It's a very sad song. It's amazing that you could write such lyrics at such a young age. The vocals, piano and bass are all wonderful. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
They say third time is the charm. If you like this, your third version, there may be some truth to that old saying. I agree with you that you've done really superb lyrics for the song. As always, the write, performance, and production are top notch. Enjoyed number three.
Floyd, wow, killer song. Super arrangement, great playing on piano/bass, and tasteful accents by BiaB. Crazy good vocals. Can fully understand hanging on to this song for so long, it's something special.
I don't expect that BiaB will soon be able to provide a piano part as delicate and nuanced as what you are playing here. Would love to be wrong, BUT...there are some things perhaps best left to the humans.
GREAT song!.
Ron - thanks for the nice comments. I appreciate the mention of piano - and bass. And those BIAB accents are important - simple and essential. Much appreciated.
Originally Posted by Al-David
Floyd,
What a wonderful lyric. And your vocals are always impeccable. There's so much feeling and emotion in this one.
The piano and bass are simply stellar. The simplicity of the backing tracks says so much with so little effort.
Terrific song and performance. A true gem.
Did you have a particular female vocalist in mind when you wrote this? She's a little later on the country music scene than the time in which you wrote this, but I could hear Jennifer Nettles just tearing this one up.
But, ya know, anything Floyd Jane sings is wonderful, regardless of gendered lyric.
Best to you and yours,
Alan
Thanks a bunch, Alan. It was Prine's "Angel From Montgomery" that gave me the "courage" to write and sing a song from a female perspective. Bonnie Raitt did a heck of a version (as did others), but I always preferred hearing John sing it. Jennifer is an amazing singer. I think Ashley McBride could easily do this. I'd love to hear Mirranda Lambert do it - she makes songs "her own"...
Those things will never happen. I'm happy to have a version that came out the way I envisioned...
Originally Posted by TuneMonger
I agree, Floyd, this is special. Your singing on it cuts right through my heart. Truly sublime.
Number 3 has the magic. Your piano skills have risen in a short time to nothing less than remarkable. I always liked the lyrics and you’ve done a fine job bringing them to life. Your vocals and production are always impressive. Tom
Such a great write, man, if I could write something half this good I would be a happy guy!
I've heard at least one version of this one before I think, good songs stick with you.
Your piano sounds perfect from start to finish, and your vocal is as good as it gets.
Appreciate all of that, Dave...
Originally Posted by camog
Floyd - beautiful lyrics and song, the sparse arrangement fits perfectly. The timing & phrasing are impeccable - your voice so unique and like none other, a really classy mix too. Well worth the re-do even after 45 years - majestic job!!
Best wishes, Carl
Thanks, Carl. Glad you stopped by....
Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
I remember when you asked for those RealTracks (sparse, with few chords and some arpeggios, and I added my vote of course), and you do the same thing I do, you just play those piano parts yourself, and you do it REALLY well. The piano track alone sells the song for me already. The heartbreaking outro Not only one of your best lyrics, but your vocals themselves are fantastic and dripping with emotion. Amazing song! Pitch this song to a well known artist (like John Legend or Adele) and it'll chart high and long!
Thanks, B.D. I appreciate the mention of the piano. If you run into John or A. - share the link so they will know where to find it....
Sadest song I have heard for a long time, but so beautiful and so true. Specially I liked, that you trusted to your story and vocals and let the backing just to piano and bass and was there some cello as well, but anyway they let the listener to listen to the story and just underlined the mood. Thank you. If this song would have been produced by some big recording company, I bet they would have spoiled it with to much production.
Hey this is a very cool, plaintive song and the piano is nice, really adds a beautiful flavor.
Fits somewhere between Billy Joel and Tom Waits for me. Really liked it.
Someday I would like to smoke a carton of Lucky Strikes and ask permission to cover this.
Adele?
Uh, no.
Closing Time.
Straight up. With an empty bottle of rye on the piano, recently consumed. The stench of cigarette smoke lingering. Pasties and a g-string nearby. And yes I have a drinking problem. I'm all out of alcohol.
The piano's been drinking not me.
😆
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
This line portrays her hopelessness so well: "LIfe’s just a b-movie with no back door”
Your piano is wonderful - as Janice said, the nuances in your playing are like your vocal phrasing that so perfectly match the lyric sentiment. Your well chosen sparse bass lines are very supportive.
No more parsing out …simply stated it’s a top bar production by any measure.
Most enjoyable!
J&B
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
WOW ~!! and I mean that sincerely. That is one of the songs you pull off the road to turn up on your car radio to listen to. That is Grammy level lyrics, a Kacy Musgraves would win song of the year with.
Great songwriting is a Movie Script told in 3 minutes, and you certainly did that with this one.
Oh, I would definitely caution anyone who passes on this becaue they've heard it before. They haven't. That piano is strong and perfect and so well recorded. Yeah, you still have the best vocal anyone could hope to have on record, and write the best lyrics that folks of any kind could relate to, but now you add more outstanding layers of talent. I love how you present this with this stripped down backing. Very moving, Floyd.
