My original thought was to use all real tracks. At the 11th hour I stripped out a Mandolin solo

and replaced it with my Acoustic guitar.

In the course of a conversation last night about hometowns, a friend had this observation. We

all carry with us a residue of where we come from. I couldn’t agree more…


RealTracks in song: 3498:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaMountain16thsB Ev16 070
RealTracks in song: 2880:Fiddle, Background AmericanaSlow16thsAndy Ev16 060
RealTracks in song: 3185:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Mountain16thsQuinn Ev16 070
RealTracks in song: 3185:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Mountain16thsQuinn Ev16 070 Simple
RealTracks in song: 1758:Banjo, Rhythm, Pop16ths Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 3370:Mandolin, Rhythm OldTimeSadBalladAndy Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: 1601:Mandolin, Rhythm Pop16Melodic Ev 065
RealDrums in song: Americana16thsSyncFred^2-a:QuarterHiHat,Snare , b:ClosedHiHat,Snare
Recorded in Logic Pro X
Plug Ins : Nectar 3, Neutron 4, Ozone 10, Tonal Balance, Waves LinMB, Waves, L3-LL Multi Limiter, Logic Pro Metering, Scuffam Amps S-Gear, Waves Bass Rider, Waves Vocal Rider, Waves BB Tubes

Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Tom Adams



https://tommyadamsmusic.com/track/3301673/your-west-virginia


https://on.soundcloud.com/7E5Bb




Your West Virginia


Up across the river from Ashland Ky

Down a road that’s a little hard to find

There’s a barn wood mailbox nailed onto a fence post

Like most things there it’s one of a kind


Two overgrown tire tracks head back to the holler

Where my grandad built the family store

He worked a 12 hour shift in the West Virginia coal mines

Came home at night and worked many more


No matter how far you go or where you plan on stopping

There’s that place where the sun rarely shines

It’s a deep dim smoky light like nothing you will ever see

No You can’t leave your West Virginia behind


If you ever go back to where you were a child

And look at all the changes you see

Every now and then you may get a little lucky

And remember how it all used to be


No matter how far you go or where you plan on stopping

There’s that place where the sun rarely shines

It’s a deep dim smoky light like nothing you will ever see

No You can’t leave your West Virginia behind


Up across the river from Ashland Ky

Down a road that’s a little hard to find

There’s a barn wood mailbox nailed onto a fence post

Like most things there it’s one of a kind

Tom...I don't know what the mandolin solo as going to sound like but you made the right choice for sure...your acoustic solo was top-notch and the fiddle solo was terrific also...love the melody...backwoods all the way with a little swamp stirred in...super track...great vocal and harmonies...one of the your best!

Hi Tommy. Love your voice on this. The guitar work is outstanding.
Very catchy. All the best with this fine tune. All the best. Rob4580

Sounds great: vocals, arrangement, guitar solo, fiddles. Excellent write.

You've painted the picture well with both the lyrics and the music. Love the guitar solo.

Very nice indeed Tommy. I could hear the bull frogs croaking, dogs barking, children playing and the pick axe of the miner. Enjoyed it all.

Thank you very much for your generous review. I appreciate you taking the time to comment, Tom

Hi Tommy,
I know what you mean about residue.
My grandparents and great grandparents were miners in the welsh valleys.
My dad managed to break the chain by finding a job in London.
I have 2 small suggestions which you can keep or sweep:

1."Came home at night and worked many more" may be harder hitting as,
"Came home one night and worked no more", although maybe not historically accurate if personal to you.
2. Where you go into the F chord in the chorus on "shines" there seems to be a mismatched note somewhere there to my ears.
Then again it may be my ears.

Good song, sung and mixed with the right amount of feeling.

Vic

Tom,

A solid write. Excellent "furniture". Paintin' pictures.

Great choice of tracks. A good BAND. Back-woods-y and "swampy".

Nice arrangement. Excellent mix.

A story well-told.

fj

Very good storytelling, I like your song a lot.

They say "home is where the heart is", but wherever your heart is, your hometown will always be special.

Thanks Rob. It’s great that you stopped by. Glad you liked it,Tom

Tom, this is great. I love the story, the feel, the music. I think Scott put very well, this isn't just a song, but a painting in my mind - painted by both the words and the music and the way you brought them together. I thought going with the acoustic lead guitar was a very good choice, just a very, very good song. I can see what Vic was talking about with the F cord, not that it doesn't work, but my mind had expected something different in the melody. And personally, I liked the line about working many more rather than no more. Thanks for posting this. It was a very enjoyable listen.

Brad

Loved the imagery in this tune, so well written! Production sounded first rate. Solos were ace. Great work.

Thanks David. I’m always glad to hear from you,Tom

Hey Tom,

This sure paints a nice picture. Good choice of tracks and a fine mix. I believe in always putting in a solo (or two) when you can! I enjoyed it... Some people try to shake that residue off, while others choose to embrace it!

Good Job!

Greg

Hi Tom,

I really like the picture you are painting with the lyrics, good story. Nice vocal melody, and excellent vocal.

Guitar solo is perfect, glad you decided to do your own instead of using the mando track

Good start to 2023!

