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#604384 06/29/20 08:44 AM
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We've all gone crazy in the last few months.... this is my observation on the situation in the world today. Just writing and singing about what I see, think, and feel. This is a song about hoping that we stop being stupid and realize that WE have the power to change our world but it has to be done with love.

I actually have 3 songs start on this topic. All with different points of view. This one is finished or close to it. The others probably won't be heard outside of my studio.... maybe. Still got another idea floating around in my head.... we'll see.

So, here's the song.

Let Our Children Play

The band is:

Drums: P&W even 16
B3: 2692
Piano: 2693
Bass: 3501
Choir: 2975 & 2976

I have 3 vocal tracks and 5 guitar tracks in it. 2 crunch rhythm laying down a bed.... 2 acoustics for grins, and the lead. I actually tried to get fairly close to the lead that BB generated because it was pretty decent. I didn't take the time to get it note for note because that's not generally how I roll these days.

Lyrics:

Let our children play

I set down to watch the evening news.... everything has gone haywire
Cities and police cars.... all on fire
people going crazy and stirring Trouble up tonight

One guy with a sign says burn the whole thing down
Another one has a sign says let's find common ground
Silence all the voices with a different point of view, its what they always do


We've all gone crazy, on youtube seeking fame
Everybody's pointing fingers no one wants to take the blame
We all have our own special cause, our favorite source of pain
Don't worry about tomorrow, forget about yesterday
Tear down all the monuments and hide them all away
Don't count the cost of freedom, We should just let our children play


If we all work together and cast our fears aside
Seek the answers, embrace the truth and walk away from lies
Nothing in the world would stop us, Maybe one day we all will realize.
If you take the hand of your enemy, you'll find that he's your friend,
Close the door to darkness, It's long past due to end
Imagine if you will, for just a moment, the message we would send


We have to, stop acting crazy, calling each other names
No more pointing fingers, because we're really all to blame
Forget about our own little cause, deep inside we're all the same

We have to think about tomorrow, remember yesterday.
Tear down the wall of hatred, embrace a brighter day
Ring the bell of freedom, And let our children play



Feel free to comment after you listen and let me know your thoughts.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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Wow! That's one big production. Well done. Your recording has a great tone to it. Good lyrics and vocals. Top notch production (worth mentioning again). Well done. Great use of the band too.

What version of BnB do you use? I'm still on 2012 and I think it sounds like it.


My music can be heard at: The Cracks
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Herb, This is a great song man.

Really, really, well done.

Bravo.

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Excellent!

Man, your music has always been good but the last couple you have done ... just great in every way.

Killer job on the guitar too, great tone and feel.

Good song, enjoyed.

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This is a story that needs to be told, to hopefully bring people together - and to to their senses.

Great job, exceptional delivery, and yes, 'we should just let our children play'. Wherever did that go?


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Oh wow, this is soooooo topical, it's been put together so well. VERY thought provoking and just a wonderful all round song. THIS is the kinda song that should be in the charts, not the crap they have nowadays

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Originally Posted By: jptjptjpt
Wow! That's one big production. Well done. Your recording has a great tone to it. Good lyrics and vocals. Top notch production (worth mentioning again). Well done. Great use of the band too.

What version of BnB do you use? I'm still on 2012 and I think it sounds like it.


Thanks...yeah I spent a good amount of time on this. After I exported the waves I wasn't satisfied with the ending so rather than reworking them, I used audio editing to literally change the ending.

Regarding the version... It's the 2020 ultrapack on SSHD.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

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Hi GuitarHacker,

I have to tell you that this "We all have our own special cause, our favorite source of pain" really hit home.

The whole song was excellent, but I especially liked your music production, the drums and guitars all sounded so polished and true.

As far as the whole world going crazy, from my experience, being in the places I've been (not the nicest) this world has been going crazy for a long time and getting worse. It's just now hitting the news because it's happening in first world countries.

A timely, well written, VERY well payed and sung song!

Thanks for posting it.

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Originally Posted By: David Snyder
Herb, This is a great song man.

Really, really, well done.

Bravo.


