Ok ... updated. I bumped it up from F# to G (I thought I had it in F at first but ... anyway, bumped it up because my voice could handle another half step, it puts it in G so it'll be easy for me to play on the git-tar, and it puts me closer to the coveted Steve Perry Range). Then I completely redid the vocals with some new "feelz", taking some of Ray's advice, suppressing the piano during the vocals and adding some variety to the "chorus" ... which amounts to the word "fissure". Also toned down the reverb a tad.

I did a cover of Ace's "How Long" once, and I saw someone comment on ... in the outtro, Paul Carack never sang the phrase twice quite the same way.

First one is the updated track, the second is what I uploaded last night. Or there's a video, if you prefer :-)

Fissure (updated)
Fissure (Video)

Fissure (first crack)
****** Song Summary *************
Title: Fissure
File:fissure.SGU
Key=D , Tempo 80, Length (m:s)=2:42
No intro. 52 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 52. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
Soloist track has 495 notes, Soloist harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _SVELTE.STY (Svelte Gospel Americana)

RealTracks in style: 2877:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060
RealTracks in song: 1729:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment PopBalladJohn Ev 110
RealDrums [in style:PraiseWorshipSlow16ths^3-a:Kick, Hihat , b:Snare 2 and 4


I haven't written a song in over a year. I guess after I finished my album I took ... mostly ... a hiatus. That was a lot of work. I did write a parody float trip song and then a song about my relative skill (or lack thereof) on the guitar... that was the last one I wrote. I had just been lamenting this and trying to come up with an inspiration for a song ... when a quite unwelcomed one fell into my lap.

This song is actually a bit of therapy for me. Son and daughter-in-law are getting a divorce. This almost happened 12 years ago, which fomented another song of mine, but this time it's happening. But here's the deal. We love our daughter-in-law like a real daughter. She's integrated herself into our family... we're actually close with her parents, her maternal grandmother, and an aunt and uncle of hers. I am certain we will remain close with her and hopefully her parents and aunt and uncle. And we will do our best to make sure our grandkids are well supported.

Where THIS song came from was ... from me imagining what it's going to be like at holiday dinners, which are precious to our family ... without her there. Because it would be weird for our son, probably, to invite her, too ... obviously. This creates a discontinuity in the family structure, and that is not a fun thing. At all. She is a lovely person. We love her to the moon and back.

Pretty simple accompaniment here. I went for a style, and nuked the piano for a particular solo style I'd used before and thought would fit, and it's about perfect for the song.

The only thing better would be for Steve Perry to be singing it instead of me. :-)

Last edited by Phil Leith; 08/28/22 05:08 PM.