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Hello forum friends. Thanks so much for your enthusiastic support of my last post, We Had Some Times.......really appreciate your comments!! My second post of '21 is another tribute song. Hopefully, I'll move on to something happier soon. I lost my dad just over 5 years ago. It redefined the meaning of pain and loss for me. Just about a year ago, I heard some music in my head (it might have been after the Oscars) and that evolved soon after into this song. I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Take care all. Greg

https://soundcloud.com/gjohnson-2/the-view-from-there

The View From There

It’s been 4 years now since the day we said goodbye
The hardest thing I’ve ever done
There’re few connections that run deeper way down here
Than that between a father and a son

Sometimes I wonder how you see your former life
And what it’s like to be released from earthly cares
And I wonder just how crazy we all look
When you take in the view from there

Frantic fools just fighting, trying to get ahead
Each one scrapping for his share
Is it comedy or tragedy you see
When you take in the view from there?

You and I God knows we had our conflicts too
But such a pointless thing is blame
Each generation I guess has its cross to bear
They’re all unique but all the same

What I remember now is nothing but the good
The finest moments that we had
When I distill it to its essence, what I feel
Is just the love of a boy for his dad

And I will hold you in my heart as I walk on
And try to treat the world with care
Until the day we stand together once again
And both take in the view from there

The players:

Liverpool piano.......midi track used with Komplete NI piano......Grandeur I believe
Bass. 366
Guitar solo. 1167
Synth. Omnisphere
Strings. Komplete Session strings

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Greg what a beautiful piece of music...Being both a father and a son this is such a tender reminder of how special it is to be both of those...and like many my father is viewing things from there...perfect marriage of a universal and well loved subject with the crying guitar solo and piano...it's hard to hear piano songs anymore and they're the best...loved it...thanks Dan

PS...The most profound things are said in simple common words and concepts and you have woven together some beautiful and profound phrases...the music is good but the lyrics excel...great songs are also great poetry...when the lyrics can stand without the melody you have a great song.

Last edited by firesong; 02/13/21 10:42 AM.

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Really touching. A good pop write, too - as Dan wrote, personal but universal.

The vocals and crunchy lead guitar make a good contrast with hazy synth and strings.

No need to hurry on to a different sort of song. Just keep writing excellent music like this! laugh


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Greg.
I can relate to this.
It's a fine piece and lovely tribute.

Vic

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Hi Greg,

Being someone that also experienced a big loss in recent years I felt the lyrics connected deeply within me. Your song actually brought tears to my eyes.

The great thing about this track is that it might have resonated just as deeply anyway, because it is a magnificent composition... and an outstanding good mix.

I'm so happy that you decided to share it with us...thanks a lot for that!
Will

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Very well done - the whole piece communicates very, very well.
I was a bit put off by the guitar solo but I do understand it's a very expressive instrument and it takes that role on quite well within this song.


Cheers
rayc
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Thanx Greg for putting a few tears in these old eyes. I lost my dad 21 years ago and I still think about him to this day. This lyric "What I remember now is nothing but the good
The finest moments that we had" really hit home.

Outstanding tribute to your dad.

Everything about his one is top shelf!


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Greg,
Perhaps the wait of a few years after your loss brought in the beautifully expressed universal perspective to the hurt expressed in your fine tribute.
This is an excellent write and a gently emotional vocal. Simplicity is all that`s required in the arrangement and it works well.
(While listening I found the synth slightly distracted from your vocal in a few places- its probably the close frequency match).

Robert

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What a lovely composition. I love the piano. I'll have to look that one up (I purchased BIAB 2021 - at long last). Great rich vocals. Lyrics tell a great story. Well done. Congrats. Thank the band for me too.


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Greg,

Not sure one could tug at the heart strings any harder.

Stunning songwriting.

A truly heart-felt vocal.

Beautiful backing. Excellent mix.

As Good As It Gets.

You are a pro.

fj

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Greg

Beautiful write and emotive singing. Just a lovely song.

You are exceedingly good at composing these ballads and this is no exception.

Peter

(I'd like to play or hear a guitar solo for this that fits the sombre mood - the RT is a touch harsh and busy to my ears).

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Beautiful! What a great composition!

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Greg,

Very beautiful song!
And emotive singing.
As Peter says, you are exceedingly good at composing these ballads and this is no exception.
I think this is a wonderful and heartwarming tribute song to your father.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

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Hello Greg ...

What does one say when all the superlatives have been exhausted and the English language bankrupt of his most expressive words? That how always feel when I listen to one of your compositions.

My father died in 1969. He hung on long enough to see me when I returned from Vietnam. He died soon after. We didn't have a particularly close relationship, but he gave me the two things I most cherish in life, other than the people I sharer it with. He gave me baseball and music. I will always treasure those two gifts, regardless the relationship. Both have brought me thousands and thousands of hours of please.

Your song literally brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for the emotion and treasure of having this listen. You are a marvelously talented gentleman. Wishing you & yours the very best. Take care ...

Alan


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As good as it gets. Just a wonderful composition and performance!

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Greg,

Very well done! Great prosody between the words and music.

Consider revising this verse:

Frantic fools just fighting, trying to get ahead
Each one scrapping for his share
Is it comedy or tragedy you see
When you take in the view from there?

All the other verses focus on the father / son relationship. This one doesn't, which makes it out of place.

One idea would be to express the unfairness of death from the son's point of view, but hoping for understanding in 'the view from there'

Another idea would be to cut this verse but add a verse towards the end of the singer talking about struggling with his son (the grandson)....and understanding what the father was trying to before...

Or you could drop this verse and the rest of the song would still stand on its own.......keep at it! This one's a gem!

Cheers,

James

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Greg, I can say for sure that the view from here is one of rarified air. You stand alone on this forum as the master of of heartfelt ballads. It has been a pleasure to watch your writing continue to improve to the point of being on par with your exquisite rendering of the vocals. Excellent in all regards. Downright touching and beautiful,Tom

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Hi Greg,

t's a lovely song to pay homage to your father. The arrangement is super well done. And your soft voice lends itself wonderfully to well-written lyrics. I appreciated.

Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash


Kindly regards
Derochette
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Fine tribute, Greg. Thanks for posting.


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I'm going to cry in a minute. Incredible. Bravo.

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