For those who will listen and comment, thank you

High praises to Country Andy

https://soundcloud.com/kfl44/how-tough-are-you-3


How Tough Are You
© 2019 Kenny Leverett

Far from your pretty dreams
When your world was new
Can’t go back to your Momma’s apron strings
So how tough are you

Do you sit there by the phone all alone
Waiting for me to call you
Thinking I’ll be the first to break
How tough are you

How tough are you
Do you feel the same heartache
That I do
I can’t go on
In this state of blue

Two sweethearts stand side by side
And think love will see them thru
It’s not an easy thing to do
So how tough are you

How tough are you
Do you feel the same heartache
That I do
I can’t go on
In this state of blue

Far from your pretty dreams
When your world was new
Can’t go back to your Momma’s apron strings
So how tough are you

Bass: 2877 Americana Slow
Drums: Americana Roots
Piano: 910 Elec. Smooth Ballad
Guitar: 3113 Nylon Fingerpicking
Fiddle: 2028 Country Andy

Nicely done! It sounds really sincere and heartfelt, and some of the melodies are so sweet on the ears. Love how gentle it is, and the way it pairs with your slightly gritty vocals really does it justice.

Thanks for sharing

Beautiful song Kenny. Loved the lyric and heartfelt vocal. Nicely done. Violin was a very nice touch.

Another lovely song Kenny...
I really liked the vocals & harmony effects you put on the 1st "state of blue"...
I think I've gone back & listened that one section several times...
Its pretty cool sounding!

Kenny, this is a SUPERB love song. And, in our book, that ain't easy to write or perform.

Two real standouts here: Kenny and Andy.

And right off the bat Janice commented on how much she likes the bass.

As with all your material it's the totality of things...the write, the vocal performance and the well selected backing tracks all, as Gregg Allman says, are "hittin' the note."

And, man, that melody is wonderful. Stick with you wonderful.

Congrats on another one...

J&B

Kenny,

WOW! What a song! Goosebumps.

The BAND is EXCELLENT. Love it!

Your melodies these days are to die for! (the lyrics are stellar, too).

Your vocal, (though a bit hot), is... awesome.

This sounded like Chris Stapleton singing a J.D. Souther song.
What could be better?

Exceptional.

fj

Holy catfish, Kenny, you are on a roll.

Darned it, someone already used heartfelt, as well as mentioning the J.D. Souther vibe.

Excellent lyrics, well sung.

The chorus did exactly what it needed to. Sounded great the first time, and then again after the instrumental.

To me, this song hits that "sweet spot" of sounding vaguely familiar without being derivative.

Kenny

That's a very pretty song - lovely work, excellent emotive performance and a superb choice of band.
Great melody and lyric.
As others have said you are really on a roll.

Peter

The lyrics really evoked a strong emotional response. Thanks for sharing!

All I can say is WOW! This is perfect in every way. Super choice for your backing tracks as this sounds live! Your vocals are outstanding and your lyrics are heart touching.

This should be on the radio!

An excellent song.
Is the hot vocal through VST, (decimator, drive or similar), proximity, intimate compression or something else?
The distortion on the vocal isn't a liability but "I can't go on.." does get too close to unpleasant in headphones.
A lovely arrangement and sentiment.

Wonderful melody that has stayed with me for 15-20 minutes between listens and now. Hard to pin down this lyric. Stark is an adjective I'd use. I don't really know which way to plug into it emotionally. Part of me senses the realism of a relationship. And part of me senses it's about to end. Nothing at all wrong with not tying up neatly with a bow. Insted, it drew me in.

Kenny,

This song and performance is absolutely exquisite... None better.

I am enjoying every single song you release. You are at the top of your game.

Bob

SO SO SO SO GOOD!!! Love the space in the band, and that sweet nylon guitar. The lyrics are gripping and the melody carries them perfectly....artistry!! Wonderful passionate vocal, and the fiddle is PERFECT! A GREAT SONG from a GREAT WRITER!!! LOVE IT!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Deryk,

I appreciate your support and kind words.

Hey Scott,

Appreciate the listen and kind words.

Jim,

Thanks, I was tempted to repeat that part the second time around,

decided that it should stay as simple as possible.

