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Soundcloud - Lift my eyes (guitar version) I posted a version and history of this song a few days ago HERE . Chay (WaoBand) said HERE he'd like to hear the new lyrics on the 2018 recording, so this is it. Which version do I like best? I'm going to have to detox from listening for a few weeks before I can objectively comment. Song SummaryStyle is ORDINARY.STY - which was my own style based on a forgotten BIAB midi style - probably just the midi rhythm guitar added. In this version, the RealDrums listed below are the remnant from BIAB. RealTracks in song: 1268:Bass, Electric, PopUplift Ev16 120 - replaced with my own bass RealTracks in style: 666:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SouthernRock Ev 085 - replaced with my own guitars RealTracks in style: 663:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SouthernRock Ev 085 - replaced with my own guitars RealDrums in Song:RockEven16: a: Snare, HiHat b: Snare, Ride My parts Bass Rhythm guitars strumming the ‘boom boom snap!’ Rhythm guitar arpeggiated Lead guitar with IK Tonex ‘Bright Loud Clean’ plugin with reverb and delay Main vocal – doubled BVs – doubled LYRICSINTRO VERSE 1 It’s the luck of the draw I guess or the hand of fate’s caress Or it’s grip around my neck Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo But I won’t be portrayed in a negative kind of way I’ll give that doubt away Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo CHORUS 1 I lift my eyes to see, the man I’m meant to be I’m stepping past the shadows that once followed me I won’t speak that way again I’ve left that voice behind I’m leaning on hope to clear my clouded mind VERSE 2 I know I can think the worst Of that I’m well-rehearsed But that’s gonna be reversed Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo I’m looking for the good each day for uplifting words to say And no bad thoughts in the way Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo CHORUS 2 I lift my eyes to see the habits I will form I’m growing past behaviours that became the norm I won’t go back to doubt I’ve found a brighter way I’m learning how to be the light in every day BRIDGE I have realised that unless I change I’m done And thinking about others is better than number one Sometimes when I lie awake and ponder who I am Accepting the notion to be the man I plan SOLO CHORUS 3 I lift my eyes to see the habits I will form I’m growing past behaviours that became the norm I won’t go back to doubt I’ve found a brighter way I’m learning how to be the light in every day I lift my eyes to see, the man I’m meant to be I’m stepping past the shadows that once followed me I won’t speak that way again I’ve left that voice behind I’m leaning on hope to clear my clouded mind OUTRO CHORDS Intro and chorus: A | A/G# | A/F# | A/F | Verses and solo: Am | C | G7 | C F7 | Am G | Esus E7 | Bridge: C G | F G | Em Dsus4 | F Am | Adim Db | E |
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It really only took me a second to hit the like, Andrew. It's just so interesting and cool...akin to something from XTC. "I’m learning how to be the light in every day" That's a great line and some powerful life-changing advice. Thanks Beth! Based on that, it would’ve been simpler for me to give you 4 minutes of the synth bass pumping out an A note! Ha ha! Seriously, glad you liked it. XTC – it might be my occasional Brit accent which I tried to consciously suppress on the song. I felt in the earlier version, my accent almost came out in a ‘Cor blimey guv’na’ kind of way. Good work, Andrew.
Nice arrangement. Terrific combination of BIAB and Andrew.
Very cool vocals.
Nice mix.
Well done. Thanks Floyd. Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without BIAB. Bedroom strumming I guess. I do try to create strong melodies within my 1 and 1/8th octave range. Thanks for listening! Wow, what a cool song, and what an extraordinary progression through the last 2 decades. Brilliant how you made so many changes in the developement. I like the origin, but like an infant it grew into a wonderfully cool adult. Well done, and very creative, Andrew. Thanks Marty! I have a few songs in my back catalogue that I am looking to record. The forum response to the evolution information has been positive, so where there is a story, I’m going to tell it again in future. Andrew, this is fantastic. Loved the arrangement. Great lyrics, instrumentation, and vocal.
Outstanding mix.
One of your best. Thanks Mario! I can remember thinking it was a good’n when I first wrote it, but didn’t have the tools or experience to record it. I am sure I will be in good company when I say I hope there will be more pleasing songs in my future writing. Andrew
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Hey Andrew,
Had a listen to both versions and I like this one better personally. Excellent write.
Guitars sound good as does the bass. After the lines in verse 2, is that backwards guitar I'm hearing? Very cool.
Mix wise you might want to try bringing the vocal up in the mix a little.
Good song!
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Hi all,
If you’re wondering what my above post is about, I replied to the wrong thread! Doh!
Andrew
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Hey Andrew,
Had a listen to both versions and I like this one better personally. Excellent write.
Guitars sound good as does the bass. After the lines in verse 2, is that backwards guitar I'm hearing? Very cool.
Mix wise you might want to try bringing the vocal up in the mix a little.
Good song! Thanks Dave! Yes it is backwards guitar. I found out that in Reaper, I can reverse items. I used the lead guitar solo from the first version, cut it into segments for each chord (so the reversed segment is playing over the correct chord), and reversed each segment. I think I added an effect as well, but can’t remember which. Thanks for the heads-up about the vocal levels - I think I get so carried away with the guitar tracks, I forgot to recheck the vocals in the newer context. Now adjusted! Andrew
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Hey Andrew,
Had a listen to both versions and I like this one better personally. Excellent write.
Guitars sound good as does the bass. After the lines in verse 2, is that backwards guitar I'm hearing? Very cool.
Mix wise you might want to try bringing the vocal up in the mix a little.
