A co-write with Bill Osofsky

The BAND:

RealTracks in style: ~~518:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~365:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 852:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm NashvillePopClean Ev 120 (B:arp)
RealTracks in song: ~~2051:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1762:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Pop16thsArp Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: 1533:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopPowerPushArp Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 2024:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CountryJohn Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1760:Fiddle, Background Pop16ths Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~409:Fiddle, Background George Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven8^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

I played another acoustic guitar track.



BACK IN ATHENS

saw a girl that i used to know last night at the mall
i called out her name but she didn't seem to recognize me at all
guess i got a bit thinner, my hair was now grayer than brown
and here we were a thousand miles from our old hometown.
we chatted a while, then goodbye, a peck on the cheek
she left me with my melting ice cream and that old memory

      it took me back to athens
      when i was single and twenty-one
      drinkin' cold margueritas
      with you in the hot georgia sun
      guess that i'll never forget the way things once had been
      for you and me back in athens.

i traded our green grass for cactus and rocks on the lawn
threw out my old red bulldog sweatshirt, the one you always had on
two golden rings are stuck way in the back of a drawer
along with the pictures i can't bear to see anymore
i started a new life, i thought i'd relearn how to smile
and sometimes i'm better, but way more than once in a while

      i find i'm back in athens
      when i was married and thirty-two
      sittin' out on the porch
      on a clear georgia night with you
      guess that i'll never forget the way things once had been
      for you and me back in athens

i've had a few not so special romances
but i know no one else will ever do
i'm still in love with you.

      my heart goes back to athens
      when i was cryin' and forty-three
      when the lord called your name
      and took you forever from me
      i know i'll never forget the way things once had been
      you and me back in athens
      back in athens



Thanks for listening.
Comments of any kind.
Have at it.

fj

Hi Floyd.
This moves along nicely with your usual smooth vocal and well written lyrics.

I'm a little jealous of you Americans being able to use the name of a town romantically.
I can't imagine a town in the UK used in the same way. I have tried though.

Vic

So far I only read the lyrics, and I must say this is an excellent song. Well, I saw your name on it so I guess I knew that going in. Now I'm gonna listen.

Wow, after listening, I must say I was right. What an incredible mix. You had me laughing at your confession of playing another acoustic guitar. The Style came with 2 and you added 2 more then added your special magic. There's no way to pick out all five of you, but that wonderful mix nullifies the need to search. Everything is so tight. Terrific melody and excellent vocals. The cello was another favorite.

Well, this one got me real good. I was reading the lyrics as the song played, wondering which of them was at fault for the divorce, and then POW! It was a little like that Bruce Willis movie where it turns out he was dead all along. Musically, it sounded great as always. I look at your list of RTs and I gotta think I must be doing something wrong, cuz I don't use that many on a song. I'm sure it's more work to do it that way, but just listen to the results! Fine, fine work.

Like Marty, I read the lyrics first and you tell a wonderful story.
A bit sad, but that's life sometimes.
As always I LOVE your singing and the harmonies you come up with.
Choice of instruments, arrangement and mix are very good, I like how you make all those instruments sound open and wide.


Yeah, I guess 'Upton Snodsbury' wouldn't have the same vibe

A really clever narrative in the wonderful lyrics...you had me wondering, hoping and then shattered the dream of possibilities.
The string addition was subtle and really well placed.
Cool band, lovely vocal and a fab. song.

floyd

Excellent song and a compelling narrative.

The mix with all those instruments is organic and sounds great.

Another in a long list of superb songs.

Peter

BLOODY EARWORM of the best kind.
I was making a cup of tea & the chorus was running through my skull.
I was doing an internet search & the chorus was running through my skull.
I was cleaning & the chorus was running through my skull.

Hey man, a really nice ballad.

Really love the warm feel on this one. Great job to both of you!

Happy New Year.

But come on Vic, what if you were climbing up on Solsbury Hill and you could see the city lights and an eagle flew out of the night?! Wouldn't you grab your things and go back home????

Smooth and mellow.

In fact, so mellow I'd have been caught by surprise by the final chorus... if I hadn't been skimming through the comments and - SPOILER ALERT - Rob hadn't spilled the beans. It's not like the lyrics didn't hint at something, I just didn't expect it to go there.

Excellent vocal - clear and easy to hear through the mix. Emotive as usual.

Good job by you and Bill with the write. Lovely instrumentation.

Then again, there's no way the US could match the quality of something like "West Ham for the CUP!", Muswell Cowboys, Rutland World News or the swank of Chelsea or Carnaby Street.

Always good sir.
Thanks for posting.

Man, such a good write! Ending took me by surprise, very sad.

