I'll Feed It A Mem'ry


This is a song I originally wrote in 1978. I was playing in a country band in Germany at the time. Other than the BIAB backing tracks, it's pretty much the same as it was back then. We played it almost every night for quite a few years.

It's pretty straight forward country of the time. I posted this on SoundCloud just before I had to leave this forum several months ago. I didn't get a chance to post it here until now. Unfortunately, i can't find the list of tracks and the style at the moment. If I find them, I'll come back on insert them. There's no doubt it's BIAB!

Thanks in advance. Any comments or suggestions are welcomed. I realize that vocals are the weakest point of my musical talents. But that comes in handy if there's someone I really want to annoy!

I'll post the lyric in just a while ... maybe an hour from now. I need to go tend to Di's last dose of meds for the day and then get her tucked into bed.

Alan


I'll Feed It A Mem'ry
(c) 1978 Alan D. David, BMI

(v1)
Sometimes in the middle of the night when I'm almost fast asleep
My arms reach out to hold you then my eyes begin to weep
My arms can't find you and they don't know what to do
My heart begins to break and there's only one thing to do

CHORUS
I'll feed it a mem'ry, a mem'ry of you
Green eyes and raven hair, a love that was always true
Then I'll ask it to forgive me for being a fool
Then I'll feed it a mem'ry, a mem'ry of you

(v2)
Only a simple fool would have done you the way that I did
Now I'm lying here without you all alone in this big double bed
What I'd give if I hadn't lied, or hadn't been untrue
When my heart begins to ache, there's only one thing to do

CHORUS
I'll feed it a mem'ry, a mem'ry of you
Green eyes and raven hair, a love that was always true
Then I'll ask it to forgive me for being a fool
Then I'll feed it a mem'ry, a mem'ry of you

Tag
A mem'ry of you

The vocal works well in the setting.
Nice narrative...nice songs too.
This is classic country Al.
Well done.
It'd be nice to hear more about playing in Germany in the mid 70s too.

Hi Ray ...

Thanks a lot. I lived in Germany 12 years in the 1970s and 1980s. For 5 of those years, our band backed up the country stars who didn't bring their own band - it was very, very expensive to do so. But most of our money came from playing gigs 22 - 28 nights week for most of the 12 years. We performed mostly in southwestern Germany - in towns like Kaiserslautern, Manheim, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Darmstadt, Bad Kreuznach, etc. We played a lot of the smaller towns, too. Hey - the money all spent very nicely, no matter who wrote the check/cheque!

Thanks again. Take care ...

Alan

Hello Alan
Very nice song
With a lot of feeling and emotion
beautifully sung
Very well done
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

This is a really well written song that fits the late 70's country sound. It's a good arrangement and production done by you today.

Enjoyed my listen and I hope you're doing well.

Charlie

Alan,

Love this... You have such a feel for this era of country music.

It sounds as though it could have been written for Charlie Rich.

EXCELLENT!

Bob

Alan,

You've nailed that '70's Classic Country thing. In both the write and the production.

Even the title harkens back to the era..

Enjoyed.

fj

Sweet sounds of the 70s, Alan. Not sure what kind of person could be annoyed by your vocal. The story is very engaging. Love that idea "I'll feed it a mem'ry of you." Very touching. Well said!

Lovely song Alan. Excellent backtrack and just loved the vocal. Well done

Classic country man.

Really good.

Nice one ! country thro and thro !

Enjoyed

Thanks

nice lyrics and a very pretty song.
best to you.
om

Authentic country sound and your vocals are pretty good (way better than mine!). Very nice tune.

Hello Andi ...

Thank you very much. I appreciate the listen and very nice comments.

Alan

Charlie ...

Always a pleasure to hear from you. Di and I are both doing somewhat better. Thanks for the comment. I grew up playing what is now labeled Traditional Country - Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Gene Watson, Joe Stampley, Barbara Mandrell, etc.

I'm glad this sits well in your ears as a good representation of the era. Wishing you trhe very best ...

Alan

Hi Bob ...

I hadn't thought about this being something Charlie Rich might have sung. But I think you're right. Thanks for your kind words. Best to you ...

Alan

Hello Floyd ...

I always look forward to your comments. Thank you for validating my interpretation of the era. I'm guessing I'm about 12 - 15 years older than you. You probably heard the tail end of this genre before country started moving a little more pop-sounding. I actively played live from 1963 through 2008.

Many thanks for your time to listen and comment so kindly. Best to you ...

Alan

Hey Marty ...
It's a very long line of folks who have been annoyed by my vocals. But I just keep doing what I do. Sometimes it works out pretty good - a few times, not so good. But I enjoy it either way. Thanks for the nice comments - sure so appreciate them! Take care ...

ALan

Scott ...

You are much too kind. But I'll find a way to live it! Much appreciated, my friend! Wishing you the very best ...

ALan

HI David ...

At my age, everything I remember could be classified as "classic"! I don't go into antique stores any more - they want to hang a price tag on my ear. Thanks for the listen - I appreciate it. Take care.

Alan

BeatMaster ...

That was the intent. Glad it came out like that. I appreciate you letting me know. Thganks for the listen and nice comment! Best to you ...

Alan

Howdy OM ...

I'm probably older than you ... will be 75 in the not too distant future. I'm delighted you enjoyed and took the time to tell me. Take care and best to you ...

Alan

Dear Alan,

okay, I don't know much about Country (although I learned quite a lot here in the forum), but I think I can tell wether or not a song is good and wether or not it's presented well. And this one sure is on all levels.

A good and tasteful composition fitting those typical Country lyrics like a glove. An excellent backing track.

AND: I think there's definitely no need for you to be shy about your vocals. You don't have to sing like Frankie-boy to transport the soul and the feel of a song - I really (!!!) like the way you sing, that sometimes broken voice. To me that is far more impressive than some of those 'glossy' voices.

