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A co-write with Bill Osofsky

The BAND:

RealTracks in style: ~~518:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~365:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 852:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm NashvillePopClean Ev 120 (B:arp)
RealTracks in song: ~~2051:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1762:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Pop16thsArp Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: 1533:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopPowerPushArp Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 2024:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CountryJohn Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1760:Fiddle, Background Pop16ths Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~409:Fiddle, Background George Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven8^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

I played another acoustic guitar track.



BACK IN ATHENS

saw a girl that i used to know last night at the mall
i called out her name but she didn't seem to recognize me at all
guess i got a bit thinner, my hair was now grayer than brown
and here we were a thousand miles from our old hometown.
we chatted a while, then goodbye, a peck on the cheek
she left me with my melting ice cream and that old memory

      it took me back to athens
      when i was single and twenty-one
      drinkin' cold margueritas
      with you in the hot georgia sun
      guess that i'll never forget the way things once had been
      for you and me back in athens.

i traded our green grass for cactus and rocks on the lawn
threw out my old red bulldog sweatshirt, the one you always had on
two golden rings are stuck way in the back of a drawer
along with the pictures i can't bear to see anymore
i started a new life, i thought i'd relearn how to smile
and sometimes i'm better, but way more than once in a while

      i find i'm back in athens
      when i was married and thirty-two
      sittin' out on the porch
      on a clear georgia night with you
      guess that i'll never forget the way things once had been
      for you and me back in athens

i've had a few not so special romances
but i know no one else will ever do
i'm still in love with you.

      my heart goes back to athens
      when i was cryin' and forty-three
      when the lord called your name
      and took you forever from me
      i know i'll never forget the way things once had been
      you and me back in athens
      back in athens



Thanks for listening.
Comments of any kind.
Have at it.

fj

Hi Floyd.
This moves along nicely with your usual smooth vocal and well written lyrics.

I'm a little jealous of you Americans being able to use the name of a town romantically.
I can't imagine a town in the UK used in the same way. I have tried though.

Vic

So far I only read the lyrics, and I must say this is an excellent song. Well, I saw your name on it so I guess I knew that going in. Now I'm gonna listen.

Wow, after listening, I must say I was right. What an incredible mix. You had me laughing at your confession of playing another acoustic guitar. The Style came with 2 and you added 2 more then added your special magic. There's no way to pick out all five of you, but that wonderful mix nullifies the need to search. Everything is so tight. Terrific melody and excellent vocals. The cello was another favorite.

Well, this one got me real good. I was reading the lyrics as the song played, wondering which of them was at fault for the divorce, and then POW! It was a little like that Bruce Willis movie where it turns out he was dead all along. Musically, it sounded great as always. I look at your list of RTs and I gotta think I must be doing something wrong, cuz I don't use that many on a song. I'm sure it's more work to do it that way, but just listen to the results! Fine, fine work.

Like Marty, I read the lyrics first and you tell a wonderful story.
A bit sad, but that's life sometimes.
As always I LOVE your singing and the harmonies you come up with.
Choice of instruments, arrangement and mix are very good, I like how you make all those instruments sound open and wide.


Yeah, I guess 'Upton Snodsbury' wouldn't have the same vibe

A really clever narrative in the wonderful lyrics...you had me wondering, hoping and then shattered the dream of possibilities.
The string addition was subtle and really well placed.
Cool band, lovely vocal and a fab. song.

floyd

Excellent song and a compelling narrative.

The mix with all those instruments is organic and sounds great.

Another in a long list of superb songs.

Peter

BLOODY EARWORM of the best kind.
I was making a cup of tea & the chorus was running through my skull.
I was doing an internet search & the chorus was running through my skull.
I was cleaning & the chorus was running through my skull.

Hey man, a really nice ballad.

Really love the warm feel on this one. Great job to both of you!

Happy New Year.

But come on Vic, what if you were climbing up on Solsbury Hill and you could see the city lights and an eagle flew out of the night?! Wouldn't you grab your things and go back home????

Smooth and mellow.

In fact, so mellow I'd have been caught by surprise by the final chorus... if I hadn't been skimming through the comments and - SPOILER ALERT - Rob hadn't spilled the beans. It's not like the lyrics didn't hint at something, I just didn't expect it to go there.

Excellent vocal - clear and easy to hear through the mix. Emotive as usual.

Good job by you and Bill with the write. Lovely instrumentation.

Then again, there's no way the US could match the quality of something like "West Ham for the CUP!", Muswell Cowboys, Rutland World News or the swank of Chelsea or Carnaby Street.

Always good sir.
Thanks for posting.

Man, such a good write! Ending took me by surprise, very sad.

Great way to start off 2023, wonderful!

Thanks, Vic.




Thanks, Marty....

floyd...you remind me of a high-jumper...just when you think the bar's been set high enough you just keep raising it...this song is so well done in every way...I'm most impressed by how clean the track is...everything sits in it's place perfectly...the lyrics are incredible and tell the story in a engaging way...your vocals are spot-on...I always look forward to your posts...I'm a big fan!!

Another great one Floyd, but this one kicks it up a notch even for one of yours. As always, an impeccable mix and use of the Biab tracks. Fabulously written. The progression of the song and story are done perfectly, picks you up, draws you in and surprises you at the end.

All of the accolades that I was thinking already has been said.

All I can add is that this is one of the best if not the best story ever put to music.

Loved it.

Very nice, Floyd. The ending kind of takes us by surprise.

Very cool story line in the song Floyd. Super vocal and loved the instrumentation and production. Beautiful song.