Lost Things Have A Way Of Being Found

One to kick off the new year.
I cut this back from a 6 minute 20 song (much to the chagrin of the lyricist).
I put the original lyric for anyone interested at the end.

Leon - Vocal & Lyric
I played some guitar.


The Band
RealTracks in style: ~2474:Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~2505:Piano, Electric, HeldChords 085
RealTracks in style: 2914:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Folky16thsBrent Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: 1757:Accordion, Rhythm Pop8ths Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 839:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085 (A:arp)
RealDrums in Song: AmericanaSlow8thsFred
RealTracks in song: 3119:Bass, Acoustic, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 085
RealTracks in song: ~689:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 085
RealDrums in Song:AmericanaSlow8sBrushesFred^1-a:Brushes, Ride , b:Brushes, HiHat

Lost Things Have A Way Of Being Found
Lost things have a way of being found
Old wounds open, cover the same old ground
Tempers flare and foolish words are said
Crying turns those beautiful blue eyes red

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
I was so wet
Behind the ears
All of your triumphs
All of your affairs
Give it long enough, my dear
It all just disappears

Strike a match, it melts away the years
Cigarettes and campfire smoke and beers
Standing in the surf as the sun goes down
Good friends and nobody else around

Strike a match and she leans in for a light
Get a feeling that tonight might be the night
We both know it won’t last forever
But the music’s hot and a cool breeze blowing from the river

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
Thought it was fun to swing
From the chandeliers
Ignored the fact
That my account was in arrears
Give it long enough,
And it all just disappears

Lost things have a way of being found
Been away too long, now I’m homeward bound
Know in my heart everything has changed
But still I’m heading down this old road again

They say a leopard can’t change his spots
But I swear that I’ve changed a lot
I’ve stopped looking for the latest thrill
Somehow I’ve learned how to be still
Lost things have a way of being found
Eventually it all comes back around
Wind ripples through the grass upon the hill
Whatever will be, whatever will be will

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
I was so wet
Behind the ears
All of your triumphs
All of your affairs
Give it long enough, my dear
It all just disappears

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
Thought it was fun to swing
I was so wet
Behind the ears
Her voice still ringing in my ears
Give it long enough, my dear
It all just disappears
Give it long enough, my dear
And it all just disappears

Full Lyric

Lost things have a way of being found
Old wounds open, cover the same old ground
Tempers flare and foolish words are said
Crying turns those beautiful blue eyes red

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
I was so wet
Behind the ears
All of your triumphs
All of your affairs
Give it long enough, my dear
It all just disappears

Strike a match, it melts away the years
Cigarettes and campfire smoke and beers
Standing in the surf as the sun goes down
Good friends and nobody else around

Strike a match and she leans in for a light
Get a feeling that tonight might be the night
We both know it won’t last forever
But the music’s hot and a cool breeze blowing from the river

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
Thought it was fun to swing
From the chandeliers
Ignored the fact
That my account was in arrears
Give it long enough, my dear
And it all just disappears

Lost things have a way of being found
Been away too long, now I’m homeward bound
Know in my heart that everything has changed
But still I’m heading down this road again

They say a leopard can’t change his spots
But I swear that I’ve changed a lot
I’ve stopped looking for the latest thrill
Somehow I’ve learned how to be still

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
Thought there would always be
New frontiers
Ran up my tab
Fell down the stairs
Give it long enough, my dear
It all just disappears

Think about the King of rock and roll
Too much of everything must take its toll
The music makes you want to dance and sing
But tears are never far away when you think about the King

Lost things have a way of being found
Eventually it all comes back around
Wind ripples through the grass upon the hill
Whatever will be, whatever will be will

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
I was so wet
Behind the ears
All of your triumphs
All of your affairs
Give it long enough, my dear
It all just disappears

Didn’t count the cost
Didn’t count the years
Thought it was fun to swing
From the chandeliers
Ignored the fact
That my account was in arrears
Give it long enough, my dear
It all just disappears

O, give it long enough, my dear
And it all just disappears

The accordian is perfectly placed.
Leon's in his spot.
Editing a lyricist's narrative is dangerous business but the story hangs together well in the sliced version.
I can imagine this being done Chanson style and in French too.
The solo and licks are really well thought out and fit wonderfully.
Classic.

Sometimes you have to cut and cut again.
Unless you are adding something new, let it go.
Pretty song. I like that guitar outro too.

