As a general rule I try not to get preachy in any of my songs. I threw that rule out the window when Joanne Cooper approached me to participate in an upcoming project for the Rhinose Foundation. My wife and I spend most of our free time outdoors and care deeply about the environment, so this was an easy assignment to accept. Thank You Joanne for your continued activism. It is meaningful and important.


http://tommyadamsmusic.com/music


http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13157214




My vocals and guitar

RealTracks in style: ~388:Bass, Electric, Metal Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 851:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm NashvillePopClean Ev 120 (A:held)
RealTracks in song: 1264:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopShiningA-B Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 697:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockDirty Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 632:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 633:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealDrums: RealDrums in Song: PopAmericanEv^3-a:SdStkBB, b:SnrBB


Brother Rhino

Read a story on the internet that shook me to the core

rhinos left to die slaughtered for their horns

Powdered cures of folklore breeding callousness

Don’t take away our brothers they belong to all of us


Aren’t we all connected in some mysterious kind of way

Don’t we all live and breathe the same air every day

can’t seem to stop the killing no matter how we try

can we go on living while part of us is dying


Oh Brother Rhino can I walk this road with you

Can we change some minds show them what is true

Oh Brother Rhino Can we make a stand

I promise I will help you if I can


Aren’t we taught as children the sacredness of life

Did we lose our innocence while sharpening the knife

How can one man measure what a life is worth

i hate to think what’s down the road for our Mother Earth


Oh Brother Rhino can I walk this road with you

Can we change some minds show them what is true

Oh Brother Rhino Can we make a stand


I promise I will help you if I can

If it’s not too late I’ll help you if I can

©2015 Thomas Adams

Tom, I found your backdropping the ignorance and unfettered greed fueling and facilitating the
rhino's plight against one of humankinds latest marvels of communication ( aka the internet) particularly poignant.

Beautifully done Tom!! This is a great effort. Some wonderful, thoughtful lyrics, simple, sweet melody, ant the guitar....what can I say...you can play! It is not easy to write this kind of song, and you nailed it. It's not preachy, but heartfelt, deep, and thoughtful. Really excellent. There was only one thing in the mix that sounded a bit strong to me. I am listening on computer speakers (and that may be the reason) but the snare seems to ring out a bit too strong. I'll have to listen no better speakers but it pokes out a bit on these. Wonderful song Tom!! Take care. Greg

Hi Tommy,

you can write, sing and play.
Very strong song.
Enjoyed this a lot.

Guenter

Nice work....


Yup.... writing to a specific topic is hard


You did a good job.

Hi Tom.

What a great way to get across the message.

I didn't expect anything that heavy, but it sure works well. That chorus is pure stadium rock.

Excellent vox and guitar and a great mix.

ROG.

Nice mix. some nice guitar work; thanks for sharing!

Excellent throughout - writing, singing, playing, mixing! I'm listening on Near Field Monitors with EQ set flat. Everything sounded excellent.

Another keeper, Tommy! Thank you, amigo.

Hi Tom, great tune, simple but to the point. Nice playing as usual.

Mike B.

Hi Tom,

Good song, lyrics and vocals and we love the way you play the guitar!

Rob and Anne-Marie

I feel your pain Tommy.
There's a need for something better.
Great write my friend.
This is up to you usual high standard.
Rob

Tom,

good one!! This world is a mess and thank goodness the fight to preserve wild animals continues, but it is sad this fight has to even exist.
This such a wonderful song but the words are so hard.

Well done!!

Alyn

Excellent song with an excellent message. Well done

Patrick, I've always liked that word Poignant. Thanks for listening and commenting. Tom Thanks Greg. The drums are intentionally loud ( The African connection) It made for a difficult mix. I appreciate the kind words on the write. Tom Guenter, Thanks for saying those nice things. I'm flattered. Tom

Tom,

I like everything you do. This is one of my favorites (so far).

An excellent write. Says all it needs to with nothing out of place - and terrific phrasing. Gets the message across in a perfect package.

Nice vocal. The production is crisp, clean, clear, punchy. Nice guitar playing (and signatures).

The drums sound great.

I like everything about this.

Excellent.

floyd

Tommy and Joanne,

Excellent collaboration. What a passionate song and strong production!

