David and Rachel Radio 3.29.23: OUTLAW RELIGION

Hey Y'all,

When Rachel sent me these lyrics the first time, I just smiled and said: “Oh yeah.” We did bat it back and forth a few times, because we are in a state of pure collaboration now. But this was fun to toss around and finish up together.

Also, for most of the songs we will be posting from here on out, we will only be doing one guitar and a vocal. That is because we use the forum as a songwriting “focus group” and when you good folks make suggestions, we use them in rewrites, and it takes too much time to re-do a song once it has a full production. So I am going to save the fancier, or even full production until the song is finished, finished—all comments are in, and I am ready to add those extra tracks, and have the final key, and final verses and choruses and so forth.

Plus, I live by these immortal words:

"If you can't just get an acoustic guitar and stand in front of a microphone and make 100,000 people get to their feet with nothing but that, it ain't rock 'n roll."

--Keith Richards

Hope you enjoy this.


OUTLAW RELIGION

https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/outlaw-religion

Rachel Cintula and David Snyder

V1

I was raised somewhere between wrong and right
Born on a Friday at the stroke of Midnight
Had a few ideas of what the good book said
One of the few books that I ever read
Don't ask for nothing, earn all you've got
Be kind to dogs and fire a straight shot
Respect your daddy and your mama too,
Share a drink with a friend when the day is through

CH

And maybe you want to judge me
cause your sin is different than mine
because I got caught and you didn’t
found guilty and served my time
But every single man I’ve met
Lives in his own prison
But that’s just me and I’m an outlaw singer
And outlaw thinker and an outlaw drinker
With a touch of grace and a lot of redemption
And just a little bit
Of outlaw religion

V2

Got my learning at the school of hard knocks
Some time on the street and then a cold cell block
Lived most of my life hard up and broke
Learned to tell a joke while toking some smoke
But some folks never turned their back on me
And those are the kind of friends you need
If you find them in a bar or on a pew
Better hang on tight cause those people are few

CH

And maybe you want to judge me
cause your sin is different than mine
because I got caught and you didn’t
found guilty and served my time
But every single man I’ve met
lives in his own prison
But that’s just me and I’m an outlaw singer
And outlaw thinker and an outlaw drinker
With a touch of grace and a lot of redemption
And just a little bit
Of outlaw religion

BR

So I'm sure not the man to be casting in any stones
And I wonder if people know how many they've thrown
Every time you do you make another little decision
And brick by brick you keep building your very own San Quentin

Ch

And maybe you want to judge me
cause your sin is different than mine
because I got caught and you didn’t
found guilty and served my time
But every single man I’ve met
Built and lives in his own prison
But that’s just me and I’m an outlaw singer
And outlaw thinker and an outlaw drinker
With a touch of grace and a lot of redemption
And just a little bit
Of outlaw religion

All lyrics and Music copyright 2023 by Rachel Cintula and David Snyder, ASCAP. All rights reserved.

David Snyder: Vocals, instrumentation, mixing and mastering

RealTracks in style: 3906:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SongwriterSlow16DADGAD Ev16 060


Other links for the week and month:

https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/never-say
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/beer-and-a-bible
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/take-a-long-hard-look-at-me
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/if-we-can-make-it-through-midnight
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/penelope
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/big-wide-open-road
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/when-it-rains
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/thick-thighs
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/church-girls
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/one-more-whiskey-song
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/dirty-hands-clean-money
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/dire-straits
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/creek-day
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/make-me-love-again

Well done David & Rachel,
the simplicity of this presentation works 100%

Outstanding!
I really like this "stripped down" version.
Loved those lyrics!

You two are getting better and better with each song.

David/Rachel

"cause your sin is different than mine
because I got caught and you didn’t
found guilty and served my time"
Those lines ought to hit home with many convicted listeners!
It's a great collab that sounds just fine with the solo instrument! The full production will be awesome!

Thanks, TB

Hi Rachel and David,

I saw I mist quite a few of your latest songs. I will catch up on them later (I hope).
I loved this particulair song because of the presentation of it, the wonderful lyrics and the typical David vocals to present them
It's not a sing-along song, but more of your songs aren't and still be very enjoyable to listen to and also to think about those lyrics long after the song has ended. At least, that happens to me a lot of times with your songs.

So a round of applause from me to you both!
Hans

Considering the amount of songs you both write, it makes 100% sense to focus on the lyrics and vocals and deliver the full arrangement later.

As for this song, I like the lyrics and your vocals, but I think for the amount of words you sing, a (busy) strumming guitar is not the best choice, your vocals need more space.
I would either use more sustained notes or slow arpeggios.

Hey thanks Ray!

I really appreciate that brother!!

Less is definitely more. The song grabbed my attention and sounds great with just the guitar. And I like the vocal delivery and timing.
I’m curious if this any actual live played acoustic guitar in the mix versus band in a box because it sounds totally “real” to me.

Thanks Mario! I really appreciate your kind comments brother.

Hey thanks Torrey!

Yep, I was done fount guilty done did served my time!!

Thanks for the listen.

Wow, what a song!! I like the vocal/guitar only combo, it feels like one of those songwriter rounds type atmosphere. The lyrics hit home, and make you think!!

David / Rachel,

I love this! What an awesome song. This unplugged version absolutely works for me - there is nothing I would change.

Outstanding in every way.

Bob

David and Rachel:

Before I get to the song, a quick comment on your posting approach . . . which I totally agree with and support. We spend so much time putting together a tune only to solicit comments that would be difficult to address without undoing all the work we had already put into the tune. It’s a smart approach and you may want to also think about soliciting some suggestions on how to approach a fuller recording and tapping the creative juices of this great community.

As for this song, wow, what a write. This has a Counting Crows feel to it—very cool. I’ll definitely be looking forward to where you go with this, though you wouldn’t go wrong keeping it just where it is—stripped and simple. I mentioned my dislike for autotune and it seems to my ears to pop up here—I just don’t see the need for it with your vocal. It’s a personal, subjective thing, but I always find it artificial and distracting.

All my best,

Deej

VERY VERY Cool song......LOVE the lyric!!! This caught me particularly:

Don't ask for nothing, earn all you've got
Be kind to dogs and fire a straight shot
Respect your daddy and your mama too,
Share a drink with a friend when the day is through

But it is all SO GOOD!!! Take care. Greg

Hi David,

It's not easy to be accompanied by only one instrument unless the lyrics are well written and that's the case here. It's pleasant. I appreciated.

Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash

Very cool stripped down tune David and Rachel. Loved the acoustic backing to an excellent vocal and lyric. Well done..

This song is a winner. One of the tops that you two have put out. Love that chorus, and the lyrics are excellent. I wouldn't change a thing.

No time to add drums, but you've got time for pitch correction?

You are an evil, evil man.

I've got another Keith Richards quote for you:

   I've done a lot of drugs, but I didn't say that.
    -- Keith Richards (Allegedly)

That said, sounds like a fine song to me.

Love the lyrics!! And I think going with the solo acoustic was the right call for this tune! Really nice!

Wow, another one with very strong lyrics. A clever title and the story has many nice lines like "because I got caught and you didn’t". Musically reminds me somehow of U2... although I really like this stripped down version where the lyrics really shine, I can imagine this as a stadion rocker where full band would join in the end and the audience singing with you.

Janne