My wife has had to put up with me for a long time with my never home band playing years, and now my well honed ability to hide from honey do’s under the headphones. So every now and then I feel obligated to write one with her in mind. Here’s one for you baby. Thanks for the memories.

EZ Keys Piano
RealTracks in song: ~519:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1272:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopUpliftSyncA-B Ev16 120 Direct
RealTracks in style: 645:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockBritEdgy Ev 120 Direct
RealTracks in song: ~1677:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 2541:Pedal Steel, Background ModernPopCountry Ev 110
RealDrums: RealDrums in Song: PraiseWorshipShine^04-a:Kick2 HiHat , b:Snare,
RealTracks in song: ~519:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 120 Held

Vocals and Electric Guitar, Tom Adams



https://soundcloud.com/tommyad/back-when-we-were-young


http://tommyadamsmusic.com/music




Back When We Were Young


When I lie awake at night and think about my life

I realize how lucky I have been

I have everything a man could ever want

If I made a list where would I begin


Starting At the top you’d be number one

in my eyes the real prize of everything I’ve done


Come and take a walk with me and look at all the years

On the path back where we come from

Last week I found a photograph and stained it with a tear

A souvenir from back when we were young


if I had a way to turn the clock around

so we would get little younger every day

I’d have to give some thought before i’d sign the dotted line

just couldn’t give those memories away


We were always wanting more
When’s enough enough
Why ask for anything
we’re already blessed with love


Come and take a walk with me and look at all the years

On the path back where we come from

Last week I found a photograph and stained it with a tear

A souvenir from back when we were young


Come and take a walk with me and look at all the years

On the path back where we come from

Last week I found a photograph and stained it with a tear

A souvenir from back when we were young


©2017 Thomas Adams

Tom,

Whenever you create a song for Users Showcase, you present work that, by every standard I know, is as professional as anything I've ever heard over the years. And twice as professional as probably 80% of the songs I've heard that have enjoyed significant radio success.

To my ears, your writing is sparkling fresh, your singing is easy-listening and very enjoyable, and your productions are vibrant and rich with clarity and purpose. In all honesty, I cannot imagine how it would be possible to improve on what you present.

If I were marking this for a student at school, I wouldn't hesitate to give it a big and bold A+

The sentiments you've expressed through the lyrics and the upbeat happiness with which you've musically framed your words created a terrific sense of appreciation and 'everything's right with the world' feeling for me.

Really enjoyable!

All the best,
Noel

Hi, Tommy !:))


Your tune is absolutely
super Tommy !
Liked it very much !!

Cheers
Dani

Tom,

Nice opening. The piano plays "all the right stuff" (what is the sound source?). Nice intermingling with the crisp acoustic.

"When I lie awake at night and think about my life
I realize how lucky I have been
I have everything a man could ever want
If I made a list where would I begin
Starting At the top you’d be number one
in my eyes the real prize of everything I’ve done"

That is a STRONG first verse.

"Last week I found a photograph and stained it with a tear
A souvenir from back when we were young"

Nice.

Verse 2 is strong, too...

An excellent write.

You never miss on the production. Snappy drums, crisp piano and acoustic, strong vocals and harmonies. Steel in all the right places (of course).

Positive, commercial Country. The brass ring.

fj

Tom,
Very catchy with a great vocal and a sweet centre in those lyrics.
Your productions are a benchmark -on this one I really liked the way your guitar lifts the ending.
I enjoyed this!

Robert

Hi Tom.

Wonderful. A classic Rock Ballad.

So pleased you put the solo in - it just really needed that driving guitar. I bet that was fun to play to!

A brilliant song, with everything working as it should and powerful mix to top it off.

Simply professional through and through.

ROG.

ast week I found a photograph and stained it with a tear

A souvenir from back when we were young


That's some great writing!! What a beautiful song!! I love philosophical songs and you write some real beauties, of which this is one. I love the energy in the chorus (Springsteen-like). Mix and vocal are great. This one ought to buy you a lot of time hiding out under the headphones!! Take care. Greg

I meant to tell you in my comments that I wrote them without looking at what others have said, so if Floyd, or someone, had commented on those lines, I wasn't just piggybacking. Then I looked ahead, and sure enough, Floyd beat me to it! Take care. Greg

Hi Tom,

This is one of the prettiest and most heart-felt songs we've heard on here in quite some time. The lyric is so well constructed and the music snugly envelopes it like a warm bun does a hot dog - that may not be the most romantic visual but it's what came to mind.

Your vocals are always a compliment to your lyrics and music. So nicely done!

Alan & Di

Awesome song Tom. The lyric was super. Could really relate to them. Also and incredible delivery. Well done

Hello, Tom

Very catchy melody with strong Vocal.
The melody of the first two bars is particularly excellent.
This is exactly pop music.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Excellent! Loved the lyric. My wife and I were young when we first met, now, not so much! Enjoyed this one.

A terrific song Tom. Love the fruity guitar break, just right and a perfect guitar tone.

John

Noel, I'll take an A+ anytime I can get one. I wasn't in class enough to warrant many. A friend of mine used to say when everything seems right that's when it's time to look out. Thanks for such wonderful comments. Your positivity is contagious. Tom

Tommy,

Great song! I like it very much. I agree with all the comments stated earlier.

