Another of my story songs.
First did this with help from my pal Mike Leblanc back in 2016 with a swing feel but decided recently to change the style and much of the lyric.

Vic

https://soundcloud.com/vic-arnold/aces-and-eights-1

Aces And Eights or Dead Man's Hand vs2 © 2013 Vic Arnold with suggestions from Mike Leblanc

V1
In the wild town of Deadwood, Jack had lost his pride.
Playing at the tables ... with bad luck on his side.
Bill took all his money and they all laughed in the saloon
Gave him back a couple of dollars. Said ...
"Jack. Don't you come back too soon"
V2
Jack returned the next night ... Put aside his fear
With a head full of vengeance and a belly full of beer
The cards were on the table. The writing on the wall.
Bill never knew what hit him ... when Jack came round to call
Ch.1
Aces and eights. Called the dead man's hand
Ever since that night down at Nuttal and Mann's
Was it just fate or was it something more
when Bill sat at the table with his back toward the door
V3
They say Jack stepped up from behind, pulled out his 44
"Take that" he cried, a shot rang out and Bill slumped to the floor
Now there lay Wild Bill Hickok. In a spreading pool of blood
still holding in his fingers his last hand of five card stud
Inst.
V4
When later, Jack's arrested, found guilty of the offense
He showed no remorse, said he'd do it all again
So they swung him from the gallows and now he's lying still
And the cards no longer shuffle for the legend of Wild Bill
Ch2.
Aces and eights. It's called the dead man's hand
Ever since that night down at Nuttal and Mann's
Was it just fate or was the whole thing planned
Jack got his glory ... but he got hanged
Ch1.
Aces and eights. Called the dead man's hand
Ever since that night down at Nuttal and Mann's
Was it just fate or was there something more
when Bill sat with his back toward the door

Bass = 1759, Drums =Northern Rock ballad
Guitars 806, 703, 2626 and 804

I enjoyed that.
I love story songs.
Well written, performed and mixed.

My only suggestion to make this a viable hit would be find a way to cut it back a minute or two.
I enjoyed it but, it's hard to get long songs to stick with today's short attention span audiences.

Hi Captain.
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed it.
I realise it's long and hasn't much chance of being a hit but if I cut it down too 3 9r 4 minutes it would lose the story and that story feel.
If I speed it up it would sound weird. I am resigned to a non hit here. Having said that; I changed it once so could do it again :-)

Vic

Vic,

Good story telling song.

Sort of like Dylan's Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts which goes for 9 minutes and is sung pretty fast.

I especially liked the chorus. Nicely produced.

Peter

Well done! I like this kind of songs which is telling a story.


Keep posting, please!
Will

Hi Vic
Very well written and sung. Great band. Like Peter, I picked up a bit of similarity to Dylan's Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts. Much enjoyed my listen.
Regards,
Leon

Good old western card tale sung well, liked it a lot, a bit long but still good.

Thanks for your input, Peter.
Never heard that song before. Wow! Nine minutes!
Done at my song's speed that could work out to about 18 minutes. Another three like that would make a CD.
I suppose there is a similarity being that they are both bar room songs.

I see you are in Sidney. A guitarist pal of mine called John Wheals moved over there in the seventies. We lost touch. I don't suppose you ever bumped into him?

Vic

I will, Will.
Thank you for your comment.

Vic

Vic,

Good BAND, good vocal, good mix.

A bit long, seems "slow" at times. I think you could take out some space.

The chorus is nice.

fj

I agree with that Vicarn; though I think the length would be less commented on if you were to introduce more dynamic changes in the arrangement - not much needed, maybe a harmony on choruses,bringing the intensity up or down through instrument choices.
I like story songs, so you have my attention with this style of songwriting.

Robert

Vic
Can't say I have.

Peter

Hi Vic ...

A really good story song. They sometimes take a while to tell. reminded me a bit of Johnny Cash's version of "John Henry". It, too, was pretty long ... 8:24. Radio Disc Jockeys loved it ... they could pee, grab a sandwich & a Coke, and still have time to settle in behind the mic before the song ended!

Your voice, to my ears, has a slight tinge of Johnny Cash. And that's not a bad thing! listened all the way through and enjoyed it. Nice work!

Wishin' you the best. Be safe ...

Alan

Thanks Leon.
Much appreciate your support.

Vic

Thanks Tunemonger.
I am considering the length of it.

Vic

Thank you Floyd.
There are places I could trim where there's nothing much going on and without damaging the story feel.
I have done some cutting already.

Vic

Hi Robert.
Thanks for the nudge. I'm working on it.

Vic

Thanks Al.
That's a good pitching angle: "Pee, sandwich and coke."

Vic

Vic,

I love the write and I love the feel of this song . . . and your vocal matches both. As usual, you do such a great job on the percussion—really carries this song along (with that bass). As others noted, length and pacing could be a commercial challenge, but that’s never been something that worries me, particularly when the story is strong enough to keep the listener engaged, as it is here. Robert has some good suggestions on ways to maybe perk things up along the way—worth exploring maybe.

Good stuff, Vic. Enjoyed the tale!

Best regards,

Deej

Hi Deej.
Yeah, to hell with the commercial side.
I was listening to Bob Dylan's live version of "Billy" which doesn't seem to vary all the way through.
However, I have now shortened it (about 25 secs) by cutting some of the spaces and put a couple more fills in the choruses.
It is what it is, as they say.

Thanks for having a listen.
Vic

Hi Vic,

This is excellent listening.

I love the story and way you tell it in song is awesome! The arrangement shines with confidence and you've got little bits of aural candy popping up here, there and everywhere. I absolutely loved this musical journey.

All the best,
Noel

Thanks Noel.
Love a bit of history.

Vic

I always enjoy a song with a story, especially ones about gamblers, and other rough characters and their dark fates. The song fits the theme and the story perfectly and the vocals really bring it home.

A great listen. Really enjoyed it.

Nicely written, sung, and produced. I, too, like a good story song and can see this being a hit in the bars.

Hi Ed Z.
Yes, you got it. Something to get your teeth into.
Makes a nice change from "I love you and you love me songs" although they can be great too.

Thanks for looking in.

Vic

Lead me to those bars, Ezekiel.
We'll have to wait a while over here though as we are in the middle of a 3 week lock down.

Ah well!

Thanks for the comment.

Vic

Great story. I really liked your mix and your outstanding vocals. Don't worry about the length of this song. Alice's Restaurant was 18 minutes long. If you can keep the listener listening then you have done your job regardless of the song's length and you definitely managed to keep me interested.

Great song!

Hi Mario.
Thanks for the encouraging words. Maybe the song's too short. :-D

Vic

Love it, Vic. Aces & Eights was a wonderful local band. Story songs have been a favorite of mine since Big Bad John, and you are really good at telling those tales. It could be a movie. Great lyrics, vocal and the band and mix is spot on.

Thanks Marty.
I love them too.
Thanks for listening and the comments.

Vic

Cool song!! Love those famous stories, and you did a good job of telling it, with both music and delivery!! Love the harmonica! Very nicely done!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Greg.
Take care your self.

Vic