Vic

Peter...sometimes even an epic has to be edited..."American Pie" was edited for radio play...it's tough to edit another person's lyric and give them a product that they will accept...I hope Leon was okay with the cut...I think the right material was left out IMO...really nice melody and vocal performance was very good...I too loved the outro with you (I assume) on the lead guitar...very nice!

BTY: My agreement with lyricists is if you give me your lyric to create a song then you give me all editorial rights to make changes where needed...in 45 years working with many, many writers only once did someone withdraw their lyric from a song...I still have the song (unheard by anyone but me and the lyricist)

Hi Peter and Leon
Really cool song
Fantastic played and sung
I like it very much
The guitar solo at the end is the cracker
A really great collaboration
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

Thanks Ray - interesting comments on an alternate style.
Appreciate the review.

Peter

Leon & Peter,

A very good write. Solid.
The years/chandeliers/arrears/disappears rhyming was impressive...
Good vocals - sincere.
Nice "easy listening" production. Works well for the lyric.
Well done all around.

fj

Emotional and creative lyrics with many nice lines like "They say a leopard can’t change his spots/But I swear that I’ve changed a lot". I can't say whether something important was cut, but to me the story works now very well. As a lyricist myself, many times I have wished that there was an editor to round the edges and simplify the message.

Beautiful melody and interpretation. Very nice band, the accordion and the organ add pleasant flavors. The gentle guitar solo at the end fits the mood.

Janne

Nice tune with very good lyrics, and well sung. I thought your shortened version worked well and would probably have been better at any attempt to do the six minutes plus original. Thanks for sharing!

The chorus is a good hook. I am partial to the chorus lyrics with chandelier. Pleasant melody. I think the edits work fine.

Leon & Peter,

Fantastic job gentlemen!
Super lyrics - great story!
Great backing tracks and mix.
Strong vocal.
Loved that guitar lead and tone!

This is your best to date IMHO.

Thanks Vic.

Peter

Hi Peter and Leon,

Excellent lyric delivered well as per normal. Loved that little outro solo, Peter, very tasteful with great tone.

Enjoyed!

Thanks for the comments - Leon is ok with the cut (he just prefers the longer version).

Peter

Thanks Andi

Peter

I can see where this was a difficult one to cut. There are an awful lot of very well written lines in there, and the vocal was done very well too. As many have mentioned, I thought you did a great job with that guitar as well. Good song.

I really like your song and the way it builds with the harmony, the accordion and the instruments. The lead guitar coming in towards the end kept the song fresh and appealing.

Peter & Leon,
A good summing of life lessons: its a risky business taking the scalpel to a lyricist`s work, but I think you got the cut right.
The backing is well suited to the song and the closing guitar is sweet.
A nice capture and processing of the vocal too.
A very enjoyable listen.

Robert

Thanks floyd.

Peter

Thanks a lot Janne.

Peter

Awesome tune guys. Super vocal and lyric. I think the production and mix on this song was stellar. Very cool guitar work Peter. Really well done..

Peter, you did the right thing to edit the lyrics. I believe one of the most important parts of lyric writing is editing. Sometimes even just a word here or there makes all the difference. Leon this doesn’t mean to take away from a fine lyric. It just made it a little better. Well sung and some nice complimentary guitar work in the end. I enjoyed it, Tom

Thanks Scott

Peter



Thanks for the comments.

Peter

Thanks a lot Mario

Peter

Thanks Dave

Peter

Nicely done - pleasant listen, well sung. Vocal was a good match to the contemplative lyric.

Editing a song down is a tough, and you did a good job here. As Tommy said, it's not to take away from the lyricist.

Sort of ironic, given the title of the song, right?

Hi, Peter and Leon, really great job very well done on everything. enjoyed very much Thanks Eric

( somehow missed this one all the time )

I think it's a good song, I enjoyed listening to it, and although it's still not short by any means, it never got boring. Good job by all involved.


I didn't know this saying existed in English as well.
You never stop learning...

Thanks Brad
Peter

Thanks

Peter

Thanks Robert
Peter

This is beautiful!

Janice said that the melancholy melody and Leon’s heartfelt vocal got her from the start.

The arrangement has a very effective build and the accordion fits the mood.
And you are always excellent with your builds.

Peter, that solo was perfect! Yeah you played some guitar ... what an understatement!

“Give it long enough, my dear
And it all just disappears”

The above line stands out amongst many fine ones.

It seems to us that the omitted lyric could be the start of another fine song!

Outstanding,

J&B

Nicely done guys. I especially like the lyrics and the outro.
Very enjoyable.

Appreciate that Tom.

Peter



Thanks a lot Scott

Peter