Hi Robert, Janice and Bud, Dero13, CaptainMoto and Jannesan,

Thanks a lot for your listen to this song and kind reactions.
I will also answer briefly (!) to your personal reactions;

Originally Posted By: Robertkc
Hans,
The commitment and energy of your vocal carries the story through... by the ending "coming home" there`s a surprisingly good feeling!
I like the contrast of the swing style band with the soldier`s life lessons in the lyrics.
Robert


Hi Robert, what you wrote is broadly what I meant this song. A contrast in lyrics and melody and a recognizable story. However, it is nice to read what questions raise about the story. Like what you said about 'a surprisingly good feeling' while he is going to his God. Help me understand this, Robert. Ps; I scan all my new lyrics now in the way you told me to do. Was of great help!

Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
We liked everything about this.
Great vocal.
Great band ( I, Bud, used to play a lot of walking bass so it was nice to hear it)
Great write. The slight ambiguity here and there adds to the story.
And a mix that sounds excellent on our monitors.
Well done!

J&B


Well Bud, your compliments make this sounds like a great song! Gave me a sunny feeling and that's a good thing in my rainy, cold country!
I didn't know what a 'walking bass' was, so I looked it up. When I read the explanation I said "oh, that's what it meant". with other words, I knew it all the time, but not that it was called like this in English. And what nice to read you played it many times. Don't tell me you don't play anymore...


Originally Posted By: Dero13
Hello Birchwood,
I love the sax. The atmosphere of the 50s can be found there. The lyrics with your voice fit perfectly into the arrangement you propose. Well done.
Kindly regard
alias JaniJackFlash


Hi Dero Jack Flash, I am glad you liked it in this style. It took me a while to get used to it myself. I seldom use a sax and the swing style, but here it was needed to symbolize these promises are/were given always and in all times to soldiers and seldom kept (for whatever reason).

Originally Posted By: CaptainMoto
Love songs with a great message.
This one tells the story very well.
Great arrangement.


Hello Captain, with your rank I am sure you understood the message!

Originally Posted By: jannesan
Based on the lyrics, I was expecting a psychedelic rock song with gospel choir in the end, so the used style was bit surprising. Maybe my mind was in Vietnam. But very good story with a nice ending. Good arrangement closer to the World War II atmosphere, I enjoyed your softer singing and the way you bring gospel in your background vocals.

Janne


Hi Janne, I got sad when reading how much you were dissapointed by the melody. But seriously, when I made the contours for this song, back in 2017, I had a complete different style in my head with electric guitars and a straight going melody. But hat was missing the point I wanted to make (see my answer to Dero in this post). And for the location I had places like Iraq or Afghanistan in mind(!), but the location doesn't matter. It's the big picture that counts.
By the way, is your artistname Popfinger? He started following me on SoundCloud and I listened to a couple of songs from him. he is from Finland and his vocals sound just like yours. I bet it is you!

Stay safe everyone,
Hans

Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130