A Rocker with a message, I love it! Man those drums sound awesome,
nice guitars.

Kenny

Excellent song and performance. All for a good cause too.


Charlie

Hi Tom. Thank you so much for your excellent contribution to this effort. I really appreciate it and I am sure we will get something really good going for this foundation. It is such a worthy cause and the past has shown that we can wipe out the demand for rhino horn and other animal parts with the carefully coordinated effort that this foundation can help with. THANK YOU.

Hi Tom

great song for all!!

melody, voice, mixing and real tracks used.
I like the refrain of the song.

Very important the message you want to give.
I agree with you.

More respect for animals in the world!!

Hello.

Thanks Herb! Tom ROG, Just trying to hammer the message home. Thanks, Tom Robert, Thanks for checking in on this one. Tom

Excellent song and performance. All for a good cause

too.


Charlie

+ 5 from me too !!!

Cheers
Dani

Amen Bro'

"Aren’t we all connected in some mysterious kind of way
Don’t we all live and breathe the same air every day
can’t seem to stop the killing no matter how we try
can we go on living while part of us is dying"

You packed more food for thought in those four
lines than is contained in many a book. We all
live and breathe the same air and we are all
literally made of star dust but like you said
"no matter how hard we try....."

No need to parse things out here. It's all outstanding,
the message, the vocal, the signature guitar and the
production. The message is neither maudlin nor
didactic -- as with all aspects of the production
it hits the sweet spot. Outstanding.

J&B

Hey Tom,

I don't know if you like the word "vibrant" as much as you like the word "poignant" but it was the first one that appeared in my mind after I clicked the 'play' icon so I'm putting it out there

This is such a good write. As Herb has pointed out, it's a challenge focusing the lens of creativity onto a given topic and working within the walls of that room. You've acquitted yourself real well!

For what it's worth, I didn't hear these lyrics as 'preachy' in any way at all. The second verse with all its questions really diffuses the potential for preachiness. In addition, using first person plural when you ask the questions has both a personal and yet inclusive feel. The phrase "skilful craftsmanship" sums it up perfectly!

I also really liked that odd numbered bar you added in the chorus (at least it felt like an odd number!). It really made me sit up and pay attention!

All in all... terrific (and then some).

All the best,
Noel

• 90dB's version of my song, Brighter Than Any Star

Don, I am always happy to see the dancing chicken show up for a listen. I hope you are doing well. Thanks for the nice comments. Tom Mike, You are right. It is a pretty standard chord progression. In a message song I think it works better to keep it simple. Thanks, Tom RnAM, Thanks. I appreciate it very much when you listen and comment. Tom

Addendum:

We had listened to this several times on our monitors and in both vehicles...but this
morning we streamed it on the living room "sorta big system." I have an even deeper
of appreciation the mixing/mastering skills that went into this. The soundstage
was outstanding.

J&B

Thanks Rob. If only one person hears this and switches to the good side, it will have been a huge success. Tom
Scott, Thank you for coming by. Tom

I like everything about this review. Thanks much! Tom Thanks Jim, Glad you came by. Tom Kenny, I spend a lot more time these days trying to get the drums right. Glad you liked them. Tom

Charlie, Thanks for coming by and commenting. Tom Joanne, Thank you for asking me to be a part of this. Tom

I fully agree with Guenter !!!

Cheers
Dani

Sergio, more respect is needed. Thanks, Tom

Dani, Glad you liked it! Tom Thank you both for one of the best reviews I have ever gotten. Tom
Noel, you are right. Vibrant is another great word. I did add an extra bar to the otherwise straightforward progression. I'm happy you brought attention to it. Sometimes it's the littlest things that can help to improve a song. I'm also glad you didn't find it preachy. Thank you very much for always taking the time to express your thoughts in detail. Tom

What a cool rocker for the rhino cause with a great message. Well done Tom. Good luck with it.

Josie, I am always glad to see you pop in for a spin. Thanks, Tom

It's all been said, but I'd like to add my "well done!", too.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks for the music,
Dan

Dan, thanks for listening and commenting. Tom

Nice strong stuff Tom. Goes particularly well in the rock setting. Cheers.

Thanks Richard, I appreciate it. Tom