I wrote this last week after I had to put down my dog. My constant daily companion for 12 years suddenly gone. Lots of tears. Music is my medicine. A cool technique I discovered is to take held piano chords and underpin them with held pedal steel pads. The result is a bell like sustain.


Vocals, Tom Adams


RealTracks in style: ~2503:Piano, Acoustic, HeldChords 085
RealTracks in style: ~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 838:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085
RealTracks in song: ~363:Pedal Steel, Background Ev Held 085
RealTracks in song: ~2051:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev Simple 085
Royalty Free Loops
Recorded in Logic ProX, Alloy2, Nectar2, Ozone6, Scuffam Amps S-Gear.



https://soundcloud.com/tommyad/Send-A-Sign


http://tommyadamsmusic.com/music


http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13427543



Send A Sign

We became the very best of friends
You always knew when I was feeling bad
you’ve left me here and in the end
I can’t let go of what we had

An empty house, an empty heart
and I can’t find a way to fill this hole

I’ll keep a light on every night maybe it will help you see
Are you OK please send a sign cause that is what I really need


We saw the world through different eyes
Everyday we took our walks
it goes so fast The years fly by
I sure am going to miss those talks

An empty house, an empty heart
and I can’t find a way to fill this hole

I’ll keep a light on every night maybe it will help you see
Are you OK please send a sign cause that is what I really need

I’ll keep a light on every night maybe it will help you see
Are you OK please send a sign cause that is what I really need

©2016 Thomas Adams

A fitting and touching song. Anyone who has ever loved a dog will understand.

Unfortunately, dogs live much too short. But they pack a lot of living into those years. They love us unconditionally while they're here and a part of our lives. They touch the deepest part of our soul and heart. And they leave a big empty place in our hearts and lives when they leave.

Give yourself a bit of time to grieve the loss of your furry friend, then, as they say, the cure for a heart broken by the death of a beloved dog is a new puppy.

The death of a dog can be as traumatic as the death of a family member because that's exactly what they are.... family.

The song is nicely done, and a fitting tribute to man's best friend and unwavering, four-legged companion.

Sorry for your loss, Tommy. This is a fitting tribute.


Regards,

Bob

Hi Tommy,

a fitting tribute. I can relate as I had a dog for 17 years.
I especially like the vocals and the
beautiful background vocals.

Guenter

Hi Tommy,
it's always a treat to see a new Tommy Adams song on the showcase... I hate that this time it's a song of grieving.

The lyrics are cleverly written... I'm guessing it's intentional that they could be interpreted very widely and applied to the end of any relationship. That probably wouldn't have occurred to me, but in retrospect, it seems like a creative decision that would increase the appeal of the song.

I really liked the way the guitar echoes the fiddle. Must have taken a bit of work to make that happen, but wow! What a payoff!

Your backing vocals are so seamless I had to listen a few times before I noticed them. I like the fact that they have their own mini melody, not just the usual simple ooohs and aaahs across a single chord.

Thanks for sharing your tip about the piano and pedal steel playing held chords... and for providing specific real tracks to use for the effect

There is a realness to your music that I don't hear in everybody's posts. When you write about loss, the pain actually makes it through the mix. What a powerful attribute for a song writer to possess!

Tommy

A heartfelt, beautifully sung tribute that,as Pat said, has broad appeal for anyone who has experienced loss ( I`m sending it to my wife as she has been there a few times now with several four legged companions ).
Wonderful interplay between the fiddle (Realtrack?) and your guitar - the intro grabs attention right away.

Robert

"An empty house, an empty heart
and I can’t find a way to fill this hole"

It can't be said any better than that.
I had a "constant companion" for 15 years - still hurts...you really strike a chord here...

The "generic write" is well done.
Terrific production and mix. The guitar bits are really nice.

Sung from the heart.

A beautiful tribute. I feel for you.

fj

Herb, I know you're a dog guy and thought you would relate. Thanks for the nice comments, Tom

Tom
Sorry to hear about your dog. A very nice tribute.
The song itself is beautifully put together and as Pat says has brilliant backing vocals.
Great song writing.

Tom,

So sorry - I've been there... This song is heartbreaking, but a beautiful tribute.

Bob

Tom,

Beautiful and heartbreaking song.
We both been through the same situation more than once, and we know how it feels.
Music sure can be a medicine.

All the best,

Rob & Anne-Marie

Tom,

Your song is such a loving and heart wrenching tribute to your beautiful dog.

It is so hard to lose that unconditional love and companionship. I know that pain and the big hole left in your heart and home all too well.

I pray that God will comfort your heart through this dark time and that you will be able to one day smile with the thought of each sweet memory of love, laughter, and fun from all those years and good times you shared together.

God bless you.

Tom,
So sad.

A great song, a fitting tribute to a good friend!

Alyn

Tom I feel your pain. Your song is nostalgic to me as I too have lost a best friend. Still I can't help but notice the neat song structure and production. Not bad for a week's work!

