my guitar, piano, and BIAB.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414 |
Wow - what a unique and entrancing tune  I'm getting a late 60's kind of vibe on this one. I can hear some Beatles influence for sure. Your harmonies are gorgeous, and I love the haunting backing track. You really creating a distinct mood on this one, and I loved it. Great work and thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Deryk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,028
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,028 |
I really like this! Definitely has a late 60s vibe, which is ok in my book.
Love the production, the doubled vocal works really well, and everything sits in the mix perfectly.
Good song, enjoyed the listen!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,879
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,879 |
A cool sound. Somewhat Beatlesque, yet quite original. The instrumentation is really nicely done.
The vocals are extraordinary. The constant harmony works extremely well.
The mix is really good. It sounds good at low volumes, but more importantly, it sounds really good when turned up loud. Superb.
I thoroughly enjoyed the listen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,381
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,381 |
Struck hard by that progression. "Unsettling" achieved there, and in the vocal harmonies that those chords supported/suggested/demanded. That, and the constant evolution of the band kept interest throughout. I like this a lot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677 |
Ezekiel's Storm,
This is the ultimate tribute to this year's 50th annivrsary of the Beatles' White Album .
What more can I say: I bow my head in respect to this extraordinary work.
Stefan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,076
Posts799,791
Members40,028
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean