On November 28th 2016 Gatlinburg, Tennessee was ravaged by a wildfire that took 14 lives, left 191 injured, 2400 structures lost and burned over 17000 acres in the neighboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I have been going there for 50 years and was just there twice in October. The place we always stayed and the place we always ate at were both burned to the foundation. I have always considered the National Park to be my all time favorite place and I have been to a lot of great places. My thoughts and prayers are with all those that continue to struggle with this tragedy.


https://soundcloud.com/tommyad/the-night-gatlinburg-burned-down


http://tommyadamsmusic.com/music



RealTracks in style: ~599:Mandolin, Rhythm Bluegrass Doc Ev 100
RealTracks in style: ~598:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Bluegrass Doc Ev 100
RealTracks in song: 590:Banjo, Bluegrass Doc Ev 100 (Rhythm - Simple)
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Vocals, Tom Adams

Recorded in Logic Pro X, Ozone 6, Waves LinMB, Nectar2, Waves Vocal Rider, Misc. reverbs, delays and compression from Logic.



The Night Gatlinburg Burned Down


fire and wind blowing on the ridgeline

Flames racing through the town

The devil was roaring down the mountainside

The night Gatlinburg burned down




and I cried and I cried till my tears had all run dry

memories in the ashes on the ground

Friends and families lost that’s the real cost

The night Gatlinburg burned down


It’s called the Smoky Mountains that’s a tragic irony

A wailing siren was the only sound

The ghostly signs of Christmas was all there was to see

The night Gatlinburg burned down


and I cried and I cried till my tears had all run dry

memories in the ashes on the ground

Friends and families lost that’s the real cost

The night Gatlinburg burned down


It ‘ll be years before we’re back where we belong

but we are the toughest folks around

When they look back they won't be wrong it’s why they call us Mountain Strong

The night Gatlinburg burned down


and I cried and I cried till my tears had all run dry

memories in the ashes on the ground

Friends and families lost that’s the real cost

The night Gatlinburg burned down

©2016 Thomas Adams

As Bob (90db) said in the comments. Prayers for Gatlnburg. Anyone wishing to contribute should go to this link.

http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/2016/12/01/gatlinburg-chamber-establishes-relief-fund/94733176/

Tom,

That`s a tough story to think about while listening to your song.
There`s a great feeling of conviction in your vocal which has a different quality on this song... reminds me of a fired up Waylon Jennings. The chorus is really catchy and backing just right.
Very good!

Robert

Excellent write Tommy, except that the story-line is so unfortunate.

Regardless, you've put a masterpiece together. This is a great listen. Choice of instruments is superb.

Excellent write and performance! The mix is great as are the vocals.
The feeling and emotion of the song seem to be perfect to me.


Kenny

Tom
Interesting one to comment on - damn infectious - great melody, excellent vocal - sad topic.
Australians are all too familiar with bush fires, had our fair share & they can be horrendous.

Excellent song - has that timeless quality.
Thanks for the encouragement through the year.

Peter

Tom,
What an awful story but this is a great tribute, from the heart.
Great choice of instruments, great mix and your voice is perfect!

You did good on this song, Tom, real good. The bar you have set is still WA-AY above me

Hope you have a good Christmas

Alyn

Following an old tradition of pouring your pain into a bluegrass tune, you've done an excellent job. But like so many of those old Bluegrass tunes, rooted in a true story.

This is such a classic tune and theme. Excellent job on what had to be a tough subject for you.

Charlie

Tom,

I really like this! A lot of the bluegrass tracks don't reflect current trends in the genre... but you've assembled a song here that absolutely NAILS the Merlefest sound!

My only problem with this is learning that you frequently get this close to NC without letting me know so I can drive over to Tennessee and buy you a beer.

Well done.

This is a perfect tribute. The genre was also perfect.

Story behind the news: Back in Jacksoneville NC, One of the bands I was in at the time had a drummer play with us for a few weeks or so. His name was Mark J. Through the years, we all kinda drifted apart and went down different paths in life. Facebook and one of the musicians from that town/era brought us all back together. As it turned out Mark had moved from eastern NC to the Tenn mountain town of Gatlinburg. He was still playing drums and messing with music. When the fires swept through the town and the hills around Gatlinburg, unfortunately, his house was among the hundreds of casualties, and he and his wife and family literally lost everything they owned.

Good song.

Tommy,

Tragic subject - great song. Reminds me of some Don Reno at one of the Bluegrass festivals we used to frequent in California.

Prayers for Gatlinburg, and if people want to contribute:


http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/2016/12/01/gatlinburg-chamber-establishes-relief-fund/94733176/



Regards,

Bob

Tom,

Heartbreaking.

You have documented this loss in just the manner that it ought to be. The perfect genre. A truly excellent write - it sounds like a classic from first listen. The production, arrangement and mix could not be done better - as good as it gets.

Your vocals and harmonies on this are excellent - and one of the best vocal mixes ever on these forums - a true "part of the whole".

This is SO good. You should enter this in the Merlefest song contest - then one of the top recording bluegrass/newgrass/Americana groups needs to record it...

I just keep thinking "Wow!"

fj

Thanks Robert. Waylon was great at singing those bluesy lines. I appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment. Tom It was and is an unfortunate situation. However I am very fortunate that you continue to comment on my work. Thanks Trevor.

Our thoughts exactly.
Very good work Tommy.

Hi Tom.

Bluegrass was not at all what I was expecting after reading the lyrics, but I have to say that the whole production works SO well.

It's a classic country sound and somehow the tragedy bound up in the words isn't in any way diminished by the up-tempo backing.

