This is a remix of the original song (from about a year ago, see here if you'd like to compare both versions) with new vocals.

YouTube-Link: Abused (A Silent Cry)

For those who don't know (or have already forgotten ) what the song is about, a short summary of the song:

This is a song about one of my best friends who, in her thirties, began to seek professional help because she didn't understand why she was self-harming, cutting herself and biting her arms and doing all these nasty things.
The uncomfortable truth was that she had been abused as a child but had always repressed those memories.
Unfortunately, after learning the truth, she was even less able to come to terms with her past and told me that, in hindsight, she would have preferred NOT to have known.

The first part of the song is about before she knew, the second about after she found out the truth.

Some technical information:
Style: _TEARS.STY

The band:
Drums: MarkTreeFills, SkaSlow70sWesPerc, PopCountry16ths
Bass: 518, 572, 2474 (all re-amped)
Piano: 1406
Guitars: 3435, 3731, 3738
Strings and Synths: 1543 + yours truly

You can find the lyrics in the next post.

Title: Abused (A Silent Cry)

Verse 1:
There's a spider crawling down your mind
weaving a web around your memories
to hide the things your innocent soul can not deal with
and lock them away from a life that will never, never be the same again

Chorus 1:
I can see the broken soul
behind those empty eyes.
On your arms the burning scars
they will never go away.
No medicine can heal these wounds
in a soul that slowly dies inside without a cry

Verse 2:
The memories still frighten you like a shadow in the night
haunting you with visions of the past you cannot fight.
The pain it cuts so deep, it's like a thousand knives
and every time you try to run away, it follows you.
There's no escape from yourself

Chorus 2:
I can see the broken soul
behind those empty eyes.
On your arms the burning scars
they will never go away.
No medicine can heal these wounds
in a soul that slowly dies inside without a cry

Outro:
I can see the broken soul
behind those broken eyes

BD, I remember this song well when you first posted it, sad then, sad now. So very tragic.
I agree, that it's good to shine the spotlight on such abuse.

Musically, again, you did a great job on this remix.
The synth vocals are amazingly real.

Thank you BT for listening (again ) and your nice comment.
Much appreciated!

BD, Sad songs are the best songs. Your ability to make these vocals work is amazing. Perfect mix and your lyrics are important in bringing this mental health problem to the forefront. Most people don't want to hear or talk about these problems so using your excellent musical skills to put this out there is a helpful public service. Well done again, Tom

Hi Brain,

I can't remember hearing the original version of this song. But a lot of the song sounded familiair.
Though, I'm a great fan of your songs and stories, it is therefore inevitable to hear more or less the same style or structure of the music in your songs.
That doesn't matter at al. I hear it in my own songs too.
But I like this song very much, as I wrote on YT. Dark but beautiful!
And your AI girls... You are great at shaping them.
Very good work of you,

Hans

Thank you, Tom, for listening and your positive feedback.
I think sad songs about a sad subject that most people are aware of but don't talk or think about often, touch something deep inside.

Brian, I also remember the original post.
I hope your friend can overcome her problems.
I like this version.
Super mix.
Your song exemplifies how powerful music can be.
Outstanding work.

Hi, Brain.

Nice remix. You've still got a large verby soundscape, but the vocal is a lot more up front.

Good vocal as well.

Beautiful song! The arrangement and mix support the vocals perfectly. The vocals have a nuance and humanity that I really like a lot, and is really essential in a song about such a delicate topic. Well done!

Brain,

This song has a beautiful darkness about it... I love the remix. A stunning piece.

Bob

Thank you very much for your feedback here and on YouTube, Hans.
Mucho appreciated

Unfortunately, I can't accept the compliments for the AI girls because there aren't any (at least not for the lead vocal).
I thought that was clear because they weren't mentioned in my first post.
I apologize for that.
This remix was sung by a real singer, who of course followed my guidance track, which is a really easy way to convey what you want from a singer.
I think it's Shigeki Adachi who often uses Synth V vocal demos to guide real singers.
I got the idea from him.
Shigeki Adachi, you're great!

A beautiful song on a difficult subject. Freud said the child is the father of the man. But can you heal the father if you know the child?
Kind regards and relief for your friend.
Laurent

I remember this song very well, one of the first I heard from you I think.

