I Choose To Be With You

A new country song with lyrics by Leon and a wonderful vocal by Janice.

Janice - Vocals
Leon - Lyrics, backing vocal
I Played the resonator guitar and backing vocal

Thanks to Bud for recording Janice and his mix comments and encouragement.

The rest of the band:
RealTracks in style: ~536:Bass, Acoustic, Pop Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~372:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~610:Mandolin, Rhythm Chop Sw 120
RealDrums in style: NashvilleSwing8^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

There is another finger picked guitar and fiddle in there as well.

So with some trepidation in writing country songs for the pros here it is......

I Choose To Be With You

Some folks don’t deserve
The oxygen they breathe
Some folks never figure out
When it’s time to leave

There are people that you find
You cannot live without
Even though you’re not quite sure
Just how that came about

There are roads you venture down
Just to see what’s there
There are crazy risks you take
Just to prove you dare

There are hearts you break
There are gambles that you lose
There are fates you can’t avoid
And there are some you choose

I choose to be with you
I choose to be with you
I’m done with drifting
My rambling days are through
I choose to be with you

Some folks don’t deserve
The riches they acquire
Some folks are unburned
After walking through the fire

Some have got their whole lives
Mapped out to a plan
I just let the four winds blow
To see where I would land

Rolling with the punches
Shifting with the breeze
Acting on my hunches
And going where I pleased

Sometimes you get lucky
Every light is green
Somehow you have made it home
Though you’re not sure where you’ve been

I choose to be with you
I choose to be with you
I’m done with drifting
My rambling days are through
I choose to be with you

Peter F (and Janice and Leon),

First off, great opening line on the lyrics—keeps the listener wondering where it’s going and engaged. And the rest is equally compelling. Song moves briskly; smooth, magnetic melody and nice touches on the production. Just like this from beginning to end. So easy on the ears. Loved this!

Best regards,

Deej

Some nice lines in the lyrics. Love how Janice draws out the words, very effective. Love how the melody moves along. Good job guys.

Peter, you had me right from that opening with the slide/resonator guitar, what a great sound!

A tip of the hat to Leon, good writing.

And of course Janice is doing her usual cool thing, love the way she bends up to hit the note!

Good song guys and gal, enjoyed the listen!

Peter / Leon / Janice,

This is a great country song - I love the instrument mix and tempo.

As usual, Janice nails the vocal and the package is complete...

Excellent!

Bob

What a lovely piece, a superb collaboration. Well done all concerned.
Janice, your voice is utterly beguiling!

John

This song is a really good song. Love the resonator such a cool instrument. Janice this is one of my favorite vocals of yours. Love how you hung on certain words. So cool. The lyric was just excellent as well. Super collaboration....

What a lovely collaboration. You guys have really outdone yourselves this time. Thanks for sharing!

Peter/Leon/Janice,

A really nice song.

Well written - a bunch of good lines throughout.
Well played - really nice job on the resonator (it will always be a dobro to me).
Well sung - like there would be ANY doubt about that!

Excellent mix.

The whole thing has a terrific pace and "familiarity" much like Dylan's (and Ketch Secor's) "Wagon Wheel" (as done by Darius Rucker). That is a really good thing...

fj

All three of you did a fantastic job! This is such a great listen. It's simple love song that says so much and Janice knows how to deliver the message. Great backing tracks and a fabulous lyric. What a treat!

Isn't it amazing how Janice can make every word she sings sound like electric? What a voice! And what a song you gentlemen gave her to sing. This is great music - period!

Alan

Peter,Leon & Janice,

A very good story in the lyrics and an uplifting chorus that really says "country classic".
I think that`s the first time I`ve heard your resonator playing, Peter; it sets the mood nicely on the intro and is tasteful throughout.
Wonderfully warm vocals, Janice!
Noone else has mentioned the drum volume, so its probably just my taste; I found them a little high in the mix ( headphones)
Will have another listen on monitors.


Robert

Peter, this is a really good one! That resonator is absolutely wonderful! Great vocal and production (again) Janice and Bud! What a great feel good song Thanks, Torrey

Thanks y'all and Donna I'm happy you liked the phrasing!

Janice

Thanks glad you enjoyed it.

Peter

WOW! Everything is just SO Right!!!

From Janice's prosody, to the mix, to the lyrics and the reso. guitar!

Blown away here!

Super job!

Thanks - Janice certainly has a wonderful way with her phrasing and melody.

Peter

Love that sound, love that voice

cool song

absolutely love the chorus

Kenny

Excellent song great vocals and production. Cliff

Thanks Dave appreciate the comments on the slide.

Peter

LOVED this song right through.

I was pleased to find it was new country without being "New country".
Terrific collaboration.
The reso playing fits really well.
the narrative is really engaging too.

Yes, ultimately love is a choice. Nice and easy-does-it country band. The lyric is really, really good without a wasted line. Janice's vocal is pro-quality and I loved the slurs which seemed to both echo and foreshadow the resonator/dobro. Really, really cool.

Thanks Bob appreciate your comments.

Peter

Hi Peter, Janice and Leon.
This is a wonderful song.
I appreciate the lyrics, the sweet melody and the choice of instruments. Janice' voice makes me think of Joan Baez by some intonations. It's a real pleasure to listen to this song. Christian

Hi, Janice, Peter and Leon,

this one really touched me. The song itself is greatly written and well.elaborated, the lyrics are very nice and, of course, Janice sings it as brillantly as all of her songs. The three of you really make up an awesome team - congrations, I love it !!!

