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Posted By: 90 dB Wilmer's Farm - 06/19/13 01:14 PM
A song about the 4th Virginia, a brigade that fought from the first battle of the Civil War ("War of Southern Secession / “War of Northern Aggression”) until the last. The war started in Wilmer McLean's front yard, and ended in his parlor.

All RT's, except for a bit of harp.



Soundclick:

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=12373502&q=hi&newref=1


YouTube:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6WVHjmqL8




Wilmer's Farm

©2013 Robert Randall Burke


I left Johnnie at Manassas
Where the Yankees cut him down
He just lay there starin' at the sky
Never made a sound
I promised his Mama
I'd keep him safe from harm
Then I left my best friend
On Wilmer's farm.

Jubal fell at Chancellorsville
When we had 'em on the run
Turned eighteen the day before
His life had just begun
I tried my best to comfort him
Just kept askin' me
“Why... the old men send the young men out to die.”

The glory has all faded
The Cause has lost it's charm
And hell begins and ends
On Wilmer's Farm

The band was playin' Dixie
When we all marched off to war
Nobody could ever know
The hell that was in store
The girls were all cheerin'
The old men filled with pride
But none were there
The day that Dixie died.


God save the 4th Virginia
God save Jackson too
God save the boys
Who never made it through
God save the boys
Who never made it through











Title: Wilmer's Farm
File:Wilmer's Farm.SGU
Key=C , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=3:57
No intro. 80 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 80. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _MANPMGA.STY (PopCountry Ballad Mandolin[75RS])

RealTracks in style: 1827:Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1839:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 1947:Mandolin, Rhythm PopModernGrooveAndy Ev16 075
RealDrums in style: PopModernGrooveSync16^1-a:Snare on 4, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
Posted By: Pat Marr Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/19/13 01:43 PM
I think you've latched onto a clever and commercially viable theme for your songs! There's always interest in history and the documentaries that portray it. ESPECIALLY anything about the American civil war will be of interest to a lot of people.

This composition was good in all the usual ways... your mixing is always nailed, your vocals are proven on every song, and your concept is spot on!

The only thing that might keep this from being licensed to PBS for a documentary is that the style of the song is not authentic to the period. But as pure entertainment it works for me!


side note:
the first casualty of the war may have been related to me
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/history.htm

edit:
lyrics are usually secondary to me, and I focus mostly on the music. I just went back and looked at the lyrics, and I have to say they're very well written. The rhymes aren't forced, the points you make are all worth making and still make sense today. You're gifted in many ways. Good job!
Posted By: boehm Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/19/13 02:21 PM
Hi Robert,

let me quote Pat: "This composition was good in all the usual ways... your mixing is always nailed, your vocals are proven on every song, and you concept is spot on!"

Guenter
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/19/13 02:31 PM
Originally Posted By: Pat Marr
I think you've latched onto a clever and commercially viable theme for your songs! There's always interest in history and the documentaries that portray it. ESPECIALLY anything about the American civil war will be of interest to a lot of people.

This composition was good in all the usual ways... your mixing is always nailed, your vocals are proven on every song, and you concept is spot on!

The only thing that might keep this from being licensed to PBS for a documentary is that the style of the song is not authentic to the period. But as pure entertainment it works for me!


side note:
the first casualty of the war may have been related to me
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/history.htm




Pat,

Thanks for the kind remarks.


That's interesting about your ancestor. Here's his Wiki:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Marr


One of my ancestors (Great-great uncle) photographed a lot of the War (and, it was said, was Lincoln's favorite photographer)


http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/alexander-gardner.html
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/19/13 02:32 PM
Thanks for listening Guenter.



Regards,


Bob
Posted By: Danny C. Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/19/13 09:42 PM
Solid in every way . . . icing on the cake was the wee bit of dixie at the end.

Later,
Posted By: MarioD Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/20/13 12:24 AM
Originally Posted By: boehm
Hi Robert,

let me quote Pat: "This composition was good in all the usual ways... your mixing is always nailed, your vocals are proven on every song, and you concept is spot on!"