Great song, very powerful!

Vocalist is fabulous, love her tone.

One of my favorites from you, well done!

Hi B.B. Thomas,

Superb achievement. The perfectly synchronized melody and video touch my sensibilities. It's a very endearing and beautiful song. The singer's voice is superb. I really appreciated it. Well done

Kindly regard
Derochette alias JaniJackFlash or Jani

Brian,

Haunting. Chilling.
The mix sounds good to me.
The video is powerful, too.

fj

Beautiful and sensitive song about a sad but important subject. I write as a qualified counsellor, long retired, and also as someone who lost one of the great loves of my life: a wonderful lady, now deceased, who'd been abused by a relative since childhood, then later on in marriage. She left me when she realised she was in love with me (!) as she believed that whoever it was she loved would eventually hurt her. So for me this is a necessary song. Well done.

Hi BD,

I listened to both versions and they seemed quite similar - however I like the vocals in this newer version - the harmonies seem less and more subtle.

Good song.

Best Regards
Nigel

Hi B.D.

I vividly remember the original. I think this is a better mix, although the first mix wasn't bad. To capture the depth of agony, as you have done so very good, takes skill and talent. You have a lot of both.

I always enjoy your songs.

Alan

Thank you Mario for your kind and positive words.
Unfortunately, she's no longer with us

WOW I thought it was Rhianna Singing ... powerful lyrics, sad story. Excellent performance to the real tracks, mix, production spot on.

Thanks David!
In terms of reverb, there's not really much difference between the vocals and the tracks, but the vocalist cuts through the mix much better than Natalie, making it more noticeable.
You have good ears

Thank you for for listening and your feedback, DC Ron.
It's nice to hear that the change in vocals has been worth the time.

Brian...this is so tragically beautiful...the music is really lovely...so well done lyrically...such a terrible subject...the video is...WOW... a great package and production!

Thanks Bob for listening and your positive comment.
Much appreciated

Thank you Laurent for your nice comment.
Much appreciated!

Honest and touching!

Thank you so much, Dave, for your nice and encouraging words.
This song, even though it makes me sad, is also one of my own favorites.
That's why I thought it deserved a better singer

Thank you Jani for your really nice comment.
Mucho appreciated!

The remix is excellent and the new vocals sound very good.

Excellent write, mix, arrangement and a very effective beginning of the song.

It is a sad, sad subject that you well addressed … we hope your friend is better.

Very well produced!

J&B

Great vocals and production. Strong, but sad lyrics that become more impactful when you know the backstory.

B.D.Thomas

Sad subject matter that is unfortunately all too common these days! One can only hope for brighter future days!
The vocal is mixed up front beautifully and the whole tracksounds wonderful!

Thanks, TB

Thanks a lot, Floyd.
Much appreciated.
I still get a lot of emotions when I listen to that song.

Thank you, Wao.
One thing I realized after uploading this song is how many people know people who have been abused in one form or another.
If you are ready to love, you must be ready to be open and vulnerable.
This is almost impossible if you have experienced abuse.
A tragedy...

Thank you Nigel for listening to both versions and giving your feedback
MUCH appreciated!

Thank you Alan for your really nice words. Highly appreciated

Thanks Elliott.
I never thought of Rihanna, but she sounds indeed a bit like her.
Good to know for future projects

Thanks Dan for listening and your nice feedback.
Mucho appreciated

Thanks Sören for your feedback.
Much appreciated!

Thanks for listening and your kind feedback, J&B.
As always, much appreciated!

Sad song
There are very uncomfotable truths

Song is beautiful made

Jona

Thank you for listening and your nice feedback, Alexander.
Much appreciated!

Thanks Torrey!
I'm actually pessimistic about the future.
Unfortunately, people don't change much.

This one is also beautiful.
The vocals are a bit more fierce than the ones in the first version, which is better we think, considering the subject of the song.

Rob and Anne-Marie

Thank you JONA for listening and your feedback.
Much appreciated!

Thank you Rob and Anne-Marie for your feedback.
It took me a while to get used to the new vocals, but now I also like them better than the old ones.