If I could write a lyrics as good as yours for my wife, she would be pleased. The reality is... I know I cannot.

Hiroshi

Hi Tom I wish to reiterate what everyone else has commented.
You truly are a great composer and performer and love listening to all your stuff.

I think its great that you dedicate a song to the missus for putting up with all them years of you on the road, where would we be without a good woman?

Keep em coming Tommy

Paul

Tom

Love hearing new songs from you - great stuff- catchy chorus lovely mix - excellent vocal and guitar.
I'm just going in for another listen.....

Peter

Tom,

This one really hits home for me... Beautiful song, vocal and production.

Bob

Dani, Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it. Tom floyd, The piano is Logic Pro X Steinway. For some reason the wav sounded better than the midi. In Logic, it sets up the original stereo track and two stereo buses with compression, EQ, reverb, and imaging applied. One button click and it sounds great. Thanks for all the great comments. I always eagerly await what you have to say. Tom

Tom, it's all pretty much been said. This is a terrific song, well crafted, well written, excellent vocals, and the message is great. For us "long-timers", this song paints a very good illustrations of our sentiments. Thanks for writing and sharing this one.

Steve

Tom, it just doesn't really get any better than this for me! Top notch all the way!! Beautiful work! Thanks, Torrey

This is a "super song" Tommy.
It has everything a good song needs: very good lyrics, great melody, lovely music.
Anne-Marie

Great song! I like your use of contrasting reverb between the mid and side. And heck just the overall mix.

Wonderful write and performance all around!

Last week I found a photograph and stained it with a tear

A souvenir from back when we were young

like some others here I'm drawn to these lines

so much imagery, so strong, and of course I'm thinking

man, wish I'd written that. Highest compliment that I know of.

That's a couple of songs now concerned with time passing,

very good ones

enjoyed

Kenny

Robert, I appreciate your generous comments. Tom ROG, Thanks for those wonderful words. The solo was meant to be a placeholder for an acoustic solo. But my second attempt became a keeper. You're right. It was fun. Tom

I'm pressed for time so let me simply say, this is excellent in every way.

Were I a "real" song writer I would sit down today and write a tune like this to Janice. Of course then I'd have to be a singer also

Steve said "For us "long-timers", this song paints a very good illustration of our sentiments..." And I say "indeed."

Every line is so supportive of the message -- no fillers, no fluff... just a beautifully written lyric. Toss in the vocal/guitar performances, the perfect choice of RealTracks and your signature "everything in the right place" mix and as floyd said a "you never miss" production.

Guess this is my day to quote -- not because I'm lazy but because others stated my feeling so well. So as Noel said. "To my ears, your writing is sparkling fresh, your singing is easy-listening and very enjoyable, and your productions are vibrant and rich with clarity and purpose. In all honesty, I cannot imagine how it would be possible to improve on what you present."

Janice adds that like this tune your songs are so "singable" and that's a description that means much to her.

Outa the park!

J&B

Another great one by you. Very well mixed; excellent vocal.

Sergio

Tom,

Your productions are getting stronger and stronger with each release.

This is outstanding.

Greg, My wife is my toughest critic, but she liked this one.
Clear sailing for a while! Thanks, Tom Al, A warm bun and a hot dog! Wow! That really does it. If you don't think that's funny you should get your sense of humor checked. Thanks anyways! Tom Scott, Thanks for your support. Tom

Tommy, the song captured me from the first note of the intro.

This is a real winner, and what a fantastic set of lyrics you have created.

Great drive, great build, great melody, great lyrics, great harmonies.

Hard to give it anything but credit!

This is a stunning production. "If I were to make a list, where would I begin?"


It would be a very long list! So, I'll just say I enjoyed this a lot and agree with all that's been said by others.

A top notch song - Enjoyed everything about it from start to finish.

Charlie

Shigeki, Thanks for coming by and commenting. I appreciate it. Tom Thanks Dave. Glad you liked it. Tom John, I have never heard the word fruity to describe a guitar solo. I like it! Using the S-Gear plug in that I learned about from you. Thanks, Tom

Hiroshi, Thank you very much for your kindness. Tom Paul, Thanks for those wonderful comments and remember Happy wife Happy life! Tom

Peter, Thanks for your support. Tom Bob, Glad you liked it. Tom Steve, I sure do appreciate your generous comments. That you very much. Tom

Torrey, that's very kind. Thanks, Tom AM, That is very nice of you to say. I appreciate it. Tom

The engineering part of these productions is an ongoing experiment. The side-chaining and use of reverbs to move things around in the soundspace is a real challenge, but I keep learning new techniques. Sometimes it's just patiently twisting knobs until it sits right. Other times it's all luck. Thanks gruve, Tom Kenny, Thanks for your support. It's encouraging to know that you liked it. Tom So glad you dropped in. Thanks Herb, Tom

Thanks y'all. I try to make every line add something. It is the shortest of short stories. No time for fluff. I always go back and rewrite, taking out unnecessary words and changing awkward sounding lines. Thanks for your always positive support. Tom Thanks Sergio. Glad you liked it. Tom Thanks David. I appreciate you taking the time to listen and then offering such kind remarks. Tom

VT, thanks for the wonderful review. It means a lot to me. Tom Charlie, I'm always very appreciative of all your support. Thank you for taking the time to say such nice things. Tom