Thanks for mentioning it, you might know that it's borrowed from a Linda Ronstadt arrangement

at least that's where I heard it first.

I'm touched by you guys incredibly kind words,

thanks

Thanks , you are the ambassador of kind words around here,

you make me and everyone here feel worthy,

you know that I absolutely love both those artists.

love it! Holy catfish indeed (great song title)

I appreciate your listen and kind words.

Kenny,

Very very good! Love the melody, the "how tough are you" refrain and the band...oh, and that "blueoooo" thing you do.

Robert

Another great tune, liked the walkdown on the word blue. Liked the whole thing, in fact.

Kenny,

Love the tune, love the lyrics—sets just the right mood, and sung with a lot of emotion and heart. Could possibly dial back the vocal in the mix a bit, or maybe take off a shade of reverb . . . but it’s sounding pretty darn good as is. Really strong offering, Kenny. I think it’s one of my favorites from you (which is saying a lot giving how many terrific tunes I’ve heard from you).

Hope all is good with you!

Deej

Kenny,
not sure how this escaped me. I usually pay attention to your releases.
Nice laid back rock ballad. Usage of strings is excellent. I like your vocal chain FX or the things you used on it. Got this early Pink Floyd vocal tone to it. This is an nice addition to your heavier tunes! Enjoyed my listen.

Thank you for sharing!

Misha.

Your interpretation of the heartaching lyrics is magical, so much feeling in your voice and I like that breathing is not cut out. Superb band, simplicity just works here.

Janne

Great song Kenny. Really love the strings, and the overall production. Very warm. A truly rich production.

You just keep knockin' out the hits.

Hi Kenny,

Man, this has to be one of your best vocals yet! Heartfelt and just dripping with emotion.

Just an outstanding song, one of your best IMHO.

Is that you playing guitar on the soundcloud pic?

top notch Kenny,vocals are sweet with a touch of dirt.very springsteen in quality.production is excellent loving the Rhodes .thanks for sharing

David,

Thanks so much for dropping by for a listen,

I appreciate the very kind words and I appreciate that you'd tell me

if you disagreed or didn't like something you heard!

Peter,

Thanks so much

I appreciate your listen and kind words

Thanks Ember!

Mario,

Thank you so much!

Thanks Ray,

sorry that the vocals didn't quite make it for you

it's all a learning experience

Thanks Tang,

open to interpretation

Thank you Bob, I can say the same about your music

you are on fire

Thanks Greg,

I appreciate your steady support, encouragement, and kind words.

Thanks Robert!

Thank you Tunemonger

Thank you Deej for the listen, comments, and kind words.

Misha,

Thank you for your listen and kind words, the strings are an electric piano.

Thanks Janne,

I appreciate those kind words.

Hey David,

Thanks for the listen and kind words

(it's a pee-nanner not a stringy-thingy)

Hey Dave,

thanks,

that's me and a bandmate around 1980 or 81

Thank you Biglad, love your country songs.

Nice work Kenny, wowzers! This sounds very full and the chord progression flows together well. The lyrics are nice too. Keep em comin'!

Nice work. The chorus rise from the verse is climactic. Another great set of lyrics.

A classic Kenny tune! Really soul felt with a beautiful chorus! Loved the electric piano! I liked the fact that you left the breath sounds in between the lines, it really adds to the emotional vibe to the tune! Nice work Kenny!! Thanks, Torrey

Thanks Joe!

Thanks for the listen and the kind words.

WOW, Kenny!

Everything that should be said has ready been said, as far as I can tell. I'll pile on to all those accolades. If awards were given for cutting edge emotion, this would be an easy winner. Your vocal delivery is all a listener could hope for. And the band ... well, they got their stuff together and soared. Simply astounding. This is eloquent as only you could do it.

Alan

Kenny, I loved the rawness of this song. Not many singers/writers can carry this kind of raw emotion off as well as you do with the subtle builds and valleys moving the listeners heart right along with you.

Josie

Thanks Torrey

I love that piano sound too, seems to work well in a sparse arrangement

appreciate the kind words

Hey Alan!

good to hear from you, hope that you and Di are doing well.

as always I appreciate your listen, support, and kind words

Hi Josie,

Thank you so much!