Hi Rob, Bob, Laurent, Andrew and Izzy,
After posting this song, I realized I was supposed to be on vacation with my wife. I'd completely forgotten about that. So I quickly packed my suitcase, found my shoes, and off we went. But of course, I didn't really have a chance to reply to your messages. Yes, I had my iPad with me, but our days were filled with sightseeing, and back at the hotel, I'd be knocked out from the exertion. Making a song takes—almost—less effort... So that explains my delay in replying.

But, thanks a lot for your very nice comments on this song.

Originally Posted by TuneMonger
I think I remember this song, but not well enough to A-B it for you. This version is very good, very accessible, enough light philosophy to make one reflect without getting mired in the gravitas of the serious stuff. I liked it, as I do most of your material. Good vox, good production, a winner all the way around. Nice work!

Hi Bob, I think the first version was a bit heavier, otherwise you could have sung along now ;-)
I think what you wrote is very nice! It is, after all, a sad song. Not everyone likes sad songs. But as a child, I actually had dreams about falling off a wall. I think many more people have/had that. The best part was that I learned (in my dreams) how to cope with that "falling." And then the dreams disappeared.

Originally Posted by rsdean
Hans,
Love the intense feel of this song. Your vocal matches this intensity and completely fills out the mood.
The production is excellent with a very expansive sound. Some great mixing & mastering here!
And a great video too!
Awesome stuff
Bob

Hello Bob, thank you for this! I always liked the song, but decided to do a remix for reasons I mentioned. And while experimenting with various instruments, I liked those you now can hear. They give some other dynamic to the song; make it less heavy. And see, now you like it too!

Originally Posted by laurent4114
I really liked the song with its beautiful introduction, as well as the video. As for the meaning of the lyrics, is it a psychological introspection?
laurent

Hi Laurent, Thank you for your compliments. Yes, in a sense it was a form of self-reflection. Read what I wrote to Bob (above). But it's mainly about that image of the falling child. And I connected that with "the child in my soul." My mother often told me to think of the child in my soul and cherish it. I didn't understand her well enough, because I was still a child myself. Which child should I love then? Well, in a nutshell, that was the basis for the lyrics.

Originally Posted by Andrew Dee
Hi Hans!
I love the way you’ve lifted from the verses into the chorus, first time with the BVs; second time when the full band comes in - that first line and melody is very appealing ’In my dreams I was falling’. I also like your use of different textures throughout - some pared back; different instrumentation. Loving the hard left and right mix elements as well!
Great sound.
Andrew

Hi Andrew, you know, I just listened to my song and its structure again based on what you wrote about it. For me, this is just how I make these kinds of songs, or songs about "heavy" topics. But I found it interesting to read your perspective on it. Thanks for this moment of insight!

Originally Posted by Izzy
Hey Hans,
First off, wow—the whole package (song + video) feels like a tiny cinematic universe that just slipped onto my headphones. 🎬 ♫♪♩

The production
Your Real‑Tracks selection is pure alchemy. The cajón’s “slow‑16ths” give the ballad that intimate heartbeat, while the acoustic guitar and fiddle add just the right hint of folk‑glamour.
The piano‑acoustic layers (both 3670 & 1006) weave in and out like a gentle tide, and the bass‑electric combo (3467) grounds the dice‑roll motif without ever feeling heavy.
The way you let the symphonic strings peek through the pop‑ballad core is a masterclass in “less is more”—you’ve got the cinematic sweep without drowning the intimacy.

The songwriting
That G‑major, 110 BPM canvas is deceptively simple, yet you’ve built a chord progression that feels like a fresh roll of the dice every time it repeats. It’s unconventional in a way that still lets the melody sit “like a glove” on the harmonic spine.
The V‑R‑V‑R‑V‑R‑B‑V (or “verse‑refrain‑bridge‑verse” ) arc is a clever narrative ladder: each verse adds a new layer of the self—heart → head → soul → the child you ignored—while the refrain acts as the rolling dice that keeps the tension alive.
Lyrically, the evolution from “I held my heart in my hands” to “I held my soul in my hands” and finally to “I ignored to love the child in my soul” gives the track an emotional arc that mirrors the very idea of fate’s roll—something you’ve underscored brilliantly with the gentle crescendo into the bridge.

The performance & visual side
Your vocal delivery walks the line between vulnerable whisper and confident proclamation—exactly what a pop‑ballad with symphonic overtones needs.
The video’s pacing mirrors the song’s structure; the recurring wall imagery is a neat visual metaphor for the “falling” refrain, and the final shot of the dice rolling ties everything together with a satisfying cinematic full‑stop.

All in all, you’ve taken a song that felt “complicated” and turned it into a sleek, hauntingly beautiful roll of the dice. You’ve broken a few conventional chains, and the result is pure, resonant art. 👋 👍

Bravo, Hans. Keep the dice rolling! .·´¯`·.·★
Izzy

Hi Izzy, I think I should also start with "wow" because of the way you wrote/analyzed my song. It was really thorough! I'm impressed. And you know what? Your analysis really cheered me up. Your words made me happy.
I just didn't quite know how to answer as comprehensively as you did. You really put it perfectly!

My approach to the lyrics is pretty much the same as what you described; I approach the elements—heart, head, and soul—in the same way to reach a final conclusion. In this case, not a happy one. Ignoring the child within me indicates that I consciously chose the way the dice were thrown that determined my fate.

In my real life, it's not that bad. I still cherish the child within me! But thank you so much for your detailed analysis and compliments.

So again, thanks for all your comments!
Hans

Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130