Marty - thanks so much for the notes on the piano. And all those other very nice words!
Originally Posted by laurent4114
A beautiful song carried by a great voice. When we sing for those who have nothing but who are not nothing. Laurent
Thanks, Laurent (that's a good line. If it is yours and you haven't written that song, you should)
Originally Posted by MarioD
Floyd, real life in a song - brilliant The lyrics are some of if not the best you have ever written. Super piano - I had to DL some emotional piano MIDI loops to get some songwriters piano. Outstanding work - loved it.
"they say to set your sights on the highest star that's just to keep you from seeing where you really are"
... wow.
Perfect arrangement, your voice sounding at its very best, lyrics to cry at ... easily one of your very, very best.
You are that rare beast ... a singer-songwriter with something to say, who knows how to say it. Keep 'em coming ... I'm certainly listening to that which you have to say. Listening and in awe at what I hear.
Such nice things you say, James. Thank you.
Originally Posted by WaoBand
Very sad but excellent lyrics. The minimal instrumentation in this song really works for it. I've not heard it before.
Thanks, Chay.
Originally Posted by vicarn
Well well, Floyd! Wonderful lyric and masterfully arranged. Well performed and well done on learning the piano.
"I wrote this song 45 years ago. I still consider it one of the best lyrics I've written." I can see why you would...this is a lyrical masterpiece IMHO...love the passion and the angst...the piano you used was very realistic...only took me forty years to learn to play almost that good...sooooo \good!
I very much appreciate these comments, Dan.
Originally Posted by rayc
The melody, arrangement, comitment and narrative have a lot in common with At 17 era Janis Ian...a really cool thing in my ears. Stellar. Piano, bass n vocals - you own it.
That means a lot to me, ray. thanks Janis Ian deserved a LOT more attention. One of the finest songwriters ever. Appreciate the mention on piano and bass...
Originally Posted by Ezekiel's Storm
Poignant lyrics. Yes, one of your tops. No need for an RT. Your piano is so emotive. I can see some established female singer performing this piece. I'm going back now for another listen.
It's a very sad song. It's amazing that you could write such lyrics at such a young age. The vocals, piano and bass are all wonderful. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
Shigeki Adachi - thank you...
Originally Posted by Scott C
Loved the piano framing your vocal Floyd. Gave the song a very delicate feel. Perfectly fits the lyric...
Thanks for that, Scott...
Originally Posted by tommyad
Number 3 has the magic. Your piano skills have risen in a short time to nothing less than remarkable. I always liked the lyrics and you’ve done a fine job bringing them to life. Your vocals and production are always impressive. Tom
Thanks, Tom. Appreciate the comments on piano...
Originally Posted by dcuny
Hi, fj.
Excellent song - not ear candy, but holds up well to repeated listening. Good story, excellent singing (as always).
Hey this is a very cool, plaintive song and the piano is nice, really adds a beautiful flavor.
Fits somewhere between Billy Joel and Tom Waits for me. Really liked it.
Someday I would like to smoke a carton of Lucky Strikes and ask permission to cover this.
Adele?
Uh, no.
Closing Time.
Straight up. With an empty bottle of rye on the piano, recently consumed. The stench of cigarette smoke lingering. Pasties and a g-string nearby. And yes I have a drinking problem. I'm all out of alcohol.
The piano's been drinking not me.
😆
I am truly looking forward to That cover!
As the bouncer is a sumo wrestler cream-puff Casper milktoast And the owner is a mental midget with the i.q. of a fence post
Originally Posted by Janice & Bud
This line portrays her hopelessness so well: "LIfe’s just a b-movie with no back door”
Your piano is wonderful - as Janice said, the nuances in your playing are like your vocal phrasing that so perfectly match the lyric sentiment. Your well chosen sparse bass lines are very supportive.
No more parsing out …simply stated it’s a top bar production by any measure.
Most enjoyable!
J&B
Thanks! Especially appreciative of the piano comments.
WOW ~!! and I mean that sincerely. That is one of the songs you pull off the road to turn up on your car radio to listen to. That is Grammy level lyrics, a Kacy Musgraves would win song of the year with.
Great songwriting is a Movie Script told in 3 minutes, and you certainly did that with this one.
Thanks, Elliot. One of the best comments I've ever recieved...
Originally Posted by HogTime
Wow, what a song! Great lyrics and very soulful piano playing. I really like "story" songs and this is a great one!
Hi floyd. I remember this song from the past. I'm really glad that you decided to give it another round. This such awesome music-crafting. These lyrics are poignant and powerful, and time has not diminished them in any way whatsoever. I find them so easy to relate to. I've known a number of people across the decades who have been in a similar situation as the waitress in your song. With a different roll of Life's dice, I could easily have been in a similar situation myself. As I'm sitting here listening to you sing, I can't help but reflect on how lucky I have been to get to where I am despite the challenges that have come along.
As always, you have done a superb job with every aspect of the song, its creation and its presentation. --Noel
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
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