Guenter


A BIG +1

Your timing is perfect as I just came back from a photo shoot vacation that included Antietam and Harpers Ferry!
Posted By: Sundance Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/20/13 01:41 AM
Beautifully done. Love everything about it and the way you sang it too. Sweet touch at the end with the harmonica playing Dixie.
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/20/13 10:36 AM
Danny,

Thanks for the nice words.


Mario,

Thanks. I've been a long-time CW buff myself.


Sundance,

Thanks for the kind remarks.



Regards,

Bob
Posted By: ROG Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/20/13 11:12 AM
Up to your usual high standard, Bob.

Nice lyrics - the sadness still comes through, even on this side of the pond.

ROG.
Posted By: floyd jane Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/20/13 12:35 PM
Bob,

I was going to copy the lines that impressed me... it would look like this...

{THE ENTIRE SONG}

That would be excessive, don't ya think?

floyd
Posted By: Janice & Bud Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/20/13 10:14 PM
Outstanding!!

I've done educational TV shows on the CW, written articles on it and written songs about it. I mention that only to reinforce how much I like your tune -- because with all our years of involvement in the CW we've heard a LOT of attempts at song writing using a theme like yours. This is one of the very few that quietly and eloquently rings true. The vocal, production, melody and the lyrics are all simply stellar.
Posted By: dcuny Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/21/13 03:04 AM
Excellent writing - it comes off as effortless.

I like the understated arrangement as well.
Posted By: RichMac Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/21/13 06:58 AM

Beautifully done. Could imagine Johnny Cash doing this one.

Richard
Posted By: Achordocaster Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/21/13 07:09 AM
Bob,

I really enjoyed that, excellent in every way!
I keep hearing Johnny Cash smile... Perfect song for him.

Greg
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/21/13 10:02 AM
ROG,

Thanks. It was a sad event, and the after-effects still linger, even after all these years.


Floyd,

Thanks. (the check is in the mail). grin


Bud,

Thanks for the kind words. 620,000 men perished in that war, and it's important that people remember them. Thanks for your work in this endeavor.


David,

Thanks very much for the kind remarks.


Richard & Greg,

Thanks. I wish I could sing like Cash.


Regards,


Bob
Posted By: dani48 Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/21/13 01:09 PM
Hi, Bob !

IMO this is a very touching
song indeed and makes one wonder
why people never learn before
it has to be done the hard way ?

Cheers
Daniel
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/21/13 09:25 PM
Thanks for the nice comment Daniel.


I agree - war is insane, but inevitable, unfortunately.


Regards,

Bob
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/29/13 01:11 AM
Hi Bob,

This one nearly slipped past me. I just want to echo everyone else's comments. This is a wonderful song. The music captures the mood of the lyrics incredibly well. You're a very talented singer-songwriter in my opinion.

Regards,
Noel
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/29/13 10:14 AM
Thanks Noel.


Regards,


Bob
Posted By: gibson Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/29/13 10:28 AM
Sad, sad subject, nice song.

I will place your song in the same mind folder as Eric Bogles' "The band played Waltzing Matilda"......

I thought the harmonica at the end was perfect for the song.
Well done
Alyn
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 06/29/13 10:32 AM
Thanks for the kind words, Alyn.

Regards,

Bob
Posted By: seeker Re: Wilmer's Farm - 07/02/13 11:10 PM
Bob,

The primary thing that struck me very hard in the music
story was. You sang the song as if you were there.
The grief, the sadness and all the feelings of those
times comes thru in your vocal delivery.


The visuals added a great deal to the story you told(sang)
for us.

Thank you for sharing this!
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 07/03/13 11:06 AM
Frank,

Thanks for the kind words. I have always been fascinated by the coincidences in the CW, Wilmer McLean's in particular. This song focuses on the 4th Virginia, also known as the "Wythe Grays". They were Stonewall Jackson's brigade, and fought from Manassas through Gettysburg, and were present when Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House.

BTW, today marks the third day of Gettysburg, the day of Pickett's Charge, 150 years ago.


Some background:

http://www.stonewallbrigade.com/wythegrays/history.html


Regards,


Bob
Posted By: gruverider Re: Wilmer's Farm - 07/03/13 08:24 PM
one word: excellent.
Posted By: 90 dB Re: Wilmer's Farm - 07/04/13 10:22 AM
gruverider -

Thanks for the kind word. Brevity is the soul of wit.


Regards,

Bob
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