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
Last edited by PeteMcN; 05/25/2507:38 AM.
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
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!
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!
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
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
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
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
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
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. 👍
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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,
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
Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it👍
Pete
Sometimes you just have to say f### it and do it anyway!
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!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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):
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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.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
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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)
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