Good song! Thanks Dave! Yes it is backwards guitar. I found out that in Reaper, I can reverse items. I used the lead guitar solo from the first version, cut it into segments for each chord (so the reversed segment is playing over the correct chord), and reversed each segment. I think I added an effect as well, but can’t remember which. Thanks for the heads-up about the vocal levels - I think I get so carried away with the guitar tracks, I forgot to recheck the vocals in the newer context. Now adjusted! Andrew Well, I've been using Reaper for years and I didn't know you could do that. Thanks, always good to learn something new 
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Andrew, love this version. Deepens my Bowie/Hunter/late Beatles impression from earlier posts. Very cool backwards guitar and solo. All the BGVs really bang. Super duper song! Thanks for posting despite the potential for song fatigue. (Been there!)
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Hi, Andrew.
Why choose? This does things the other doesn't.
Although the ending is a bit abrupt.
I understand song fatigue! Taking a break is a good idea.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Andrew, love this version. Deepens my Bowie/Hunter/late Beatles impression from earlier posts. Very cool backwards guitar and solo. All the BGVs really bang. Super duper song! Thanks for posting despite the potential for song fatigue. (Been there!) Thanks Ron! I tried to lengthen the backwards guitar section, but it only seemed contrived, so I settled with the section I have. I grew up on backwards instrumentation (The Beatles and Klaatu) and backwards masking (it never convinced me to smoke Mary-Jane or sell my soul) and I might trying the latter technique on a future song. Andrew
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Hi, Andrew.
Why choose? This does things the other doesn't.
Although the ending is a bit abrupt.
I understand song fatigue! Taking a break is a good idea. Thanks David! I’m going to do more of this evolution commentary where I have songs with history. While I love the Keane-like version, the guitar version which is closer to the original concept is currently my preferred. Regarding the ending, I think my logic is that since I have a fade-in at the start, I could finish abruptly, as opposed to starting abruptly and fading out. Thanks for listening! Andrew
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Very cool!
This sounds like a blend of Beatles, Bee Gees, and ELO! Really nice. Classic old school hit making.
Great tune, dude.
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Very cool!
This sounds like a blend of Beatles, Bee Gees, and ELO! Really nice. Classic old school hit making.
Great tune, dude. Thanks David! Classic, old-school hit making - I’ll take the hit any day. Andrew
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Man, no one can ruin a good song, and this one is a gem. Like the ratiug and the lyrics are terrific, and I vocal is the perfect one to tell the story. Man, I love these lyrics. Following is my favorite quotes.
VERSE 1
It’s the luck of the draw I guess or the hand of fate’s caress
Or it’s grip around my neck Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo
But I won’t be portrayed in a negative kind of way
I’ll give that doubt away Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo
CHORUS 1
I lift my eyes to see, the man I’m meant to be
I’m stepping past the shadows that once followed me
I won’t speak that way again I’ve left that voice behind
I’m leaning on hope to clear my clouded mind
VERSE 2
I know I can think the worst Of that I’m well-rehearsed
But that’s gonna be reversed Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo
I’m looking for the good each day for uplifting words to say
And no bad thoughts in the way Ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo ooo-ooo
CHORUS 2
I lift my eyes to see the habits I will form
I’m growing past behaviours that became the norm
I won’t go back to doubt I’ve found a brighter way
I’m learning how to be the light in every day
BRIDGE
I have realised that unless I change I’m done
And thinking about others is better than number one
Sometimes when I lie awake and ponder who I am
Accepting the notion to be the man I plan
SOLO
CHORUS 3
I lift my eyes to see the habits I will form
I’m growing past behaviours that became the norm
I won’t go back to doubt I’ve found a brighter way
I’m learning how to be the light in every day
I lift my eyes to see, the man I’m meant to be
I’m stepping past the shadows that once followed me
I won’t speak that way again I’ve left that voice behind
I’m leaning on hope to clear my clouded mind
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Man, no one can ruin a good song, and this one is a gem. Like the ratiug and the lyrics are terrific, and I vocal is the perfect one to tell the story. Man, I love these lyrics. Following is my favorite quotes. Thanks Marty! I think you quoted the whole song as your favourite lyrics! That was either a PEBKAC error (Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair) or you really do love the whole song! Thank you for always giving my songs support. Andrew
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"I lift my eyes to see, the man I’m meant to be I’m stepping past the shadows that once followed me I won’t speak that way again I’ve left that voice behind I’m leaning on hope to clear my clouded mind" Man, those are some clever "connect your own dots" lines. The backwards guitar speaks to the Beatles vibe. And Janice said she hears some Harrison in your vocal.  Excellent performances by you and a nice dynamic mix also. We enjoyed it! J&B PS: We are struggling to keep up on the forum but will soon check out the first version.
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
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… Man, those are some clever "connect your own dots" lines. The backwards guitar speaks to the Beatles vibe. And Janice said she hears some Harrison in your vocal. Excellent performances by you and a nice dynamic mix also. We enjoyed it! J&B PS: We are struggling to keep up on the forum but will soon check out the first version. Thanks J&B! I’ve been simmering in that Beatles soup for over 50 years, so understandable why it comes out. Even though I’ve lived down under since the age of three, my Brit accent can still pop out from time-to-time. No worries about not keeping up with - so much good music being showcased here. It’s a daily ritual for me to read all comments - a wonderful insight into what people are hearing and what they are looking for. But, I understand not everyone can nor want to read daily. To quote Mario, YMMV. Thanks for listening and comments! Andrew
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