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I wrote this with struggling songwriters in mind, as it is not easy to get your material listened to let alone get it to the right person!!

For some reason I think it has some Dr Hook vibes in there (not that I am any Shell Silverstein!! )

Words/Music:- (c) PMcNaught 2025
Track produced in BIAB 2025
Vocal/Harmony Vocals :- P McNaught
Mixed/Edited in Mixcraft Pro Studio 10
Mastering in AAMS

Thanks for listening

Pete





Down On Music Row

[Verse]
He's got an old guitar strapped on his back,
A notebook that's filled with every heart-felt track.
Drove down I-40 with a dream rising in his chest,
Trying to make it where the best meet the best.

[Verse 2]
Sits in a café, orders coffee plain,
Writes down his storys of joy and of pain.
Pitches his lyrics, knocks on every door,
Most just say, "Son, we’ve heard that before."

[Chorus]
But he keeps chasing, keeps playing,
Though the neon lights are fading.
Every “no” another fire he's gonna burn.
They say it’s a fool's game,
But he’s staking his own name,
For that one big break he’s still trying to earn.

[Verse 3]
A big-shot producer in a flashy suit,
Said, "Kid, here's the deal," seemed all resolute.
Signed all his rights, gave his heart and his hand,
Next he heard his melody with some other band.

[Bridge]
There’s nights he calls mama, says, “I can’t go on,”
The stars in this city shine for someone long gone.
But she reminds him, "You’ve got spirit, my son,
Even storms pull the sky toward the sun."

[Verse 4]
So he strums his guitar till fingers turn raw,
Sings out his soul with every line he draws.
He’s a poet, a fighter, with stories to sow,
Still chasing his dreams down on Music Row.

BIAB Info

Title: Down On Music Row V3
File:Dreams On Music Row V3.SGU
Key=G , Tempo 125, Length (m:s)=4:24
No intro. 134 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 134. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
Soloist track has 185 notes, Soloist harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,RealDrums Changes,
Style is _CUT.STY (Cut Folky Americana)

RealTracks in style: 3588:Bass, Electric, NashvilleRadioPopPushA Ev 110
RealTracks in style: 4456:Mandolin, Rhythm AmericanaMovinAB Ev 135
RealTracks in song: ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1681:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 4516:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BroCountryPopBrent Ev 110
RealTracks in song: 4516:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BroCountryPopBrent Ev 110
RealDrums in Song:NashvilleEven8^4-a,b:Sidestick, HiHat

Pete, what an outstanding song
Outstanding vocal and lyrics
Outstanding arrangement and mix
Loved it

Thanks Mario, I really do appreciate your input.

I can just imagine a bunch of flashy hot-shot producers lining up for this.
Reminds me a little of Kevin Johnson's "Rock and Roll I Gave You All The Best Years."
Awesome!

Thank you so much. I'm now off to Google Kevin Johnson!

Pete,

Great song and a great vocal. Very nicely done.

Bob

Thank you Bob, appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment.

Pete

Very nice, Pete. I made a pretty decent living playing lead guitar in several bands. I wasn't in Nashville that much, but it was country music.

Excellent song - well written and great production. Vocals are spot-on.

About 20 years ago, when i actually was in Nashville, I wrote a song called "The Outbound Lanes". Just another story about not making it in Nashville.

I enjoyed this very much. As they say back where I'm from, "Yas did good, son!"

Alan

Thank you Alan, as a Brit I appreciate even more the comments from you guys across the pond.

I was the front man/acoustic guitarist in my own country rock outfit over here, but unfortunately I had to play covers inorder to get work..... That said we did do 20+years lol. I always wanted to write and knew country was the direction I wanted to go in, but having never been to the States I do find it hard to try and get that authentic feel into my lyrics. Comments like yours and the others I've received give me the push to continue.

Much respect

Pete

Hi, Pete.

Nice build to the song. Good write and story.

I think the guitar solo could be brought forward a bit, but that's a small nit.

Well done!

Thank you David, when you say bring the guitar solo forward do you mean bring it up in the mix slightly?

Good write and delivery that harkens back to the "hat acts." A good thing.
Our departed best friend chased that Nashville Dream all the way to a grammy nomination ... one of the rare ones.

Well done!

J&B

Thank you both, I was introduced to country by my late father as he was a huge Merle Haggard fan..... Loved the genre ever since! Chased my own dream here in the UK for over 20 years but it obviously wasn't meant to be lol. Such is life. 👍

Great song, love the storyllne. The lyrics were a little herky-jerky, but you sang them into musical shape and the finished product was just fine!

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it, however I'm not quite sure what you mean by the lyrics being 'herky-jerky'.... Not a phrase I'm familiar with??

Pete

Excellent song all around.

I can play the piano enough to get by. Couldn't strum a guitar if it saved my life. THIS is the beauty of BIAB, session guitarist on hand and ready to lay down some tracks. I loved how you kept kinda simple and allowed your vocals to shine. That guitar sounded incredible!

Beautiful song, vocals and mix all around. I really enjoyed listening to this,

Trax

You're too kind, thank you very much.

Pete

Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it👍

Pete

Peter, super song! Love your vocals, and those harmonies are just perfect. Nice dynamic flow for a longish tune, and the modulation shows up at the right time. I'd pull that solo up a bit, but it's well placed, too. GREAT job!