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"Charlie's World"
**Backstory Below**
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Welcome to Charlie's world--
It's magic;
And here in Charlie's world,
You'll see the stars.
The moon's about a mile high;
The planets passing by;
And Charlie isn't crying anymore.

You stand in Charlie's world,
And you're staring;
Welcome to Charlie's world,
I can't go far;
My feet will never touch the ground,
And there's the constant sound
This steel prison's quiet, endless roar.

Although I'm sleeping from neck down,
I'm alive to sight and sound;
And I sail in my machine
Like an iron submarine;
This life is mine, and I wouldn't give it up,
As I lie here, dreaming..

<solo section>

This life is mine, and I wouldn't give it up,
As I lie here, dreaming..

Come into Charlie's world
And be daring;
'Cause here in Charlie's world
You won't go far;
Your feet will never touch the ground,
And there's the constant sound
The lovely prison's quiet, endless roar.

Although I'm sleeping from neck down,
I'm alive to sight and sound;
Nothing but sunshine in my heart,
And so I tell you---
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive!
==================================
SLOWSOUL.STY. Slow Soul - Smooth Jazz - Soulful
<Piano, Electric, Rhythm SmoothBallad Ev16 065>
<Bass, Electric, SmoothBallad Ev16 065>
<SmoothJazzBallad^1-XStHHt,SnRide> RealDrums
RT1060 Sax Solo
Midi Strings
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Back Story:
As a child in the 1950's, Polio was a definite "thing", and the idea of iron lungs was real. I stumbled on the story of Paul Alexander, who until recently was the longest-living person in an iron lung. Extremely accomplished and incredibly positive, he wrote his memoirs: "Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung" by typing with a stick held in his mouth. I was telling an acquaintance about just having completed reading this book and, incredibly, he told me, "my father lived in an iron lung"...!! I was stunned, and asked him to tell me the story. He told me about his father, 'Charlie'...again, incredibly, my father's name is also 'Charlie'. I have found that when you are hit with unbelievable coincidences like this, there's the root of a song. "Charlie's World" borrows our fathers' name, applied to the story of Paul Alexander. If you also grew up during the "polio years", you'd find his real story fascinating.

I grew up that era. (late 40s and the 50s) I'm an extreme claustrophobe and would not be able to do that. God bless those who were remanded to such a life.

You sure did catch the aura of such a life with your music. This is an exceptional song in a genre we don't have the opportunity to hear on the forum. Every line of the lyric captures the true essence of the experience Charlie endured. Your vocal and the sax are perfect for the story and the musical backing.

Perhaps just a slight more reverb on the vocal and the sax would even add more to the aura of the listener. Regardless, it's wonderful song and your vocal is so perfect for the delivery of the message.

Great story. Great song! Loved it!!!

Alan

I was instantly drawn in by the title alone, Lol, This is very good and a smooth performance.

Charlie

This is a very beautiful song. It reminds me of Mickael Franks' style. It's remarkable and the voice is magnificent.
Laurent

Very original and inspirational. Love the progression, melody and arrangement. Nice use of BiaB instruments. Super vocals. Am thinking there's a better vocal FX chain than what you are using, as there's a fair amount of sibilance and buzzing artifacts that you may wish to dial down. Doesn't detract from the tune though, it's dynamite!

Alan, Charlie, Laurent, Ron..thanks for taking a listen...I appreciate all the feedback!

Very nicely done! Quite the backstory too, can't even begin to imagine what that would be like.

Thanks for the feedback, Dave.

Tom, what a fantastic song. You sang a touching vocal about an unusual but difficult topic.
Super backing band and mix.
Excellent work - one of your best.

Thanks, Mario!

Give you a Wow for this one. Great song inspiration, Lyrics were so poignant. Singing was pretty good, too. I think you are in the same boat as me vocally. Nobody will ever confuse either of us for Greg Johnson. But your vox really shined on this one - they were perfect for the subject matter. Sax was so comfortable. When I was a kid, whenever my mother and I would pass a kid in leg braces, she would always say, "God bless the mark." Scared me. Then the sugar cube vaccine came out in 1963. I took it and no more worries.

Thanks TuneMonger...to anyone who grew up in that era-- "don't drink dirty water!" "don't play in the gutter!" Parents were terrified.

I remember the media response to the Salk vaccine - I remember taking the oral vaccine at school too. Everyone embraced it, marveled and surged forward. Those who suffered & survived sometimes succumbed to a re visitation in later life.
A disease spread by improved, but not great, hygiene and defeated, in the 1st world, by improved hygiene & a vaccine - ie" SCIENCE.
The song is sweet and essays the topic sensitively.
Well done & THANKS.

Thanks Ray..I appreciate your comments.

Powerful!

"Although I'm sleeping from neck down,
I'm alive to sight and sound;
And I sail in my machine
Like an iron submarine;
This life is mine, and I wouldn't give it up,
As I lie here, dreaming.."

That is powerful. I, Bud, I also grew up in that era and remember my parents telling me about a child my age who had contracted polio.
Scary for kids along with the nuclear scares of the time. Janice is younger than me but well understands the era.

Your smooth vocal and the mellow band well delivered the narrative.
It needed no more and no less.

Well done and enjoyed by us,

J&B

Yes, my dinosaur friend, I remember polio and the iron lung. Also read some about Charlie. I remember imagining what life would be like. Using nothing but your brain could either produce amazingly creative output, or drive an intelligent mind crazy.

Man, this song is so well-written, and what a cool way to present the tribute. That sax is such an excellent choice. Listened a couple of times. What a wonderful voice you have, Tom, and you mix it in so well.

I remember the kids that were affected by polio when I was growing. Was lucky never got infected by it. Thanks for the vaccines we got as children in school.

Beautiful song. Excellent vocal and lyric. Very cool instrumentation. Well done

J&B, Marty, Scott.. thanks for listening and your kind comments!