https://soundcloud.com/user-427542889/where-the-river-bends/s-eyFt0

WHERE THE RIVER BENDS

It's been a horror bushfire season in Australia. Most of our daughter's 3 acres were consumed but, thanks to the Country Fire Service, the house and the chickens were spared. Some of their neighbours were not so fortunate.

BIAB STYLE: POPC-190.STY
Real Drums Nashville Even 8^1
520:Bass Electric PopHalfNotes 165
1120:Guitar 12-string Acoustic Strumming Ev 165
525:Guitar, Acoustic Strumming Ev 190
523:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 190
410:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Country Cowboy Ev 165
412:Guitar, Electric, Soloist Cowboy Ev 165 (reverb 85)

Vocals recorded through Shure PG 58, Behringer Xenyx 1202 mixer, Scarlett 2i2 USB interface, Reaper DAW + NoiseAsh Vocal Finalizer.

LYRICS

The farm where I was raised it was dairy cows and maize
Five miles from town just where the river bends
Community was strong, you just felt that you belonged
Happy days I thought would never end.
Guys I met school, we sometimes played the fool
Played footy on saturday afternoons
We formed a garage band that was so much in demand
Even though we mangled lots of tunes


Soon I began to see that farming wasn't me
No matter if I toiled till the cows came home
Went to university in a city by the sea
And after that I struck out on my own.
Busy life; many things, the years were growing wings
Before I knew, two-dozen flew away
But when things settle down, I'm going back to my home town
And catch up with old friends from yesterday

INSTRUMENTAL

Then word comes through that out of the blue
A fire-storm's raging where the river bends
Now it's bearing down on that neat little town
And nobody can say where it will end.
All through the night the fire-crews stand and fight
The fire is roaring like an demon train
Their water's running low and soon they'll have to go
We'll pray they'll survive and pray for rain.

No birdsong today and as the smoke clears away
An eerie silence settles on the land
Fire-truck creeps through the town I once knew
Where only one house in three still stand
Busy life; many things, the years were growing wings
Before I knew, two-dozen flew away
But when things settle down, I'm going back to my home town
Perhaps I should have been there yesterday
Perhaps I should have been there yesterday

Copyright © 2020. Brian Raynor

Hi Brian,

Really nice story song and a really good vocal. Good stuff.

Martin

Thanks, Martin

Good vocal and nice work on the track.

I like songs that tell a story, and enjoyed this very much.

Hi Brian,

Excellent work! The melodies are simple but very beautiful. The vocal is really attractive. I like this song very much.

Hiroshi

Really well done - nicely catchy, and your vocal delivery on this is flawless. The lyrics are vivid and help the song flower tremendously well. Captured my attention the whole way through.

Thanks for sharing!

Love your story, Brian. Well told in a very catchy song. I really like your voice; it makes the whole thing come alive. My favorite lyric: "We formed a garage band that was so much in demand
Even though we mangled lots of tunes"

Thanks, Dave

Thanks for thee feedback, Hiroshi. Much appreciated

Hi Brian ...

I always enjoy your songs. I think this is one of your very best. The simple arrangement supports the vocal so nicely. The fires were so tragic. This song is a super salute to the men & women who worked so hard to protect everyone else. A very fitting and touching salute for their efforts!

You've been here a relatively short time but you've posted some really terrific music for us.

Thanks, Derek. Appreciate that.

Thanks, Marty. Re the lyric you picked as a favourite, it just seems that country audiences are more relaxed (and forgiving) that city folk.

Thanks, Al-David. To be honest, it's not the song I was planning to write, nor the song I was trying to write. I guess it was simply a song that needed to be written.

Brian,
The upbeat early verses surprised me after your backstory of the bushfires; the story
is well written and by the time you tell of the tough times there`s a feeling of optimism there to balance.
I`m a big folk music fan and enjoyed the melody,arrangement and most of all your clear warm vocals.
Very good!

Robert

Well done!

The theme is something we've closely followed and have been kept well informed on by our Australian friends.

From the loss of life and property to the devastation of the wild animals it is an exceedingly sad situation.

Hard to best what Robert wrote above...suffice it to say that
It's a great well written and performed story song that we enjoyed.

J&B

Pleased to announce this track was rated No. 3 in the top ten tracks downloaded by Regional Community radio stations in Australia this month:

https://loom.ly/R2uhFE8

My sincere thanks to PG Music for such a superb collection of sounds that went into the production of the backing track.

Nice job on vocal delivery and production.

It feels a need of tension or minor build up could be in order when introducing about the fire b/c the positive sing-song feel starts feeling out of place given the lyrical content.

Thanks for sharing.

James

Thanks for that perspective. I'll keep it in mind.

Hi Brian. I really like this!! There is a nostalgic quality in the lyric and the style of the tune! Excellent!! Take care. Greg

Strong intro. Catchy verses set up the song well.

I enjoyed the song.

Smooth as silk. Excellent in every way.

I totally enjoyed the song.