Hey Dan,
I really like this song. Impressive writing. Great country hook. Love the puzzle and couple rhyme. Mix, harmony and vox right on. When you have one like this out of the box - no pun intended - who wouldn't be excited. I know I would.

Ian makes a good point. Sometimes some extra tweaking makes a good song a great one. The bar in country music is really high. Of all the genres it's the toughest to break in. So when somebody has a song this close those of us who've been serious at it for a while can't help but get excited. grin.

That said, I know it's hard to make yourself go back and make changes once you've slaved over the new baby. Often I need to move on to something else and give it a rest before I can really hear the song again. So at the point when you can listen with fresh ears, I'd like to make a suggestion that you rewrite the melody to last line of your bridge whether you change the lyric there or not.

To me, the verse and chorus melodies are fine. And what I'm saying is not just a matter of arrangement because a song can be arranged hundreds of different ways. Arrangements do make an impact. You'll get better at that with this program the more you work with it. And I'd love to hear this song done in Nashville with a top producer and some creative session players - but right now I'm focusing on the foundation - the melody and lyrics. Here's why.

In this song our hero is anticipating happy. As a listener I'm getting happier with him. So by the time the song gets to the bridge as a listener I'm psyched expecting a big payoff - high point in the song - release - but the last line of the bridge melody goes down and fizzles into the next chorus. The song loses momentum there and I'm let down. It's sounding too much the same.

It's still a good song. I'm truly impressed with your talent. I'm only saying this to you because I respect your work. Sometimes It ruffles feathers when another writer says something like this - the first response is to feel just a little bit defensive - that's normal - grin - we all get used to it - but it's not my intent to make you feel that way. Anyway, I hope you'll try my suggestion at some point to hear the difference before you decide. If not, I didn't waste all this time typing. I really do like your song and it's been a pleasure listening to it.

All the best.

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