Beautifully conceived and executed.

Thoughts are with all those who are personally involved.

ROG.

I have to agree with Alyn, except the part that any bar is above him, although yours is very high! Really good stuff Tom!! Take care. Greg

Tom, great job about a tough subject! What a sad thing to see happen to such a beautiful place ( been there many times myself), but even more tragic is the lost lives and affected families. You had a great choice of instruments that all worked well together! The lyric and vocal - excellent! Thanks, Torrey

Awesome song Tommy. What a devastating situation. The weather patterns have been changing rapidly. We also had a terrible forest fire here in Northern Alberta last summer. The city of Fort McMurray pop 61000 had to be evacuated as it got caught in its path. It seems like one weather catastrophe after another... Awesome vocal, lyric and backtrack

Kenny, Thanks for the nice words. It was an emotional song for me. Tom Peter, Thanks for the wonderful review. Much appreciated. Tom

Alyn, Thank you for all those nice remarks. The bar is not above you. Your creativity continues to be an inspiration to us all. Tom Charlie, There was only one genre in which this song would be effective. It was a terrible tragic event and I thought it would be good to document it in a song. I certainly hope those that are affected can rebuild their lives and find some peace. Thanks for your kindness, Tom

Love it tommy
what a great write ,cracking vocals sound with the unison harmony.
keep doing this great stuff plz tommy
cheers john

Love it tommy
what a great write ,cracking vocals sound with the unison harmony.
keep doing this great stuff plz tommy
cheers john

Janice and I both knew before and this has further affirmed that you have a feel for bluegrass. The real deal. Not just someone doing a bluegrass song because it's a popular vibe. The arrangement both vocally and instrumentally well reflect bluegrass structures, e.g., harmonies, fills, intros/outros and solos.

We watched the Dolly Parton fundraiser for Gatlinburg a couple of nights ago. She raised nine million dollars and had gathered an interesting collection of performers. Kudos to her. Nothing came close to this song. We don't say that lightly. (Janice just said they might have raised 10 million had this song been part of it!). A few of the performers just drug out their old warhorses. Few of them seemed to hit the balance of both entertainment and a sense of commitment to what the show was ultimately all about.

It's rare, even as popular as bluegrass is nowadays, to hear a BG song that has a topical subject and "works" like yours. Send it to Del!

J&B

+1 to what everyone's said already. Such a beautiful place - it's so sad. You did a fabulous job on this Tom.

Pat, One of these years I am going to make it to Merlefest. Thanks for your kind remarks and I will be drinking that beer this summer. We're coming to NC for two weeks. I'll let you know when we nail down the dates. I'm looking forward to another great conversation. This time I'll lay off my wild tales and listen to some more of yours. Tom

Hey Herb, Glad you liked it and I hope your friend can get some of the help that is being made available. Enjoy the Holidays. Tom Bob, Thanks for your comments and especially having my back with the relief fund link. A glaring omission on my part. Happy Holidays to you and yours. Tom

Tom,

An excellent write and a fitting tribute to what sounds like an awful tragedy.

Love the vocals and some fine sounding harmonies.

Great job,
Jez

Hi Tom. Real and true is how this feels. Good music. Also has a vitality and optimism that's great to hear. Cheers.

Really well done Tommy! I truly loved it.

Excellent instrumentation, songwriting and mix.

Superb in every way.

Tom,

This is another outstanding song - love the vocal and the overall delivery.

Bob

This is a great review! Thank you so much. I am really thrilled you liked it. Tom Thanks for the nice comments. Tom

Rog, Glad you liked it and glad you mentioned the tempo. Sad songs are sometimes too sad when played slow. Also there is feeling of hope in the last verse so a medium tempo seemed appropriate. Happy Holidays, Tom Greg, Thanks for commenting. This thing about the bar kinda doesn't work at all because thankfully we are all so different. Have a Merry Christmas. Tom Torrey, Thanks for the kind remarks. I appreciate it. Tom

This is a great song and I can only echo what others have said that is indeed a great and sad loss.

However, you have created a musical document by making this song about that event so others may remember when hearing it, and that's a nice touch.

Great music, vocals and production.

Cheers.
Mike.

Scott, I remember reading about that fire. I'm afraid these weather problems are the new normal. Thanks, Tom John, Thanks much for taking the time to comment. Tom

Hi Tom,

Bluegrass at its best! You're not just a singer/songwriter ... you're an entertainer. This was terrific! Wuith only your voice and instruments you put on a show. We loved this.

And the place where my son, daughter and I stayed in 2005 perished in the fire. Such a tragedy , especially the loss of life. You told the story as good as it could be told.

Merry Christmas and wishing you & yours a wonderful 2017.

Alan & Di

I have been a fan of Bluegrass for most of my adult life. I love Del McCoury. Thanks for these wonderful comments. It means an awful lot to me coming from Pro Grassers as yourselves. This is one of the best reviews I've ever gotten! Tom Thanks Josie. I figured you had probably been there a time or two. Tom

Thanks, Glad you liked it. Tom Thanks Richard, I tried to leave a note of optimism in the last verse. I appreciate you pointing that out. Tom

Thanks David, I appreciate the comments. Tom Thanks Bob for the comments and your continued support of my songs. Tom

Thanks Mike. A musical document sums it up. Tom Al & Di, Glad you liked it. Tom

Excellent mix, production, and song. Nice jib

Thanks Elliot. I appreciate it. Tom

Tommy,

Tragedy brings out the best in people and this subject brought out the best in you. Great song done well. Can't say it no better than that.

Thank you very much Jim. Thanks for coming around. Tom