PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase OUR JERUSALEM_Gayle and David Snyder

So back in the early fall, Gayle and I were walking around a lake near Charlotte and just as we passed by a boathouse, we came up with a song idea: Our Jerusalem. The idea was that Jerusalem would be a metaphor and could mean something different to every listener, of every faith and background.

By the time we circled back to the boathouse, the song was basically done. We had a sound in our head we wanted and I can't believe that BIAB actually enabled us to realize exactly what we were imagining plus some. That simply would not have been possible in any way without this software.

On the vocals, the main sound of the vocals doesn't come from effects (though I used some on one vocal track) but from the effect of stacking Gayle's raw vocals. She sang the chorus like 10 or 12 times all the way through, and then another 5 or 6 times each on a few snippets in the chorus. I stacked all of them so there are maybe 15-18 or so different tracks piled on top of one another in the chorus. I think ABBA might have done that on some songs because it is sounding kinda ABBA-ish in parts. There weren't too many instruments but I kept piling on strings and synths in layers as it went on. I saved a BIAB piano as midi and ran it though the Abbey Road Grand. Hope you enjoy.

Happy Holidays.

Our Jerusalem

by Gayle and David Snyder

https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs4/our-jerusalem


V1. In this kind of world we have
It's hard to tell who is your friend
But everybody knows they have
Something precious to defend

Pre-Ch You guard it with your faith and fight
When you must guard it with your hands

CH

And in their heart everybody knows
This ancient story, this sacred hymn
God make us brave and help us save what we love (cause)
It's our Jerusalem

V2. It might be the name of God
It might be your family
So you will fight or you will die
For this most precious thing you see

Pre-Ch. You guard it with your heart all night
Just like it was your promised land

CH

And in their heart everybody knows
This ancient story, this sacred hymn
God make us brave God help us save what we love (cause)
It's our Jerusalem

Bridge

You gotta guard your heart, you gotta guard the things you love
You gotta plant your flag, you gotta claim your promised land
You gotta take a stand, stand and fight for what you dream
You gotta guard your heart, you gotta plant your flag
You gotta fight, 'till you hold it in your hand

Pre-CH You guard it with your heart all night
Just like it was your promised land

CH And in their heart everybody knows
This ancient story, this sacred hymn
God make us brave God help us save what we love (cause)
It's our Jerusalem

Words and Music by Gayle and David Snyder, copyright 2024. All rights reserved. ASCAP/Day of Faith Records

David Snyder: Production, Engineering, Instrumentation, Mixing and Mastering

RealTracks in style: 366:Bass, Electric, Country Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 891:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment PopLiverpool Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 870:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernRnBRockWarmQuarters Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~703:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Spirited Ev 085
RealDrums in style:NashvilleBrushesBalladPushEv16: a: Sidestick, Brushes b: Brushes

David and Gayle, well, yesterday we went on a lovely hike along the old canal towpath but didn't come up with anything nearly this cool. Ha!

Like your universal theme a lot, and ya'll have made it very easy to slide into a relatable interpretation. Tres cool.

The band sounds GREAT. All the instruments are in balance, and the mix/master is very clean.

Like the stacked vocals FX on the vocals. Nice how you've allowed a dominant take to shine while using the stacked voices to act like overtones.

Really nice vocals, Gayle! Nice balance in singing with conviction without sounding preachy. (This is a good thing, at least to me, and hard to do with this many "you gotta" lyrics.)

SOooo....AWESOME and original Christmas tune!

We'll be driving through Charlotte Christmas day and thinking of you and this song.

Merry Christmas!

Ron

David & Gayle,

Powerful and beautiful... Love the vocal and production.

Everything about this is just excellent.

Bob

Thank you for your beautiful song David. I wish you a wonderful Christmas to you, your wife and all your family.
Laurent

David and Gayle, this is an excellent song.
Great vocal
Super arrangement
A new Christmas song
Have a Merry Christmas

Thanks DC!

Very sweet. We are so glad you enjoyed it.

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!

Hi, David.

Another anthem! You and Gayle nailed it.

The only thing it lacks is a piccolo trumpet playing over the ending.

David, you and Gayle should walk around that lake at least one a week. We here will benefit with each step. What a wonderful production with some amazing stacks of music, and a passionate vocal, excellent lyrics from a very good idea. And it all started with two very creative minds out for a walk Everyone has a Jerusalem. Merry Christmas.

David and Gayle...I love the concept and the idea of Jerusalem as a metaphor and your arrangement is really the only way to present it properly...as David (Cuny) said "an anthem" powerful and majestic...well written and sung beautifully...inspired and inspiring...stacking vocals is a great way to create chorusing effects without adding artificial ghosts in the mix...well done!

Thank you Bob!

I appreciate that man. Means a lot!!

Happy Holidays!!

Hey thanks Laurent,

Really appreciate that! Happy Holidays!

Gayle and David,

Love the concept and implementation of your idea! You both did an awesome job here! That piano sounds awesome! An overall great production! Thanks, TB

Hey Mario,

Thanks so much my friend. So glad you enjoyed it!

Merry Christmas!!

Such a soaring sound you created! I dig that chorus. Good production.

Merry Christmas, David and Gayle!

Hi David and Gayle.

This is excellent listening.
I love the production.
With both production and content, the two of you have really nailed the theme.
Kudos on a creation that was really well done

I hope you and your family have a satisfying Christmas.
--Noel

Gayle and David,

Simply beautiful! The lyric leaves ample room for each listener to create his/her own appreciation of the song as it plays for them individually. Glad that wasn't even slightly redundant!

Gorgeous backing tracks to nestle Gayle's wonderful delivery. The stacked vocals are perfectly blended - full but not overpowering to the rest of the soundstage

Nicely dome in all respects. it was a joyous listen.

Merry Christmas to you & yours.

Alan

Hello Gayle and David
wonderful song that immediately captivates you.
Excellent production with great vocals and a super sound.
Great work
Wish you also great holidays and a healthy 2025
Andi ;-)

Classic start with enjoyable piano and vocals combination. Strong lyrics work in several contexts, "You gotta take a stand, stand and fight for what you dream" is very universal message. Anthemic melody. Great hymn for this time of year and "this kind of world" to defend what is precious.

Janne

Nice that you can make music together.
Good backing, pleasant vocals.
Nicely mixed.

fj

Good song, and a great idea to use Jerusalem as a metaphor.
I like the chords you chose and your wife's vocal performance, although I like her voice better without all the stacked layers.
Good work!