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#834635 12/18/24 07:44 AM
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Christmas time.... a time of joy and family. But for those who have lost friends and family and spouses, it's often a sad, painful, lonely time of the year.

"It's always hard getting though, Christmas without you."

My cowriter on this, Patricia Bishop was the one who came to me with the idea to write this song. This was very personal to her.

I hope you enjoy this different look at Christmas.

Musically: This is essentially Band in A Box Real Tracks for bass, steel, drums, fiddle, and some of the other parts. I played the piano and mandolin if I recall correctly.


Christmas Without You


Thanks for listening.


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Herb, nicely done! Love the acoustic band and your vocals are appropriately plaintive. The fiddle break was a nice touch.

This will be our first Christmas morning in 25 years without our son. So a relatable sentiment. Christmas can bring all kinds of conflicting feelings for sure...


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Originally Posted by DC Ron
Herb, nicely done! Love the acoustic band and your vocals are appropriately plaintive. The fiddle break was a nice touch.

This will be our first Christmas morning in 25 years without our son. So a relatable sentiment. Christmas can bring all kinds of conflicting feelings for sure...

Indeed..... our kids are grown up and moved away. So it's no longer the same as it was. Face time just isn't being in the same room.

Thanks for listening. to the song.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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Wow Herb. Really nailed this one. Great write and it's a top notch melody with melancholy and memories to boot. This is really good. Enjoyed it from start to finish.


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I understand that sentiment.
A house full of kids to a house for two.
Very nicely sad.

Vic

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Herb,

Poignant and beautiful…

So well written and performed.

Bob

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Really beautiful song Herb.

Superb production and really great vocals too.

Well done.

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Herb this is one fantastic song.
Outstanding vocal and lyrics.
Great backing band and arrangement.
Super mix
A great song that many of us can relate.


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Hi, Herb.

Excellent all around - the write, the vocal, and the production.

Really nice. smile


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Yep, you got it, Herb & Patricia Bishop. A sensational song with compassion. So well done. Yeah, dig that mando, man. It adds just the right touch. A pro prodcution all the way.


Enjoy whatever happens!
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Nicely done, Herb. Touching. I like this a lot !


Paul

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Herb and Patricia...beautiful and touching....lovely track and lyric...love the piano and the fiddle solo stands out perfectly...fantastic melody! great vocal performance as well...loved it! Merry Christmas.


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The tender lyric and vocal performance well deliver the sentiment.
The session guys and your mandolin and piano support are very good
As Bob said, poignant

Well done,

J&B


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Hello Herb
A very nice song
Emotionally sung and presented
A nice idea to make such a good song on the subject
Great production
Wish you and your loved ones a great and healthy new year 2025
Andi ;-)

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Herb,

I can identify with this. My brother died a couple of years ago and our son passed away in 2015. between my wife and me, we've buried three children. That first year afterwards, all the holidays and celebrations were difficult. Still are at times.

This is a wonderful song that addresses the topic with a sense of strength and reckoning as much as possible.

Your vocal is excellnt, and the backing tracks came together like a terrific 'live" band.

Great hob by you and Patricia.

Last edited by Al-David; 12/28/24 01:05 PM.

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