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#659878 06/10/21 05:35 AM
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Here's my latest tune: Vietnam Blues. I didn't go to Vietnam but I lost classmates to it.

https://soundcloud.com/user-770148857/vietnam-blues


519:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 120
692:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming AcRockBright Ev 120 (A:sync)
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RealDrums [in style:NashvilleEven8^5-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Vocal by Tom Bedlam of fiverr

Lyrics:

High school was done, we had fun each day
Then I was called, and hauled a world away
It's no picnic, waiting for Charlie to show
And all I ever wanted was to make you know

Christopher medal hanging from my neck
Fear of the jungle made me a living wreck
Watching the tracers, with their seeking glow
And all I ever wanted was to make you know

Days and nights blend into a messy blur
When it gets hot my words begin to slur
"Say it again!" the radio lights aglow
And all I ever wanted was to make you know

High school was done, we had fun each day
Your hair was long, a strand had gone astray
I reached to fix it, tuck it past your ear
Tried to whisper, my voice was drowned by fear



Last edited by TuneMonger; 06/10/21 11:10 PM.

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Hope you are doing OK these days with Vietnam in your personal history...

I narrowly missed the draft but I saw what the war did to friends of mine...

It really deeply affected our whole generation.

Thanks for putting some words into music for us.

'Lest we forget'


Chris
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Hi Chris,

Thanks for writing. I didn't go to Vietnam, I was in school and then my lottery number was lucky. But I lost classmates. On Memorial Day, my high school listed on facebook the people we lost in Vietnam. It was the memory of those guys that inspired the song. Hope I treated the subject with proper respect.


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Nice melody and arrangement, and Tom did a fine job for you on the vocal. Good writing, putting those feelings and fears into words.

I like what you did at the end, very effective, but the fade could have been a bit longer IMHO.

Good song!

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TuneMonger,

Great presentation on a very tough topic. An excellent lyric as well.

The vocal by Tom was just right and a good crisp mix to top it off.

Excellent all around.

Bob

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Dave, I agree with you about the fade. I will make that change after I see what other suggestions the song gets. Thanks.

Bob Dean, thanks for your kind words.


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"All I ever wanted is to make you know." SO well written, and produced, TuneMonger. Man, you are hitting home with this home run song. I was #262 in the '69 lottery, but many of my friends were not so lucky. I could talk a lot about it, but should stay on topic here. You're really good at writing melody, and this one is another song that urges one to sing along. Excellent lyrics, as always.


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TM,

A poignant write.

Good BAND and arrangement. Good mix.

Very well done.

fj

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Originally Posted By: TuneMonger
I didn't go to Vietnam, I was in school and then my lottery number was lucky. But I lost classmates. On Memorial Day, my high school listed on facebook the people we lost in Vietnam. It was the memory of those guys that inspired the song. Hope I treated the subject with proper respect.


Being intimately familiar and involved with your subject matter, even though you did not participate, you expressed it with "respect".

A sincere write on a sometimes divisive topic.
I have written (2) songs on the subject but they are not BIAB related.
I wouldn't draw attention to them anyway for a couple of reasons.

I'll echo all other comments.
Well done....



Last edited by chulaivet1966; 06/11/21 06:56 AM.
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I narrowly missed the draft, by about a month, I was in Navy boot camp when I got draft papers in the mail, I did end up off the coast of Da Nang on an Aircraft Carrier, but I'll never forget that time in life. MY dad was a disabled vet, and had to have open heart surgery in Long Beach, and I vividly remember seeing wounded soldiers lying on gurneys in the hallways of the hospital, because of a shortage of beds.
Wonderful song, well thought out and simple!!

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Good song. I remember the days of guys dreading that draft lottery and the next day in school you could look at guys and tell where their number stood in the line. Some were lucky and some were not. One heck of a high school graduation party for some.

I was the first generation who didn't have a draft. So what did I do???? Yep, I signed up to the Marines and joined. I was rather fortunate. I'm considered a Vietnam era Vet, but Nam was shutting down and the middle east was just starting to rumble. So I was in the service in between the jungle and the sand box.

I don't regret what I did because it certainly changed the direction I was headed. I didn't enjoy the time in the corps not one bit..... but it let me have the time to get my head on straight and figure a few things out.


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I was a "Vietnam Era" vet and fortunately wasn't called upon to kill. I was busy liberating German gasthouses ( pubs ) while Danny Campo was liberating Biloxi, MS.

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TuneMonger:

Really well put together tune—all the elements come together really well. Like the write a lot and Tom’s vocal is engaging. And that slow down ending was a really nice touch. A sad song, but a good one. Well done!

All my best,

Deej

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Nice job on an important subject.

moto

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Excellent tune TM. I grew up 60 miles north from the US border and felt very fortunate not to have been put through draft. Had one friend go across the border and joined the marines and did not make it home.

Loved the song. Well done


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Powerful write. One that sticks with you. And one that will bring back memories to many who listen.

Tom delivered your song well and your mix sparkles in the good way.
The soundstage is open, airy and has a great live feel.

Excellent!

J&B

PS: I drew 307 in 1969 while in grad school - for the uninitiated a very "safe" number.
Years earlier my good friend left and did not come home.


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Oh man, TuneMonger, that song brings up memories of that time...

I lived near Francfort then and played in a soul band. We were lucky to havea an incredibly nice and unbelievably talented young black GI who was stationed on Rhein-Main as our singer - actualy he was the band, we were just young boys freezing with respect when he sang songs like 'Sittin' On Dock of The Bay'.

And I will never forget those proud feelings I had when he asked me to join him singing Sam & Dave songs like 'You Got Me Humming' and 'You Don't Know Wahat You Mean To Me'..

Aside from playing togoether he often visited me at home, and told me how afraid he was that he might be sent to Viet Nam.

And on one day he was. I have never heard of him ever since - all I could do was hoping that he'd get out of that hell. Normally I'm not so much into memories but he has been in my heart ever since. And your song really made my heart sink again.

Very moving indeed. And very well done.

Take care, everybody,

Stefan

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Swampy ground to write upon but your take on it was nice. Comparisons of lifestyles, different fears and, i some ways, different foes.
The break down for the final section was effective...probably would've been drenched in strings Bobby Goldboro style if it were in 69. I'm glad you were even handed with your arrangement.

Last edited by rayc; 06/13/21 11:14 PM.

Cheers
rayc
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Thanks to everyone who commented on Vietnam Blues. It was interesting to read how the war affected your lives. I wasn't expecting to draw so much conversation on the subject, but I guess it should come as no surprise. So many of us were affected by it, indirectly or otherwise. Stefan's story was particularly compelling. Not to know someone's fate is a tough one. Again, thanks to all who shared their stories.


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Originally Posted By: Crossroads
Aside from playing together he often visited me at home, and told me how afraid he was that he might be sent to Viet Nam. And on one day he was. I have never heard of him ever since - all I could do was hoping that he'd get out of that hell. Normally I'm not so much into memories but he has been in my heart ever since.


Well...if you're genuinely interested?
Go here....type in his full name.

https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/

This site has been upgraded quite a bit since my last visit.

Tunemonger....no hijack intended.

Carry on....

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