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Posted By: floyd jane The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 09:14 AM
It's Memorial Day.

One thing to remember... the young men (and women) that we send off to fight our wars are just that... young. They think the things that all of us think when we are that age. Fate simply puts them in a place they should not be.

A soldier's story.

A co-write with Bill Osofsky.

THE THOUGHT OF HER

got an email from my sister
said that shoppin' down at walmart
she bumped into this girl she really likes
as sweet as i could ask for
when she heard that i'm off fighting
she asked if it's okay for her to write

   well, that girl's become my fantasy
   i just pretend she's here with me
   in the solitude of night
   she takes me to a better place
   back to how things were
   and i think i'm falling in love
   with the thought of her.

the guys thought i was crazy
cause i acted like a school kid
'til that letter came on wednesday just 'fore noon
finally got to see her
she was pretty as a picture
and she signed it hugs and kisses, see you soon.

   yeah,that girl's become my fantasy
   i just pretend she's here with me
   in the solitude of night
   she takes me to a better place
   back to how things were
   and i think i've fallen in love
   with the thought of her.

yesterday my war was finally over
i feel a peace that i have never known
they put me on an airplane back to dover
i'm comin' home
lord, i'm comin' home

   and i'll always keep that fantasy
   she'll be with me eternally
   in the solitude of night
   now i'm in a better place
   free from how things were
   but i'll always be in love
   with the thought of her.

i'll always be in love with the thought of her



Peace.
Posted By: Pat Marr Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 09:34 AM
Wow Floyd... this is a great submission on Memorial Day weekend!

I think you did a great job of developing the psychology of young love, and the tendency at that age to fall in love with the thought of something more than with the reality of it. In fact, I'd say that tendency continues throughout life.

You are the master of saying interesting things through simple language.. I am truly amazed to watch how you navigate everyday speech patterns while avoiding all of the cliches that are so firmly embedded in that realm.

Its interesting too, the way you left the story somewhat unresolved, after building the audience's interest and providing enough information to make them feel invested in the outcome. I'm not sure if I like that or not... ;-)

But it doesn't really matter, because the important thing is that the lack of resolution impacted me. If I were a young person hearing this on the radio (or wherever young people hear music these days) I would probably want to keep hearing it, in hope that I could eventually wrap my brain around whatever mysterious ingredient was keeping me fascinated and captivated.
Posted By: Kemmrich Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 10:00 AM
Oh my, Memorial Day does bring out the bittersweet side of everything in the human experience. An excellent tale of love blossoming because of the situation we find ourselves in.

Heartbreaking lyrics and excellent performance. Great write, too.
Posted By: gibson Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 01:25 PM
floyd,
Pat, as usual, said what I was going to say but in a much better way!
Great song and thought provoking lyrics

Up to your usual extremely high standards cool

Alyn
Posted By: Charlie Fogle Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 03:48 PM
Very powerful. Fate should put this song where it should be... This one has Alan Jackson written all over it.

Great write, performance, arrangement and mix.

Excellent presentation for Memorial Day.
Posted By: Greg Johnson Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 04:07 PM
WOW!! AWESOME!!! There are so many great elements in this song. The chorus melody is infectious-the emotion just drips from it. I could hear that done instrumentally as a film score for a powerful scene. The Walmart reference puts an unpretentious, regular guy element in there. The concept of falling in love with "the thought" of someone is something many young lovers go through. And, in this case, the singer needs something to hang on to in this extremely tough situation, and finds that, in a way, in his own mind/heart. This is a POWERFUL write! I LOVE IT!!! Great job Floyd and friend! Take care. Greg
Posted By: Greg Johnson Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 04:08 PM
Forgot to say, there is a "Galveston" element in the situation. Floyd was pushing Jimmy Webb's mastery with this write! Those who have not heard Galveston should take a listen. Take care. Greg
Posted By: MrMarcH Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 04:13 PM
Congratulations,
It's a very nice song.
Do you use BIAB for several tracks ?
Posted By: PeterF Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 05:19 PM
Floyd
The song develops beautifully, I like how it unfolds.
Excellent melody and thoughtful lyrics.
Really nicely done.
Posted By: boehm Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 05:21 PM
Hi Floyd,

just beautiful! Great story and excellent presentation.
Felt like home on your black page and enjoyed my listens a lot.