Great way to start off 2023, wonderful!

Thanks, Vic.




Thanks, Marty....

floyd...you remind me of a high-jumper...just when you think the bar's been set high enough you just keep raising it...this song is so well done in every way...I'm most impressed by how clean the track is...everything sits in it's place perfectly...the lyrics are incredible and tell the story in a engaging way...your vocals are spot-on...I always look forward to your posts...I'm a big fan!!

Another great one Floyd, but this one kicks it up a notch even for one of yours. As always, an impeccable mix and use of the Biab tracks. Fabulously written. The progression of the song and story are done perfectly, picks you up, draws you in and surprises you at the end.

All of the accolades that I was thinking already has been said.

All I can add is that this is one of the best if not the best story ever put to music.

Loved it.

Very nice, Floyd. The ending kind of takes us by surprise.

Very cool story line in the song Floyd. Super vocal and loved the instrumentation and production. Beautiful song.

Hi Floyd
what a great song
A really remarkably beautiful lyric
And you sang it just as well
And the ending made me sad at first,
but I could still feel the joy of the good times in your voice
Wow. that is music
Thanks and many greetings
Andi ;-)

Floyd, what can I say except top shelf all the way.
You have a skill that blends music, story telling and vocals that convey emotion like few others here can.

Simply fabulous.

If I saw an eagle there, I'd give up alcohol for life.

Floyd,
A very well crafted narrative; completely surprised me actually as the first verse is so emotionally ho-hum... the knockout at the end really puts a lump in the throat.
Fine backing band, and, as always, a crystal clear, warm vocal.
Great song!

Robert

What a heart-touching story lyric. Everything about this sounds good, particularly the guitar sound and the melody. Just as Ray said, the chorus stays with you. This one just shot up the Floyd chart.

Thanks, TM. I told Bill when I started working with the lyric that he sent me that I "hate dead wife songs". They are typically so manipulative - but I thought he handled it in a unique way...so proceeded...
I have a tendency to end up with a lot of RTs because I am using them to change up the underlying sound slightly as the song progresses (they never appear all at the same time). I don't usually use a Style - I simply pick RTs that will fit as I go....



Thanks, B.D. - the story-line is all Bill's doing, so he deserves the credit for that....

It's a good thing the tempo wasn't any slower or I might have ended up sobbing. Clever use of the 21,32,43. I always know the mix will be good, the choice and editing of the real tracks will be good and your harmonies will be spot on. So I concentrate my listening to your lead vocal and how the emotion hits me. Yes it worked-great job! Of course I study the write which is my favorite part of your work. This one is high up there along with many of your greatest hits catalogue. You are just really good at this, especially love songs. Looking forward to the next one, Tom

Thanks, ray!




Thanks, David...




Thanks, David....

Hi FloyD I agree this is a bar razor. loved the way you choose instruments, for me the lyrics were very thought provoking and bittersweet express nicely. a well written story thanks for sharing, Eric

Hey Floyd,

I'm back!

This is such a nice listen. For sure up to your normal excellence! I love that chord progression. (Always have)

The instrumentation is wonderful. I really like the cello in the bridge! The story caught me a little off guard... wasn't expecting her to die.

Anyway, another song that proves what a talent you are! Nice job!

Greg

PS
I'm finishing up a new song and should be posting it soon.

Nicely done....

I liked how you changed the lyrics in the choruses to move the time line along.

I liked the twist at the end. Wasn't expecting that. I had to go back and reexamine the lyrics in V1 after that.

Good work. For me personally, the bass was a bit light but it worked well in the context of the song as you recorded it.

Seriously Floyd, give a guy/gal a warning!
Do you not realize that people might listen to songs in their vehicle, in heavy traffic, that's not moving, with people looking staring at them with concern? Not cool. Not cool at all.

Anyway...

It's hard for me NOT to go into all the things I hear you and Bill are doing so well. There are just too many. The phrase "next level" is used a bit too often these days, but in this case, I really do believe it applies.

There are a number of words I wouldn't think to put together as "rhymes" that you made work so well. Once quick example green grass/cactus. There are others obviously as well, but it's THAT kind of thing that notches everything up.

The time progression treatment with numbers, as others have mentioned, uniquely creates interest. Also 1st chorus sitting in the hot Georgia Sun then later clear Georgia night. Brilliant. Small view being day to night, larger view being early life to a passing. Crazy good!

Of course, I always like it when someone can lead into a chorus lyrically as well as musically...


I'm not sure what's yours and what would be Bill's so you reach get a prize.

