Really cool song!! A pretty melody, strong write, and the vocal is killer...so passionate and authentic!! Really nice job on this Deej!! Take care. Greg
I've got it playing on repeat while I'm typing and it's pretty much impossible to type anything because I keep stopping to listen.
These lyrics are so incredibly potent that they radiate competence in every direction. What a great first verse! You had me from the very start and then when I head "swarms of thunderstorms", I had to stop and double-check that I heard correctly. That's such an amazing metaphor! Kudos to you for coming up with it. It's such a vivid image and says so much in so few words.
Everything about this is spectacular. Your singing is always a treat to listen to and these lyrics and this melody sit incredibly well with your vocals. Through your writing and your performing, you've captured the anguish of a broken heart so very, very well.
Hi Deej, Gotta say I absolutely love this song. It takes a true lyricist to use words like cowering, swarms and wreckage and not make them sound clumsy. While I'm on lyrics, I have one tiny niggle, but I have to offer it. The line: "since she’s gone I’m half-alive." is written as a rhyme for 'having fallen from her heights' and it's the only line in the song that jars for me as it's the only one not a true rhyme. Maybe something like "Since she's gone, the winter bites" or some such, There are many words that would work better. Great emotion in the vocal too. Keep 'em coming.
So glad you liked it . . . thanks for stopping in. Fair comment on the half-rhyme in the first verse, and my preference is always for a more perfect rhyme. But it was a trade off between that perfect rhyme and saying what I wanted to say . . . and the "half-alive" seemed most in line with what the singer is feeling . . . at least in my head. My hope is that the near rhyme is close enough, and early enough in the song, that it doesn't resonate too adversely. Definitely food for thought. Thanks much for offering up the feedback.
Thanks, Steve. It's baby steps with BIAB. Try to learn something new everyday, but learning enough to know how far I am way from all you superstars. Thanks for stopping in and giving this one a spin.
I've just read Songman's and your thoughts on rhyme. This is a topic that's very dear to me and, if it is ok with you, I'd like to share my perspective and add it to the mix (for what it's worth -- which isn't all that much right now since our Aussie dollar is not standing as tall and proud as it did a while ago). I hope you don't mind. Just let me know if you want me to delete this post and I will.
For better or worse, here are my thoughts...
I'm a huge subscriber to Pat Pattison's (link) approach to song- and lyric-writing. I've been to heaps of his weekend seminars over the years and every time, without exception, I come away both impressed and inspired. He's an amazing teacher.
As can be found in his books, Pat's approach to rhyming is driven primarily by the three following considerations...
(a) lyric acceleration and/or deceleration (b) lyric and melodic closure (c) boosting emotional content of lyric phrases -- this usually happens as a result of (a) and (b)
When it comes to creating a sense of closure for the listener, a perfect rhyme does it best. I'm guessing that this is why many of Shakespeare's long speeches end in rhyming couplets... they create a strong sense of completion.
A perfect rhyme has a sense of 'balance' about it and this 'balance' creates a sense of finality. This brings a sense of comfort to the brain.
Where things get very interesting, though, is with the imperfect rhymes. There are five of these (assonance, consonance, additive rhyme, subtractive rhyme, family rhyme - these are names that Pat gives them).
With the imperfect rhymes, there is a lack of the complete closure that accompanies perfect rhyme and this lack of closure creates a very slight sense of a 'lack of balance' in listeners' minds. This, in turn, induces emotion in the listener's mind. The end result is that if one wants to boost the emotional content of a lyric, imperfect rhymes are one of the lyricist's best tools for doing this. One of Pat's favourite sayings is that "Motion creates emotion".
To see this in action, have a look at verse 1 of Blowin' In The Wind written by Bob Dylan in 1962. For many, this song was definitive of its time.
How many roads must a man walk down Before you call him a man? How many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand? How many times must the cannon balls fly Before they're forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind
The first lot of rhymes are -- man / sand / banned (Group 1)
As a test to confirm that these three rhymes are all necessary for lyric motion and that they support one another, try changing the two instances of 'man' in the first two lines to 'boy'. Now read verse 1 aloud. After doing this, it's easy to hear how the lyrics lose their flow. 'Man' rhyming with 'sand' is the better option for the lyrics. This is what Pat would call an additive rhyme.
The Group 2 rhymes that help drive this song are -- friend / wind and the repetition of 'wind'. Friend and wind are what Pat calls consonance rhymes (the 'nd' sound) and are the most unstable of all sonic relations.
Try saying the whole verse out loud and stop at the end of the second last line (i.e. omit the final line). The verse still works because of the consonance rhyme however the last sentence is left hanging and there's a noticeable feeling of discomfort because of this lack of completion. This still supports the song's message, though. Repeating the "The answer is blowin' in the wind" brings about a sense of closure without overly reducing the effect of the consonance rhyme between friend and wind.
More than that, though, this repetition reinforces all the questions that have been asked in verse 1 and the lack of complete closure that is created by the effect of consonance (friend / wind) is terrific at enhancing the reflective mood created by these questions. (In my opinion, at least.)
What is all the more amazing to me is that this emotional content is created by using a mixture of additive rhyme (man / sand), perfect rhyme (sand / banned), consonance (friend / wind) and repetition (wind / wind as well as 'How many' / 'How many' and 'the answer' / 'the answer'). These sonic relationships in conjunction with the use of questions make for a lyric journey of existentialism that overrides the feelings of happiness and buoyancy that a bright tempo and mostly major-chord-based accompaniment usually creates.
For me, this is immensely thoughtful, incredibly thought-provoking and very clever song- and lyric-writing by Bob Dylan. Time has not diminished the power and purpose that is inherent in this song.
Just my two cents worth!
Regards, Noel
Quote:
Books by Pat Pattison 1. Songwriting: Essential Guide to Rhyming 2. Songwriting: Essential guide to Lyric Form and Structure 3. Writing Better Lyrics (2nd ed.) 4. Link to a pdf with Pat's types of rhymes
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
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