Take care,

Stefan

Thank you Dave! I think Bud has mentioned it but in bluegrass we used to call that "bent note" singing.

Janice




Thanks Bob!!

Janice

"Bent note". Now I get it.

Thanks John - a lovely description of Janice's vocal.

Peter

Thanks for the comments Scott much appreciated.

Peter

This sounds great y'all. I really enjoyed it.

Excellent mix!! (Nice lyrics too.)

Thanks a lot Ember.

Peter

Dear Ms. Janice, "PeterF", and Leon...

I think I understand, right now, after listening to "I Choose To Be With You", what the general appeal of "country music" is: simplicity of expression, and emotional directness. The title itself is so romantically (and spiritually) reassuring that it "hooked" me right away -- "I choose to be with you. I choose to be with you." It's the lyric equivalent of a physical embrace, commonly known as a "hug" that never lets go. On the altar, it could easily provide the answer to the preacher's question, "Do you take this man/woman for your lawfully wedded husband/wife?" "Yes. I choose to be with him/her!"

Everything else about the song -- "PeterF's" music, Leon's lyrics, and Ms. Janice's vocalized enlightenment of those lyrics -- is a testimonial to the promise of happiness that is already present in the title. And so, as the young(er) folks would say, "It's all good!"

Vibing on it,

LOREN (a.k.a. "bluage")

Thanks floyd - had a listen to Wagon Wheel. Appreciate the dobro comment and as you said the it was definitely well sung.

Peter

Thanks a lot Alan for such a nice review.

Peter

Thanks Lawrence appreciate the review.

Peter



Thanks Torrey glad yo liked the guitar part.

Peter



Thanks Robert appreciate the comments.

Peter

Floyd pretty much says it for me. Great job!

Steve

Appreciate the comments Kenny

Peter




Thanks Lawrence for such a positive review.

Peter

Thanks Cliff.

Peter

Peter, Janice and Leon,

Can we say that the first chorus kicks butt?
Yes it does
We love this one, tight rhythm and tight vocal by Janice.
We also love the additional resonator guitar you've done (we thought it was an RT

Simply good!

Rob and Anne-Marie

Thanks Graham

Peter

That is very kind of you and I really do appreciate it!

Janice



Thank you Scott. I'm glad you liked the phrasing!

Janice





Thank you very much Ember!!

Janice

Very, very cool song!!! Absolutely love the lyrics....maybe my favorites of Leon's yet! Music is wonderful (fits the lyric perfectly). AND Janice's vocal, as usual, is nothing short of perfect. Wonderful job!!! Take care. Greg

Thanks a lot Leon certainly has a lyrical knack.

Peter



Thanks a lot Ray I guess it's new old country?

Peter

Peter,Leon & Janice,

Romantic lyrics are so nice.
Janis's vocal is singing them tenderly.
Peter's resonator guitar is sober but splendid.
Overall this is the best country song.
The taste is highest like a choice wine.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thanks for the very kind comments much appreciated.

Peter




Thanks very much.

Peter

Thank you floyd! I had not thought about it but it does have a Wagon Wheel feel.

Janice

Thanks Loren for the insightful and engaging review.

Peter

Thanks Rob and Anne-Marie really appreciate all those comments.

Peter

Thanks Greg for your continued support.

Peter



Thanks Shigeki for the kind review.

Peter

Love the song and how bout that resonator picker! Love Janice's vocal too. Everything about it is really nice. Great job.

Thanks Josie - there was another comment about the drums by Robert who said they sounded loud in his headphones. Please don't be concerned about raising mix issues. Sometimes it may be just the different systems we are listening on - or else just bad mixing. Anyway thanks for for the comments I appreciate them.

Peter

Peter, I got too shy and edited. I listened on speakers. Thank you for encouraging me to be more brave.

Alan, that is very kind and I really appreciate it!

Janice



Thank you Robert!

Janice



Thanks Torrey! Peter did the production

Janice




Thank you Lawrence!

Janice

Thank you Kenny!

Janice





Thanks!

Janice





Thanks Ray!

Janice

Thank you so much for mentioning my phrasing. I had the pleasure of playing in a bluegrass band for many years with a great dobro player and maybe some of it rubbed off on me!

Janice



Thanks David!

Janice




Thank you very much Loren and, yes, it is a wonderful lyric!

Janice




Thanks Steve!

Janice

Peter, Leon and Janice,

I read Al's quote above and I said to myself, "That says everything I thought!" He's homed in on everything that matters. I especially like the last bit where he said, "What a voice! And what a song you gentlemen gave her to sing. This is great music - period!"

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole journey. This is a wonderful collaboration.

All the best,
Noel

Those opening lines are really engaging. A perfect setup for the message. Very well written. Some nice complimentary dobro. The perfect vocal and the perfect tempo. Glad to see Peter and Leon venturing into some Country. Well done by all, Tom

Thanks Tom we like to give a few genres a go (with varying results).

Peter




Thanks Noel as you know it is great to hear one of your songs come to life when Janice sings it.

Peter

Thanks y’all!

Janice





Thank you Greg. You are too kind but I much appreciate it!

Janice




Thank you Shigeki!

Janice