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I posted this song about 10 years ago. It was written well before that (1979). I was never completely satisfied with the piano track. In my opinion, BIAB is lacking when it comes to "singer-songwriter style piano RTs". I've requested that more be added. Hoping that that happens in the next release. If you want to "add your voice" go here: https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=765983&page=1Since it has been 10 years, I decided to walk my way through all the piano RTs to see if any added in the last 10 years would do the trick. I did find ONE piano RT that gets closer to what I'm looking for. I think there should be a LOT more - therefore, the wishlist item The BAND... MIDI SuperTracks in song: 3674:Piano, Rhythm NewAgeArp16 Ev16 090 RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev RealTracks in song: 1173:Accordion, Rhythm PopCalypso Ev 100 The piano MST is rendered using Adictive Keys Studio Grand. A waitress I knew told me her story. I made it rhyme. CHOKING i've been here since ten this morning there's no end in sight just my luck, i get stuck with all the drunks tonight when it comes to talking troubles i might raise my voice i'm working as a waitress cause i've got no choice my feet hurt so badly i can barely stand that busboy's so damn lazy he won't lend a hand another dollar tip another pack of kents i'd quit right now if i knew how else to pay my rent sometimes i wonder what it's all for life's just a b-movie with no back door is this someone's idea of a clever joke since i was seventeen i've been choking my old man past away seven years it's been a heart attack at fifty-two his job did him in you bust your [*****] all your life but it never pays he left me here with nothing but three kids to raise i'm forty-six tommorow you think my children care it gets to where you count on them not being there they say to set your sights on the highest star that's just to keep you from seeing where you really are sometimes i wonder what it's all for life's just a b-movie with no back door is this someone's idea of a clever joke since i was seventeen i've been choking... Have a smoke. A cup of coffee. A listen. fj
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Really emotional singing ... gets under my skin.
Vocals with piano and sparse strings always touch me when done right (think Adele).
Great!
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A sad look at the gritty side of life.
you think my children care
it gets to where you count on them not being there
Wow.... Powerful words.
Great job.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Floyd,
I remember this song. It's as powerful now as it was 10 years ago.
I love the "band" and your vocal is outstanding. Excellent production.
A beautiful piece of music...
Bob
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The chorus - a definitive essay on adult life in four lines.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Great lyrics. One of your best in my opinion.
Sums up the grim existence of many of us.
I agree about the lack of singer songwriter real tracks, especially in 3/4 time.
Vic
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Oh, please let there be an update to this story, this life. So sad, so relatable. Love the stripped down band. Everything adds its own touch of tenderness, and you've mixed them masterfully. Yes, she wasn't just choking on the smoke. Kents.
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Wow, what a powerful song! Just an amazing write, with perfect delivery.
Very moving, Floyd.
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Really emotional singing ... gets under my skin.
Vocals with piano and sparse strings always touch me when done right (think Adele).
Great! Thanks, B.D. A sad look at the gritty side of life.
you think my children care
it gets to where you count on them not being there
Wow.... Powerful words.
Great job.
Thanks, Herb Floyd,
I remember this song. It's as powerful now as it was 10 years ago.
I love the "band" and your vocal is outstanding. Excellent production.
A beautiful piece of music...
Bob Thanks, Bob
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Floyd, I think this is really nice, howbeit very sad, which was your intention, I know. I thought the piano was fine, but since you play you might just do it yourself. For me, I find I just can't get the precise feeling I am looking for on upfront melodic piano unless I do it myself, especially if I am going for "haunting" and the piano is in the foreground. FWIIW and YMMV etc etc.. 
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Floyd...poignant and powerful...you constructed a very appropriate and convincing piano track IMO...though I do agree that all of the keyboard tracks are much more difficult to work with than the guitar real tracks in BiaB....that being said this is a beautiful piece...the lyric is the star here...a sad and beautiful story wrapped in a tender and haunting melody...it's another masterpiece and instantly one of my favorites of yours...as a writer/composer you always keep the bar high for the rest of us to emulate (if that were possible)...Dan
www.soundclick.com/firesongBiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10 You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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Floyd, what a powerful song about many whom are trying to make it in today's world.
This hit home as we have family members in similar situations.
Outstanding lyrics and an excellent backing band.
One of your absolute best.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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floyd
A powerful sad but haunting song. Especially nice use of the accordion.
Superb work, and an excellent vocal as always.
Peter
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Wow. That's some write.
you think my children care
it gets to where you count on them
not being there
Yes, the piano fits well. Cello is great, and the accordion is a great substitute for string swells. I has listening through the example solo pianos tracks you linked to, and I noticed that an intimate string section with swells was used quite often.
And of course, everything else is stellar as well.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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FJ,
Common subject -> Extraordinary performance! You conveyed waitress story very well. Excellent write in all respects. Accordion was a treat. Definitely one of your top songs. Two spins, sounds great. Mix is spotless. Thank you for sharing,
Misha.
P.S. I see what you mean by pianos. Wil head over wish section now.
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Wow.
This is one of those songs that when the performance is over, the audience is dead silent for a moment before they erupt in applause. The song pulls hard at your heart.
I love the minimal instrumentation. I think the piano works, fitting the mood of the song.
One of your best, and you have a lot of best.
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Wow so much emotion Floyd. The vocal and the piano just filled the room with a very emotional song. Really well done.
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The chorus - a definitive essay on adult life in four lines. I MUCH appreciate that comment. Great lyrics. One of your best in my opinion.
Sums up the grim existence of many of us.
I agree about the lack of singer songwriter real tracks, especially in 3/4 time.
Vic Thanks, Vic...
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Oh, please let there be an update to this story, this life. So sad, so relatable. Love the stripped down band. Everything adds its own touch of tenderness, and you've mixed them masterfully. Yes, she wasn't just choking on the smoke. Kents. I never stick around long enough to find out how it turns out. I'm thinking you'll need to do the follow-up (you do "sunny" well - so you can have her find-her-way) Looking forward to that. I want it to be JUST Bass and percussion and vocal. Get to work.  Wow, what a powerful song! Just an amazing write, with perfect delivery.
Very moving, Floyd.
Thanks, Dave...
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“they say to set your sights
on the highest star
that's just to keep you from seeing
where you really are”
The above lines AND the way you sang them are powerful. Emotive to the max.
We remember this song and it still is “stronger than a garlic milkshake!”
The cello and accordion sound excellent. Whatever manipulations you did with the piano it sounds great in what's played and also the applied grand sound.
The vocal and lyric are stellar.
We hope that waitress if she's still with us is having a better life these days.
Awesome!
J&B
PS. We love your album cover!
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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