Thanks to all who commented on my last song, "Learning". (Josie, thanks!! - I did not want to bump it again)
The first to respond was Kenny (44kfl). He said that it reminded him of
"... riding in the back seat with my Dad driving with his Miller in hand listening to George Jones on the radio."
In my response to him, I told him that sounded like the start of a song.
A few days later, I got a PM from him with the lines to start this song (I really dig his writing).
We hopped in that old Ford and took off. In no time at all, we had a song.
Fire up BIAB, and you've got it finished in a matter of a couple of hours...
We hope you enjoy the ride...
(and...call your dad...say "hi"...)



MY OLD MAN

dad would never drive a chevy, had to be a ford
miller in hand and he's got it floored
momma says bill you'd better slow it down
you got kids in the car, stop foolin' around
he'd give her a wink, me and bobby would laugh
our windows down, wrestling in the back
the radio blasting "summer breeze"
destination, tastee freeze

my old man, he was one of a kind
ran a little wild, but always walked a straight line
never met a stranger, never turned from a fight
saw both sides of the story, but knew which was right
you don't talk religion, politics or war
they just don't make 'em like that anymore
my old man

church on sunday for god and mom
the sports page every day to know what was going on
asking me and bobby if our homework's done
'cause chores come first, then you can have some fun
never compromise your integrity
above all else, family
with just a look he said so much
a firm hand, a loving touch

my old man, he was one of a kind
ran a little wild, but always walked a straight line
never met a stranger, never turned from a fight
saw both sides of the story, but knew which was right
you don't talk religion, politics or war
they just don't make 'em like that anymore
my old man

© 2015 Kenny Leverett and floyd jane
Words and music. All rights reserved.


Here is the Band:

Style is _MANPULA.STY (MediumPopCountry Mandolin[120RS])

RealTracks in style: 1268:Bass, Electric, PopUplift Ev16 120
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2106:Piano, Rhythm PopUpliftA-B Ev16 120
RealTracks in style: 1270:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopUpliftSyncMuted Ev16 120
RealTracks in style: 1948:Mandolin, Rhythm PopUpliftingAndy Ev16 120
RealTracks in song: 2035:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 692:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming AcRockBright Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealTracks in song: 633:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealDrums in style: PraiseWorshipUptempo16^1-a:Snare, HiHat, Kick , b:Snare, Ride


Kenny - it was a pleasure working with you on this.

Comments encourage.
Have at it.

floyd

Sounded great well produced - lyrics were lump in the throat stuff - a real top quality song.

Kenny and Floyd,

This goes to show that inspiration can come pretty fast with hearing just the right words :-)
The result: another solid production, with cool vocals and backing vocals (as always).
Both mandolin RT's work great here.

Rob & Anne-Marie

ho-hum, another great write and instant classic from floyd and friends -- what else is new (ha, ha). Good job on instrument selection, arangement and overall mix and sound.

Mighty fine write, well done!

Kenny and floyd, or is it floyd and Kenny? Anyway that is country as it should be.

It is wonderful how a great song can appear in such a short time, once the excellent lyrics are there.
I won't comment on the instruments/mix etc because, as usual from floyd, they are top notch.

Just one question tho; What's a Miller?

congrats to both on a great tune

Alyn

Great co-write guys. Vocal, production, cool mandolin and arrangement too. Agree with that lump in the throat comment. Love it when an uptempo song still gets ya with those real emotional zingers.

Another great tune from the master, fantastic job in all formats!! Too bad I live in Wisconsin, we could make one heck of a band.....

Hello,

the comments are always the same: great music.

Nice sound, great country voice.
hello.

Sergio.

Cool stuff Floyd. Top class songwriting skills on display here! I always love your voice and delivery.

John

Floyd I am blown away with how quickly that you guys put this together. Great song! Great lyrics! and just the right instrumentation to glue it together.
Sonny

Floyd,

Really enjoyed this song. Love the line with "summer breeze"... Great job.

Bob

Before getting to anything else...

...let's go with Kenny and floyd.... he started it.


And... here's your Miller..

I love what you've done with this, one of my favorite songs of yours. My contribution was really just the scratch idea that you developed. I missed one the back and forth PMs and actually wrote verses that take this song into a different darker direction, but I like this version much better.

Alyn, if you've never sat in a bar and peeled the label off a miller (stolen from another song) then you haven't been "American sad!" It's one of the USA's popular "water beers" cause that's what they taste like.

Great song. I really liked the way the phrasing of the lyrics were done on this one. It sings differently than it reads in such a way it helps to carry the song forward.


Charlie

Hi Floyd,

a great song again. In every aspect.
My regards to Kenny for kicking that off.
And thank God that I know now what a Miller
is.

Guenter

This sounds like country gold to me. I love the lyrics. Very colorful.

Great job!

Thanks, Peter...



Thanks, y'all! Good to see you back - was wondering where you got to...



Appreciate that, Kevin...

Kenny's gift for furniture and Floyd's gift for craft, what could go wrong? Apparently.....Nothing!! Great song on all levels-memorable images, singable melody, creative and lively arrangement, and spotless mix. Great job guys! Wonderful co-write!! Take care. Greg

Great backstory guys. BiaB + the net + two talented users = ear candy for us
forum folks. And irrespective of the time spent on it the production sounds
"big studio" (and we cranked the Polks and the sub woofer up, way up, when
we listened). Everything was hittin' the note.

We had some uncles who could've been the poster boys for this tune and, hey,
bet he didn't have his seat belt on either -- our imagery allows the belt but
not harness or bags

And now we will kindly defer to all of Greg's comment.

