Hi, all:

Well, after some time of silence posting minimal songs these past few months, I’m making a year end rush . . . and I’m not sure where it’s coming from . . . other than from a desire to end the year better than it has gone.

If I’m posting too fast, too soon . . . please call me out. My goal was to get out this last song before year end (also knowing there’s one more collaboration coming shortly . . . though not one I will post . . . yes, that’s what they call a teaser.). As I have family coming in for the Christmas Holiday in coming days, I am at deadline’s end . . . so here’s my last post of the year.

This song—“Same As You Inside”—was the very first song I collaborated on with someone else. In this case, John Vaughan, a lyricist I subsequently wrote many a song with. Though written six years ago, and having done many a collaboration since, it remains one of the favorites I have ever done with someone. It’s rare when I collaborate with a lyricist where I don’t work my will with the lyrics a tad or more . . . but I’m pretty sure I didn’t touch a word on this one.

John was inspired to write the song after seeing a news report about a young girl with a facial disfigurement that was being bullied at school. But for me, it’s always been about anyone who is seen as being different and outside the norm, who is ostracized only for being who they are, who always feel they are on the outside looking in, but who nevertheless, in their mind, heart and soul, are simply as good, as wonderful, and as beautiful as each of us are on the inside.

I originally wrote the music to John’s lyrics before I was introduced to BIAB, and so recorded only an acoustic guitar-vocal version of this. As rudimentary as it was, it nevertheless received a couple plays on U.K. radio, including on BBC Cumbria.

But I’ve always wanted to do a BIAB version of it . . . and I finally have . . . I hope I’ve done it some justice.

For those who want to hear the original acoustic version, it’s on my SoundCloud page still, but I won’t link to it. I want this version to stand on its own (. . . and no one needs to hear my lackluster guitar playing and rudimentary production on that version, LOL).

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday, and hope you all come well into the New Year.

God bless you all,

Deej

Here’s the song:

SAME AS YOU INSIDE

Here’s the lyric:

Actually, given the length of my introductory post, I’ll refer you to SoundCloud for the lyrics.

And here’s the band:

RealTracks 518: Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes
RealTracks 2024: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CountryJohn
RealTracks 2718: Guitar, Nylon, Fingerpicking
RealTracks 2338: Violin, Background, PopLow
RealTracks 2799: Flute, Background CroonerBallad
RealDrums: NashvilleEven8^1