PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase What About Tomorrow

What About Tomorrow


One of my neighbors is going through a hard time. Her relationship with her guy seems to be losing steam. She commented to me yesterday that when she's with him, it's wonderful. But she's not sure he shares the same joy as much. She wonders about his long-term commitment. She said she always wonders if he'll be back tomorrow.

I know she's a big country music fan, particularly country music of the 80s and 90s and is fond of pedal steel. So I went home last night and put this together for her. I'll take copy of it to her this evening. Hope she likes it.

I, too, am a huge fan of the pedal steel. I don't think it gets enough attention in todays country music.



A little about how I composed this based solely around the ten-minute conversation I had with her:

The verses are supposed to tell the story. I used mostlty major chords to express her ability to cope and keep a relatively strong outer appearance while yet subtly alluding to to deeper concerns.

A chorus is supposed to gather and reflect the results of the cumulative messages in the verses in a more cohesive and pronounced manner. You might say a chorus augments and fills in the blanks left in the verses. So, I constructed the chorus to capture her inner sadness via the minor chords and a stronger bass line for empasis. The drums are also a little fuller.

The ending came across as a bit anti-climatic when I listened to this rendering the first time. I thought about doing another rendering with a more difinitive ending. But, as I thought about it more, I concluded I, indeed, had the perfect ending as it was. The end of her days leave her with the insecurity of the relationship possibly not continuing, sort of a nothing, nowhere feeling - nothing solid to look forward too. I then thought this simple ending captured that feeling of nothingness and despair. So I kept it.

Also, the snare drum is a bit loud throughout. That's intentional. I thought it might represent how her heart pounds as her insecurity presses on her day and night.

Sorry for the litany. But I though some of you might be interested in an example of how I write themed-based and spec songs. Regardless, hope you might enjoy my 6 hours of work with this result.


I replaced the drums from the style. I added the pedal steel. I added a second drum track for the choruses.

The pedal steel track is by Paul Franklin. From the late 80s through recent years, he's been one of the favorites on Nashville's A- List of steel players for session work. I've always admired him.

Thanks for listening, if you do.

Alan