Great collab y'all!!

J&B

Hi Kenny and floyd,

This is a great listen - music, lyrics, arrangement, performance. You've both done a terrific job putting it together. I thought that J&B's mathematical expression summarised my thoughts exactly so I'm going to +1 it.

In addition, I'd just like to say that these lyrics are a great lesson in one type of lyric development strategy. Verse 1 which is rich in sense-bound imagery perfectly sets the scene for verse 2 which moves into understanding character. I don't know of any textbook that models this technique better than these lyrics.

Overall.... an outstanding listen in every way.

Good write.

Had a buddy who drank Miller.

A nice nostalgic look back. Some really good imagery. I am sorry to report that I have had more than my fair share of Miller's. This was obviously before my taste bud's woke up! Another really good write and a production that is up to the always impeccable standards that floyd sets. I have to admit I listened to this many times before those first two drum fills settled in my mind. I am happy to report I'm good with them now. Kenny, glad you're around. I enjoy your work. Nicely done in all regards. Tom

To floyd and Bud,

tut tut, advocating drinking and driving
When I drank I never drank bottled beers, I preferred beer in a 20 fluid ounce glass (pint) and when miserable I used to shred the little cardboard beer mats

Still a great country song tho', Kenny and floyd, especially LOUD!

Alyn

Not advocating it, of course... the song harkens back to a time when people did still do that (our fathers' generation when they were younger - and everyone smoked, too). Miller is an awful tasting beer (imo) and I can't recall seeing anyone drinking one for decades - though I imagine there are some that still do since they are still selling beer.... I don't see people drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon either, and they are still around as well - the old American beers...

Thanks, Josie. We appreciate that...



Thanks, Steve.... Wisconsin is far too cold for me!




Thank you, Sergio.... appreciate your support...

Tom - I fixed those drums...

Great write! So much fun to be a part of if only as a listener.

Me and my old man didn't get along the last few years but I made a point of calling him once a week and visiting whenever I was in New Orleans and now that he's gone I am forever grateful that we made the effort to talk to one another.

much enjoyed!

Hi Floyd. You sound so comfortable with your songs.
Very smooth and enjoyable. Cheers.

I get the impression you've got a preference for country music.

Great write and production, as usual.

Really appreciate that, John... Good to see you! Hope things are going good for y'all....



Thanks, Sonny... Once Kenny set up the scene, it was easy to see where this should go. I've always said that 85% of a good song is the "right idea" - the song should write itself from there.

I've done so many productions using BIAB that for something like this - where it needed to be a fairly basic sound start to finish (not a lot of nuance needed for this) - it's easy to get most of it settled in within an hour or so... A truly AMAZING tool. It's magic!

Really like the imagery in this one guys. well done.


Regards,

Bob

Thanks, Bob... I keep wondering if anyone clicked that link...



Kenny - let's do some more!!!



Another round, please! Put it on his tab!!

Thanks, Charlie...




We appreciate that, Guenter... I would imagine y'all don't have any beers as weak as a Miller...

Thanks, David..



We do appreciate that, Greg...

Thanks, guys! We appreciate that...




Thanks, Noel! You defined the development (Verse 1 vs. Verse 2) exactly as I think of it. If folks would simply keep that one concept in mind as they write, they would need very few other tools... Thanks for your usual astute insight...

Thanks.



Thanks, Tom... Not sure if you caught the mention earlier... I "fixed" the drums. I had had the same reaction early on, but forgot to go back and address it... you know, after a bunch of listens, you tend to let some things slide...



Thanks, again, Alyn...

Great tune! I can see someone in Nashville cutting this. It may be my imagination, but I am thinking I hear an earlier version of this? Maybe it is just reminiscent of another great song you two did.

At any rate, this seems extremely pitchable. It has everything going for it that a "radio song" needs to have it seems to me. Great writing. Also, a really strong production. A+.

Thanks, Lawrence... I'm kind of surprised there were not more "dad stories" - I would imagine we all have them...



Thanks, Richard... this is not just mine... it's Kenny's, too... thanks for the listen...




LOL - it's who I am, ya know...

We appreciate that, Robert...




Thanks, David... this was written just prior to posting it last week... and is the first time that Kenny and I have written something together... hopefully there will be more... thanks for the kind words..

And yet another absolute gem Floyd, where do you get them from??

Could this be a track on a possible forthcoming CD?

I certainly hope so !!!

Al

Floyd and Kenny,

Congratulations on a great production. I haven't had much time lately to listen in - so glad I caught this one!

Thanks, Al... as I said, this one "popped up" from the exchange between Kenny and I about a previous song... some of them just land in your lap like that...




Thanks, Curt... good to see ya back around...

coming late to this..a very good friend of mine who is a great songwriter went to Nashville for 6 months to co write..after listening to his songs I found them so different from his previous songs we are Brits by the way..I said I don't think I have the ability to write country songs but you obviously do..sorry my post is long but youll see why...He said you have to adjust to the way the writers in Nashville compose their songs which is much different to how A Brit would write..Now at last..listening to this song of yours is what I mean it has bang on real country lyrics that's sits perfectly in the melody a genuine country song. Enjoyed it Thanks for the listen

Thanks, Frankie. Appreciate that. An interesting observation that Brits might write in a different manner. Immersing yourself in the Nashville writing scene - even for 6 months (which is a short period) can make a huge difference in how you write. By 6 months, most people "go back home". Some don't change at all, some make great advances - depends on how hard you work... thanks for the listen...

I am late coming here and it all has been said. All I can add is my usual "why haven't you been signed yet?"!

Ps- loved the song!