The choice and placement of instruments also had me wowed. Again, without going into too much, adding lap steel in the second chorus really moved it in a slightly different way without being too obvious. I hate using the phrase "ear candy" because people seem to throw that phrase around a bit too much in my opinion however how you did it…THAT is how it's done! Fantastic!
How else? Well, let's add cello for the bridge! Loved that!
Final chorus, why not fiddle?
NONE of it was obnoxious, maybe at times for a lot of people, not noticed. But without it, a song can become a bit repetitive and boring without knowing why. THAT is what ear candy is supposed to take care of...as though you didn't know that.

The last thing I will say is I also REALLY appreciate that you do NOT do. Everything has it's pacing and isn't rushed. You allow the melody and sections of the song to breathe when they need to. It's not filling every space. I don't mean from an orchestration standpoint, but from that combination of arrangement and production that is very difficult to truly teach. Example you say? Just one would be the space between the 2nd chorus and the bridge. PERFECTION in my opinion. Nothing long, just time to pause for a moment and take in what you've already taken in before moving on. You do this in your individual lines as well, as I'm sure you know.

Anyway, this is one reason I don't post as much. I could go on and on and spend 2 days on a reply. Instead I speak it and have the voice to text do it's thing...poorly I might add. If something's not clear or seems way off in what I said, my apologies in advance. I've really learned I don't care for leaving comments. They are much less conversation and edited...aside from me obviously not proofing mine. This time, I just felt overwhelmed in the need to say something. If you knew how much I dislike writing comments, you would understand how much I loved what you have done with this song.

Thanks a million for sharing a song of this caliber. The forum is very lucky to have your and Bill's contributions !

Again, consider a slight heads up though. $268 later my therapist agrees it's a great song.

A melancholic story turned into a beautiful song.
Bill and you did a wonderful job!

Rob and Anne-Marie

Floyd,

Love the ascending chord progression on the acoustic guitar in the opening (and thereafter)--nice production choice there. Terrific write--sadly sweet and touching. Great vocal and harmonies to go with a stellar production. Not much I can add to the many deserving accolades above. Just so, so well done!

My best to you,

Deej

Your interpretation of Bill’s lyric is powerful (as Janice just said.)

Those sublime vocals and your melody, along with the stellar arrangement and clean, open mix made this sad story somehow hopeful.

I want to learn how to use RT’s the way you do when I grow up. The way you bring them in and out to subtly enhance the melody is remarkable.

Great collab!

J&B

Thanks, Rob.




Appreciated, Dave....




Thanks, Dan...




Thanks for the nice comments, Brad....

Thanks, Mario....




Thanks, ed....




Thanks, Scott....

Hi Floyd
Another first class song. Beautifully sung as usual, lovely choice of instruments and an unexpected twist in the story. Kudos to Bill on the lyrics.
Regards,
Leon

Floyd,

I payed special attention to how the realtracks worked together on this track and couldn't hear anything that sounded out of place or awkward as they sometimes will in conjunction with chord changes and how they fit the melody! You did a brilliant job making sure this sounded top shelf!

It's another beautiful FJ Country ballad, with excellent lyrics, performance and production!

Thanks, T

Thanks, Andi...



Thanks, Steve...




Thanks, Robert...

Thanks, Scott...




Appreciated, Tom....




Thanks, eric...




Good to see you back, Greg...

This is my favorite song of yours. Great job-- I was right there with you in the mall--
Bob

Thanks, Herb...




C - thanks for the great review/comments.
Most of the things you mention regarding the lyric is all Bill's doing. He is an excellent lyricist with a terrific sense of prosody.
I can take credit for the music/instrumentation/etc...
Your therapist can take credit for whatever she chooses





Thanks, y'all...




Appreciated, Deej...



Thanks! (I think you know just what to do with those RTs already... )

"i traded our green grass for cactus and rocks on the lawn
threw out my old red bulldog sweatshirt, the one you always had on
two golden rings are stuck way in the back of a drawer
along with the pictures i can't bear to see anymore"

I loved these particular lyrics, but the whole song is beautiful. I cried. Well done - that doesn't happen so often any more.

You have this particular voice that is recogniseable a mile away ... no-one can beat you at what you do, and this kind of song is easily something you excel at, i.e. that kind of experienced, mature voice - looking, somewhat wryly, back over the years - understating things and letting them speak for themselves. Most importantly, you've moved me - and, I suspect, many more - to tears. Well done.

Thanks, Leon.




Thanks, Torrey....




Appreciate that, Bob...




Thanks, James...

Hi, Floyd !

Your best undoubtedly (so far) !
that´s for sure !
I just loved those chords, the
lovely background and your sublime
singing !

Number one hit, straight for the charts !

Another Masterpiece !

Thanks Dani