Scott thanks for your nice review, Tom

Hi Tom
Superb story-telling, great vocal, excellent band and your acoustic solo is spot on. Love it.
Regards,
Leon

Well said, Tom. I sense my childhood in all experiences. Yea, ya can't leave your west Virginny behind. Just like your own behind, it follows you everywhere, and, man, I'm glad you brought it with you. Good write and very relatable. Also, sounds like a good call replacing the mando with your acoustic. Well done.

BT, Thanks for the very kind words. It's amazing the sounds that you can hear under the surface if you listen close enough, Tom

A very evocative song. Great, great job - love it. In the style of the masters, and so well done.

Vic, I really do appreciate your careful listening and your willingness to share your thoughts. Now for the sweep lol
1. Worked many more is a continuation of the lyric. He built the store at night and worked nights there. 2. The chords are unusual Am-Bb-F. Shines is on the Bb. Then it goes to F. It’s strange that you heard something there because I had a real clunker there and had to regenerate the banjo several times. If you think it’s bad now you should have heard it before! Thanks again and feel free to make suggestions anytime. Who knows I may keep one, Tom

Whoah!

Great song Tommy.

Lyrics are superb!!

Mix and sound is fabulous. (Great chord progression,too.)

Loved this one dude!!! Nice guitar playing. Sweet!

Tom

I'll quote Leon:

Superb story-telling, great vocal, excellent band and your acoustic solo is spot on. Love it.

Peter

Thanks, it was definitely a picture I had in my mind, Tom

Glad you liked it, Tom

Hi Tom,

I like your voice a lot and also the song/lyrics that gave nice images in my head, although I never been in Virginia, West nor East
That mailbox was a good starting point for this 'journey'.
When I read you skipped the mandolin solo, I thought that to be a bit of a shame, (I like the mandolins), but you succeeded to replaced it very well. So a good decision (I think...)

Hans

Thanks Brad. As I said to Vic the chords in that one spot are a bit unusual Am-Bb-F. It takes a little while to get used to it but it makes sense. I'm pleased that you liked it, Tom

Tom

“If you ever go back to where you were a child
And look at all the changes you see
Every now and then you may get a little lucky
And remember how it all used to be”

We LOVE that!

What a great lyric with rich, textured imagery.

The haunting melody and mountain music sound, along with your soulful vocals had us captivated, Tom.

It is so cool how these little daily pieces of life bring you such wonderful songs for us to enjoy.

Smooth solo too!

Awesome!

J&B

PS We've gotten so used to your amazing mixes that we almost forgot to mention it. Amazing!

The acoustic solo belongs - I can't imagine anything else there.
My only nit is a perennial - the sibilant stuff jumps straight into my skull with headphones. it may be the case that speakers a less aggressive i that range.
Wonderful song & performances.

Thanks, I appreciate it, Tom Greg, Thanks for giving it a spin and for the nice comments, Tom

Man Tommy! you make this sound so professional studio recording that is hard if at all know the difference.
Very well done.

Cheers

Mike B.

Thanks Dave. Glad you liked it, Tom Glad you came by. Thanks,Tom

Hello Tom
Excellent song
Sounds really great
The background track is so well done
And your vocals fit perfectly
Really fun to listen to
Excellent work
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

There's some places in WV that are more dangerous for a stranger to be, than the hood in South Los Angeles.

I liked this because it kept my guessing... not your typical 1,4,5 BG tune.

Nicely done.

Tom,

You are really putting out some great stuff! I love that Mountain Folk sound thing going on here! Your vocals are the perfect vehicle to deliver that message! The guitar solo was a wise choice, it was great! I don't think the mandolin would have topped that! What a great tune!

Thanks, T

Thanks Marty. Sometimes you just have to get out in front of your behind,Tom. What?!

Thanks,I appreciate it much,Tom Thanks David. I really appreciate your mention of the progression, Tom Thanks a lot Peter. Glad you liked it, Tom

Tommy.

its not my genre but i really loved this.
as i know a great song when i hear it.

superb lyrics....seriously mate. very poetic.

being an english bloke i always like all the different accents in the states.


great kudos to you. cos everything gels beautifully.

seriously you should try n' get this on commercial radio.

wonderfull.

happy 2023.

Thank you Hans for the very nice comments,Tom Thanks for the amazing review,Tom Glad you came by Ray. Thanks,Tom

Sounds like Huntington, Tom, hey? Memories of visits to family friends in Ironton, OH, which, at the time, was hopping. Nice song. Perfect kind of nostalgiac vibe.

Thanks Mike, Tom Andi, Thank you for stopping by and commenting,Tom Herb, thanks for bringing attention to the chord progression. I appreciate your careful listening,Tom

Hi, Tommy !


You used to say I did surprise you with
where the following chord would go but
you know, Tommy, this time it was your
turn to fool me ! ;-)

Excellent tune expertly performed !
I think this must be one of your
best !

Cheers
Dani

Torrey, thank you for your kind comments, Tom Thanks OM. I’m sure this will never be played on the radio. I appreciate you saying that but the reality of pitching songs is not the same as it was 20 years ago. Tom

Bingo! Good job putting together the clues. I haven’t been back in a long time. Hopefully this summer we will be passing through on our trip to the NE. Thanks for listening. I also lived a few places in Ohio when I was young, Tom You’re right! I have often commented on your chord progressions and now it’s your turn. Thanks for your compliments, Tom