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#818339 07/31/24 08:12 AM
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vicarn Offline OP
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Well, I'm back after months in the doldrums, procrastinating on what to write about and other worldly things.
Then Mike Leblanc sends me a lyric which gave me more to procrastinate about.
In the original, no moral was mentioned in the lyric so after a month of changing, adding and deducting
I came up with this. It's cut down from about 5 and a half minutes to 4 and a half.
Vic
https://on.soundcloud.com/oh8qo6VLSFemKv6x5

The Moral To The Story
© 2024 M LeBlanc & V Arnold
V1
I put my empire up for sale
I can't rule it any more
The queen of my domain set sail
for some distant shore
When it's your way or the highway
it'll always end the same
the one you love will slip away
and take the blame
V2
All the gold on this old earth
and all the diamonds too
they don't have an ounce of worth
with no one to give them to
all my dreams i tried to fill
were just that, all my own
while your dreams were hard to till
on my field of stone
Pre Chorus
What kind of a man, have I now become
too proud to understand
all the things I've done
Chorus
There's a moral to this story
It's all self explanatory
If you want to live in Heaven
don't be taking more than giving
V3
The years they slowly come and go
I still wonder where you are
Did all your dreams get sowed
or never get that far
Are you a queen without her castle
and me a king without his queen
while every night I wrestle
with the way things could have been
Pre Chorus
Chorus
Inst.
Bridge
Bridges burned, no lessons learned
'til the tolling of the bell
Set up to live in heaven
but we shot it straight to hell
Chorus

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Vic, really nice song! Love your vocals and harmonies. Very Knopfler-esque sound to me, which is a vibe that never gets old.

Great job on the lyrics, especially liked the "moral" passage and rhyming "story" and "explanatory". My attempts to shorten lyrics have not frequently been appreciated, so you have my R-E-S-P-E-C-T.. Well done!

Last edited by DC Ron; 07/31/24 08:55 AM.

DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Man, Vic, I really, really like this. I suppose when looking at it in a vacuum it could seem a little long, but the writing is so good I'm glad you didn't cut anymore out than you did. I really like the story and the feeling of the words as well as the backing track. Excellent.


Brad

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Vic,

This is an absolutely great song. I love the write, arrangement and production. Your vocal and delivery is outstanding.

A new favorite...

Bob

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vicarn Offline OP
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Thanks DC.
Yes, there are always too many words.
Whittle them down to the basic sapling. As long as they still have roots.

Vic

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vicarn Offline OP
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Hi Brad.
What was cut wasn't adding anything.
What was left was added too. Hopefully it all fits.
I'm pleased you liked it.
Thank you very much.

Vic

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Nice job from you both.
Sits on the ear well.
Good BAND choices.

I've wondered for a long time why Mike doesn't come hang out with us here.
He is a BIAB user. too...(or. at least, used to be).
And such a fine word man.

fj

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vicarn Offline OP
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Thank you Bob.
Much appreciated.

Vic

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Great song Vic!

Excellent lyric and performance. Really enjoyed this one!

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vicarn Offline OP
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Thanks Floyd.
I'm not sure why he doesn't hang here either. I did suggest it to him a while back as he did have BIAB some years ago.
He used the auto generate chords feature which never worked out great so that may have something to do with it.

Vic

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vicarn Offline OP
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Hi David and thanks for lending your ears.

Vic

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Vic...a real jewel...really nice track...every element is placed perfectly and enhances the melody...BUT it's the lyric that steals the show...so very well written...there is a moral in this story and part of it is that it takes a great lyric to make a good melody work and you certainly accomplished that here...every aspect of this one is really really well done!


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You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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Thanks for your support, Dan.
Really encouraging to hear.

Vic

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I like your song, good storytelling with great lyrics that I can learn a lot from.
You've made some really good arrangement choices, and your voice and vocals are perfect for the song.
Very good work!

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vicarn Offline OP
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Thanks B.D.
It took me much longer than usual so I hoped it was worth the effort.

Vic

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Very good lyrics and lovely instrumentation in this song.


Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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Vic,

Mike always does a great job on lyrics . . . and you took them and ran, and made something memorable. Excellent job on this, from the write (some great lines throughout), to the vocals, to the arrangement. Very cool tune!!

Deej

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vicarn Offline OP
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Thanks for the support, Waoband.

Vic

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vicarn Offline OP
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Thanks Deej.
I appreciate the listen.

Vic

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Nicely done Vic!! I really like the feel of the song and the feel of your vocal!! Brent's guitar fits very nicely too!! Take care. Greg

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