Thanks Bob, Tom Guenter, I am sure many of us here have experienced the same thing. Thanks for the comments, Tom

A great tribute for the loss of the best of friends.

Your expression of grief will give comfort to a lot of people.

Oh man, I feel for you. I think I've always had a dog and there's nothing like coming home to someone who's always so glad to see you.
So, as a fellow dog lover, I'm so sorry for your loss.
You express the emotions so well in this song and I love all the vocals, especially the background. As always beautifully played, well written, from the heart. Pat Marr says just about everything
spot on and elegantly about this tender and well crafted song.

Kenny

Pat, I did change a few lyrics to make the song more universal, so that it wasn't just about a dog. The guitar and the fiddle are loops. The backing vocal is me on high harmony with a single vocal loop. It does require some cut and pasting and the all important nudge. Thanks for your kind words. Tom

Thanks Robert. As I Previously mentioned the guitar and fiddle were loops. Tom floyd, I usually try to stay away from generic lines but in this case it was a therapy write so I didn't care. I didn't play anything on this one. All loops and real tracks. Thanks, I appreciate it. Tom

Hope you got that I meant that as a compliment...As Pat noted this is written in a way that allows it to cover loss experienced by almost anyone...

Great song!! Love the vocal, and those background vocals especially are top notch. Totally pro sounding mix too.

I see you are using the S-Gear amp simulator, I just started using that here too.

Very sad and beautiful song.

Unfortunately the same thing happened to me. My old dog was 13.
I spent six months in a terrible way and one morning I went to a kennel and I brought home a beautiful black puppy. Seven years are passed; sometimes the memory of the old dog comes back to you like a thunderbolt but I see to the other and I feel better.

Your dog was beautiful.

Sergio

Beautiful song Tom. I know how hard it can be losing a pet, particularly a dog. My daughter wants to get a dog (we have 3 cats) and part of my hesitation is because of how deep the bond is and how painful when it breaks. Sorry for your loss. This is so well done. Love the fiddle. Love what you did with the BG vocals. On the Tom Adams Greatest Hits album, this track would be first or last on one side (for those of us who remember vinyl LPs). Another simply great song!! Take care. Greg

What a tribute. There has to be a wonderful place that good dogs go to and we're sure he's happy. We've never been w/o a dog in our 35 years of marriage. Folks either get it or they don't but the most interesting thing about your song is that it is written in a manner that applies to other situations of loss. That had to take some thought...or, heck, perhaps it just flowed out.

It's so easy of us to get lost in the emotional aspects of the song that it's hard to parse it out...but it's all so good -- the vocals, guitar, arrangement and the mix. We will never take for granted Tommyad mixes. The soundstage is exquisite with every track having its place, complementing the other tracks and never stepping on them.

Eloquent and loving.

J&B

Tom,

This is incredibly poignant. Beautifully done. Love the oohs at the end with the strings. Chill bumps man.

Thanks Peter, I appreciate it. I was thinking a lot of us relate. Thanks, Tom

Thank you both. Tom Duncan was a big ( 100 lb ) beautiful Fox Red Labrador and is greatly missed. You are very thoughtful and kind. Thanks, Tom

Thanks Alyn. Tom Thank you, I appreciate it. Tom

Thanks Charlie, Tom Kenny, Losing a dog is a highly charged emotional event and writing this really helped me work through what I was feeling. Thanks, Tom

That S-Gear is great. Thanks for the nice comments. Tom Thanks Sergio. My buddy Duncan was a 100 pound Fox Red Labrador Retriever and you're right he was beautiful- inside and out. Tom

Thank you for all your support. Tom I knew y'all would get it. The song did flow out,but then I realized it could be more universal with a few small tweaks. Thanks for your kindness. Tom Anytime a reaction includes bird leather (chill bumps) that's a good sign. Thanks David, Tom

Hey Tom,

So sorry for your loss. I've certainly been there (I'm a dog person) and my current pup "Tinker" turned 14 in May... Don't know how much longer we've got.

This was a wonderful tribute and just a fine job all around! Again, so sorry for your loss.

Greg

Tom,

Boy, is this a powerful song. Anyone who has lost a "family member" will certainly relate. Really strikes a chord. I hope this song brings healing to you. You know I am a big fan of yours. I am also a big fan of songs that are truly from the heart. This one fits the bill. Great job, as always on the vocals. And the arrangement is top shelf.

I have been away for quite a while, and was so glad to see your contribution here when I returned.

Steve

Greg, Thanks, Tom Thank you Steve. I am always glad to hear from you. Thanks for your kind review. Tom

Beautiful song Tommy. I feel your pain having to go through this a short while ago. Music definitely a healing therapy. Beautiful lyric and vocal. I believe someone is looking down on you with his tail wagging. Well done

Tom,

I'm incredibly late in getting to this one. I apologise for my tardiness. I'm very very sorry to hear about your loss. Try as I might, I can't think of any words better than what floyd has already said. This is beautiful. Outstanding and very, very touching.

May good things come your way.
Noel