We hope so much that Di is recovering and that you stand these hard times.

All the very best to both of you,

Stefan

Hi Alan,

You certainly nailed the classic country vibe with this one!

And you are being to hard on yourself about the vocal, sounds pretty good to me. Nice vibrato!

Enjoyed!

Alan...beautiful melody...it is sure a classic sound...great listen...thanks for posting and feeding us a memory.

Al,

Sweet country tune—very classic 70’s country. Could hear some of the old time country crooners slaying this song. Great melody and lyrics—wonderfully done.

Hope all is well in your world,

Deej

HI Stefan ...

Always a treat to hear from you. I played country music in several different bands for about 50 years. I made my first dollar (actually, $8.00) in July of 1963.

Thank you so much for your very nice comments. I'm a pretty good guitarist but a mediocre vocalist, at best. If I had to depend on my singing to make a living, I'd have died from starvation many years ago. But, I'm delighted you enjoyed this one.

Di and I think of you guys often. Wishing the very best for Maha and hope you are well, too. Take care, my friends.

Alan

Dave,

You are very kind with your comments. I sure do appreciate them! Hope all is well with you. Take care ...

Alan

Thank you so much! I grew up playing guitar in the early and middle 60s. Country music was all my father allowed on the radio. Plus, he was a vocalist in several country bands. So, I have a good background to rely upon. I appreciate those nice words! Wishing you the best ...

Alan

Hi Deej!

Good to hear from you. Glad you liked it. And yeah, it's pretty much Classic Country! And there's nothing wrong with that! Take care and be safe.

Alan

Alan,
Country or New Age, your arrangements shine. This got a solid bed which sounds universal to me and with a few light moves it could easily be turned into anything from a slow ballad or a faster pop rock. Nice revival! Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Hi Misha ....

Thanks for the listen and really nice comments. And yeah, there are many possible avenues to take with this one. But I specifically wrote it as a country ballad as I was playing lead guitar in a country band.

Glad ya liked it! Thanks for telling me - much appreciated. Take care ...

Alan

Top shelf song Alan. The band's great and that vocalist just shines.
Al the best to you and Di,
Mike

Hi Mike ...

It's great to have you active on the boards. Haven't seen much of you recently. But, I was absent, for the most part, the past two months. That might have something to to do with it.

Thank you for all those very nice words. I appreciate all that! Wishing you the very best. Take care ...

Alan

Indeed, the vocalist does shine - his Sunday shoes once a week!

Perfect classic Country music tune. Good job. They don't write them like this in Nashville any more.

Hello jpt3 ...

Many thanks for your nice words. I grew up playing classic country. Although I like a lot of the new stuff, I still hold classic country near and dear. Glad you enjoyed it. And yeah, there's not much of this being written in Nash-Vegas these days. Damned shame!@

Taker care.

Alan

Ace lyrics and tune.

"Green eyes and raven hair" ----I had one like that too.

Sounds like hit material to me.

What a nice recording, Alan. Took me right back to a special period in American music and in the lives of anyone who happened to be listening at that time.
The line, "We reach a certain age at which what's left are photographs and memories; and, for some of us, photographs "
Seriously, great mood setter.

Hi Ezekiel ...

I have one like that right now! But I wrote this about 30 years before I met her. Fate???

I'd take "Hit" status on this! Thanks for the uplifting remark! Much appreciated.

Best to you. Take care ...

Alan

Hi Ed ...

Why, thank you so much for all those were nice comments! I'm approaching that age you mentioned. I'll be 75 in March. But, so far, my memory is as good as it ever was. But, who knows what tomorrow brings? I appreciate your kindness very much. I played this kind of music in a couple of different bands for many, many years.
Wishing you the very best. Take care ...

Alan

Hi, Al.

I'm going to disagree with those detractors - you've got a very pleasant voice. On this song, at least.

As others have already said, a classic country song - especially the chorus! Nicely done.

Hi David ...

Apparently you were writing this about my song at the same time I was writing about your song.

Thanks for the encouragement on the vocal. i do struggle with pitch quite often - plus I don't have a very wide range. But, I guess this one turned out better than most of them. Thanks for mentioning it. Your comments a re appreciated very much. best to you ...

Alan

Now that's my kind of country, I love the steel guitar. Great job of a Great song!!

Hi Ronnie ...

Great to hear from you! It's been a while. Hope all is well with you.

I'm really delighted you enjoyed your listen. Too bad there isn't more classic country to listen to. This is my contribution to the effort - glad it rings true to the era. Many thanks!

Wishing you the very best ...

Alan

A brief sojourn back to when country music was played on country radio

Classic country in vocal, write, tracks and arrangement all the way.

Thanks for the Mem'ry!

J&B

I thought the vocal was great. Everyone is referring to the 1970's. It just reminded me of a time when musicians could actually sing. For some reason, It reminded me of Cole Porter. Good song.

Billy

HI Billy ...

Many thanks for the great review! I appreciate your really nice comments. For me, the most enjoyable music, in almost all genres, was created and performed in the 1960s and 1970s. I was a young man back then but can still remember so much good music. I'm okay with a lot of the modern country, but my heart lies with the Classic Country.

I'm rather sure that's the first time any of my music has been correlated with Cole Porter in any way. But, I'll take it - thanks!

Thanks again! Wishing you the very best ...

Alan

Hey Gus!

Thanks a big bunch! It's very fulfilling to know my effort got the exact response I was hoping for. Classic country owns the musical part of my soul . Thanks so much for the kindness.

Wishing both of you the very best ...

Alan

Beautiful!
Your vocals are genuine..........that's the most important element.

Classics country.

well done.

moto