Guenter
Posted By: RnAM Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/30/16 06:32 PM
Hi Floyd,

As far as we're concerned, this is your best up to date!
Beautiful arrangement. top notch vocal and a perfect build up of the song.
Lyrics are very appropriate.
That accordion/harmonica works perfectly here.

Rob and Anne-Marie
Posted By: AudioTrack Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/31/16 05:12 AM
More genius from Floyd.

You have delivered again my friend. What a great song, what a great arrangement, what a perfect choice of absolutely everything.

Congratulations also to Bill.

You've collectively put a sombre and fitting tribute in place. Perfect timing.

Trevor
Posted By: PaddyG Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/31/16 06:02 AM




Hi Floyd,

You know I have been a great admirer of your work ‘long before’ I even joined the forum
This song for me just confirmed that even more, shades of Glen Campbell and the man I consider to be one of the greatest lyricist of the past years, Jimmy Webb

PaddyG
Posted By: rsdean Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/31/16 07:17 AM
Floyd,

Outstanding track! The lyric and vocal is just great - really enjoyed this one.

Bob
Posted By: Sergio Guarneri Re: The Thought Of Her - 05/31/16 05:06 PM

Hi Floyd

very exciting song.
Great production as usual.

Sergio
Posted By: 90 dB Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/01/16 09:48 AM
Late on this one – fighting the flu. Particularly liked this line:


“they put me on an airplane back to dover”

Reminded me of "Taking Chance" - a great movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1019454/


Great tribute to our fallen heroes.


Regards,

Bob
Posted By: Janice & Bud Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/01/16 12:25 PM
We listened to this early on Memorial Day after we had taken flowers to Janice's dad who
rests in a veteran's cemetery. I rarely get goose bumps from a song but, man, when
"they put me on an airplane back to dover" came across I broke out in them. All the images
over the years of Dover just came flooding in.

All of the signature fj touches are there with the vocal, write and production so no need
to detail them...we just need to say that is is poignant, moving and a write that
offers the Memorial Day tribute in a unique and powerful way.

Well done!!

J&B
Posted By: Tony Lee Glenn Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/01/16 02:56 PM
Wow - very well written and performed. I like this one a lot Floyd. Great song.
Posted By: Scott C Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/01/16 04:11 PM
Beautiful song Floyd. Well done
Posted By: floyd jane Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/03/16 10:28 AM
Thanks to all who listened and commented. It is really appreciated.
I've written a bunch with Bill. His sense of prosody is some of the best I've seen - particularly for someone who has no musical (instrument - or singing, for that matter) skills at all (by his own admission). He also has a great sense of how to structure a song to truly "work" - which, again, is a rarity in a lyric-only guy - heck, that's rare among songwriters in general - one of the separators, really...
Posted By: floyd jane Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/03/16 04:29 PM
Originally Posted By: MrMarcH
Do you use BIAB for several tracks ?


All the songs that I post in the Showcase use BIAB RealTracks.
I normally list them. Forgot to this time.
Here they are:

RealTracks in style: ~701:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 085
RealTracks in song: ~1676:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~364:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~368:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 633:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealTracks in song: ~369:Pedal Steel, Background Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 834:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AltCountryMoody Ev 075 (B:arp)
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1173:Accordion, Rhythm PopCalypso Ev 100
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat

I added an acoustic guitar.
Posted By: David Snyder Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/03/16 06:04 PM
Another great one, Floyd. Love those lyrics, man. Excellent production, too.
Posted By: Tommyc Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/04/16 12:34 PM
What Great Lyrics and the Singing is Perfect! Wish I could Sing! <3
Posted By: ROG Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/04/16 03:29 PM
Hi Floyd.

Nicely done, as always.

I have to say that I usually prefer songs with happy endings, but considering what the song is for, it's perfect.

ROG.
Posted By: fgrittner Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/04/16 06:57 PM
Floyd, mighty fine song, arrangement, mix, and of course, vocal.
Posted By: 44kfl Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/05/16 12:41 AM
Powerful and emotional These words were well placed in your hands,
maybe it's unintentional but you practically put on a clinic here with each posting. You show us how a great song is written. I wish I was a better student, sensei.

Beautiful song
Posted By: gruverider Re: The Thought Of Her - 06/06/16 07:30 PM
as J&B said - poignant. Very well written.

And do I hear you taking some vocal chances in the chorus and in the brake? Well if so, it sounds great. And I enjoyed the legato vocal in the chorus. I can't recall hearing you do that very often or maybe my memory is slipping.
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