Thanks David. Coming from you, I really appreciate that.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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Big sound Herb! That intro really sets the stage for the great lyrics that follow! Great job on the vocals! That organ sets so beautifully in there! That lead solo really sound sweet! Nice background effects going on midway through! Last verse really is powerful! If the other 2 are close to this one, they need an audience! Thanks, T

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Herb,

A good one. A good write.

A big production that holds together well (for the most part)...the drums are a bit loud. When I turn them down to a good listening level, the rest of the tracks - including the vocal - are just a little low. So it is a relative thing. Good news is the cymbals still sound good at that loud level (no harsh high EQ).

Good job.

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Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
Excellent!

Man, your music has always been good but the last couple you have done ... just great in every way.

Killer job on the guitar too, great tone and feel.

Good song, enjoyed.


Thank you. On the guitar tone.... thank you again. Regarding the songs.... I just write what I;m thinking and feeling. And perhaps one day..... anyway, thank you for listening. Glad you enjoyed this tune.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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 song Herb!!! Yeah, things are pretty F'd up alright, and don't seem to be improving. This is a good message but I think there are plenty with agendas who don't want answers. Sad days in the ol' USA. Enjoyed this A LOT!! Take care. Greg

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Well done and timely indeed.

A big production that sounded really epic on the monitors.

Nice vocals and the guitar chops and tone are outstanding.

Dunno about the similar themed songs that reside in your studio smile
but we like this thematically and musically.

J&B


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If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks!
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Big production, as others have said. Excellent vocal and guitar work. And yes, we've got to keep hoping that a change is going to come.
Regards,
Leon

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Originally Posted By: VideoTrack
This is a story that needs to be told, to hopefully bring people together - and to to their senses.

Great job, exceptional delivery, and yes, 'we should just let our children play'. Wherever did that go?


Thank you. Every now and then I get a streak of compassion .... it doesn't last long, but.... ( just kidding ) And yes, the title line of Let our Children play was all about how innocent our children are and it's what they are taught that is the important thing.... we need to let them play and be kids and not foster the prejudices that are being taught. Little kids don't know black or white, they know friends who they can play with.

Thank you for listening


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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Originally Posted By: furry
Oh wow, this is soooooo topical, it's been put together so well. VERY thought provoking and just a wonderful all round song. THIS is the kinda song that should be in the charts, not the crap they have nowadays


Yeah... thank you. I agree it needs to be on the charts and on the radio..... but I doubt that will happen. Just writing what I think and feel. Thank you for listening.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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Originally Posted By: Bawb
Hi GuitarHacker,

I have to tell you that this "We all have our own special cause, our favorite source of pain" really hit home.

The whole song was excellent, but I especially liked your music production, the drums and guitars all sounded so polished and true.

As far as the whole world going crazy, from my experience, being in the places I've been (not the nicest) this world has been going crazy for a long time and getting worse. It's just now hitting the news because it's happening in first world countries.

A timely, well written, VERY well payed and sung song!

Thanks for posting it.


We all have our own special cause, our favorite source of pain..... indeed. This is so true and I'm glad you found that line to be poignant. It can be anything. Drugs, alcohol, racism. We go back to it for comfort in a demented sort of way. We like to wallow in our misery. Yeah, I agree, it's been off the rails for a long time now. It's just becoming more evident every day.

I appreciate the kind words on the song. Thank you


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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Wow Herb. This is outstanding. It hits on all cylinders. Fantastic production, great vocals and guitar work. Excellent lyrics - so spot on and relevant. And on top of that, all those little bits and pieces that makes a good song a great one are there - the vocal dynamics, the drum fills, guitar solos, the spaces - and it all fits together organically. This is one of those times where you just enjoy the song, and let it roll, and then you have to go back again and analyze and say, whoa - how did he do that?


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Well, I hate to have to roll up several posts into ONE BIG THANK YOU.... but it looks like that's what I need to do here.... so...

Thank you to Torry, Floyd, Greg, Janice & Bud, Leon, and Ed for listening and taking the time to comment. I'll be lurking for the next few days.... but otherwise engaged in other activities..... toes in the sand, beer in my hand kind of things.... yeah, it's a hard life but someone has to live it. I'll be back refreshed and most likely with a new song....or two. Or maybe just a hangover and a bad sunburn.... yeah, just kidding on both of those.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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