Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >
You need to be logged in to post
Options
Index
#304217 - 07/26/15 06:32 PM [User Showcase] NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Hello forum friends. I have always loved water, particularly the ocean. I particularly love the northern California coast-many parts are absolutely beautiful. For Spring break of '14, my Family and I stayed in Point Arena in Mendocino county. That was the trip during which I wrote the lyrics to Real Good Time. We stayed at a place about 2 miles from the Point Arena lighthouse which is featured in the film FOREVER YOUNG with Mel Gibson, and NEED FOR SPEED. The latter was playing in the theater 50 miles north of there and we watched it during the trip. That was a cool experience to come back there after the film and connect the lighthouse to the climactic scene of the film (the film is very so-so). We also took the tour of the lighthouse and heard about the duties of the keepers. I was always intrigued by lighthouses, beacons in the night maintained by solitary men. It was this intrigue that motivated me to write this song. Hope you enjoy it! Comments much encouraged. Take care. Greg

THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER



Say a prayer for the lighthouse keeper
His loneliness is getting deeper
Pale light reaching into the distance
For some confirmation of existence
And his grey eyes are growin’ old

He learned his craft from his dad
Still laughs and cries over talks they had
High seas tales and pirates’ treasures
Noble lads and earthly pleasures
But now, the winds blow cold

He spends his days now in a fog
Nights are without end
Making entries in his log
Of visits from imaginary friends

Sand and lonely lighthouse keeper
Had a love once, couldn’t keep her
She blew in one day off the ocean
He stayed put, she stayed in motion
Like the tide, came and went

In a few more years now, he’ll be gone
No need to pass his knowledge on
His humanity is antiquated
His successor will be automated

He’ll be laid to rest for eternity
On a little hill above the sea
Next to his beloved father
Two lighthouse ghosts will scan the water
For the ghosts sailing by


https://soundcloud.com/gjohnson-2/lighthouse

Top
#304223 - 07/26/15 08:17 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 5060
Loc: Gulf Coast
Sundance Offline
Veteran

Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 5060
Loc: Gulf Coast
Greg,

What a great sounding production/arrangement and the lyrics are a wonderfully crafted visual and emotional story. I love lighthouses too, there's such a mystic about them and you can't help but let your mind wander to what it was like when a real human had to climb all those stairs. It never occurred to me to write a song about it. Kudos!
_________________________
Josie Beck Youtube Channel


Top
#304247 - 07/27/15 06:24 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 11094
Loc: Florida
floyd jane Offline
Veteran

Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 11094
Loc: Florida
Man, Greg! This is SO very good. In all regards.

A beautiful write - beginning to end. Paints a perfect picture... Such elegant language...and yet, conversational. Songwriting at the highest level.

The melody is gorgeous.

The production/arrangement is excellent. Reminds me of Springsteen's "Meeting Across The River" (one of my all-time favorites).

Beautiful vocal. Good mix.

"Sad and lonely lighthouse keeper
Had a love once, couldn’t keep her
She blew in one day off the ocean
He stayed put, she stayed in motion
Like the tide, came and went"

It does not get better than that.

(I read "The Light Between Oceans" not long ago... this captured those images perfectly)

I'm a fan (don't I sound like a blubbering one?...)

floyd


Top
#304252 - 07/27/15 06:57 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: floyd jane]
Registered: 12/13/13
Posts: 954
olemon Offline
Expert

Registered: 12/13/13
Posts: 954
Originally Posted By: floyd jane
Man, Greg! This is SO very good. In all regards.

A beautiful write - beginning to end. Paints a perfect picture... Such elegant language...and yet, conversational. Songwriting at the highest level.

The melody is gorgeous.

The production/arrangement is excellent.

Beautiful vocal. Good mix.

"Sad and lonely lighthouse keeper
Had a love once, couldn’t keep her
She blew in one day off the ocean
He stayed put, she stayed in motion
Like the tide, came and went"

It does not get better than that.



Greg,

I'm shamelessly stealing from Floyd, because he said it far better than I ever could.

And boy, did you ever send me down Memory Lane. My wife is from N. California. We met while I was stationed in Eureka. We're going back this fall on an anniversary tour.

And having sailed those west coast waters for several years - I spent many a watch taking bearings to Pt Arena Lt. I still remember the chart numbers. Here's a link to one of them you might find interesting. Take care.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18640.shtml
_________________________
My songs are here:
https://soundcloud.com/scott-h-olson

Top
#304266 - 07/27/15 08:54 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 2888
Loc: Karlsruhe, Germany
boehm Offline
Veteran

Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 2888
Loc: Karlsruhe, Germany
Hi Greg,

just very beautiful in all aspects. The sax solo
seems to be made exactly for this song.
I'm not touched by songs very often. This is
an exception.

Guenter
_________________________
http://www.21d.de/
Latest Song: What You Desire

Top
#304294 - 07/27/15 02:09 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 05/02/14
Posts: 3990
Loc: The Netherlands
RnAM Offline
Veteran

Registered: 05/02/14
Posts: 3990
Loc: The Netherlands
Hi Greg,

Very relaxed song! Nice piano, which RT is it?
Nice lyrics too.
Lots of lighthouses here in Holland, so this might as well have been a Dutch song wink

Rob and Anne-Marie
_________________________
We are Rob Meulman and Anne-Marie Bovenkamp from The Netherlands.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gsdNLE7_Gy8qavoOplQow/videos
http://rnam.net/



Top
#304315 - 07/27/15 03:32 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 05/23/10
Posts: 1719
Loc: New Zealand
RichMac Offline
Expert

Registered: 05/23/10
Posts: 1719
Loc: New Zealand
Very nice one Greg! Love the subtlety of the lyrics vocal and backing.

Confirmation of existence
Noble lads and earthly pleasures
visits from imaginary friends
humanity is antiquated

Just a few of the delicious tidbits.
Leaves me feeling mellow. Cheers.
_________________________
https://soundcloud.com/tuigorge



Top
#304319 - 07/27/15 04:32 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 01/24/03
Posts: 4994
Loc: California
Muzic Trax Offline
Veteran

Registered: 01/24/03
Posts: 4994
Loc: California
Beautiful song.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Has a Barry Manillow feel/sound to my ears.

Top
#304333 - 07/27/15 06:17 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2646
Loc: Kentucky
PgFantastic Offline
Veteran

Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2646
Loc: Kentucky
Great write and performance; thanks for sharing!
_________________________
My Tunes

Psalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.

Top
#304334 - 07/27/15 06:22 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 9022
Guitarhacker Offline
Veteran

Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 9022
Very nice work..... out of the box in one way and in the box in the other.

Your lyrics are fantabulous!
_________________________
You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com

Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.

You can make excuses or you can make progress but you can't do both.

Top
#304344 - 07/27/15 06:52 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 02/12/14
Posts: 188
Loc: Edmonton,Canada
big741 Offline
Apprentice

Registered: 02/12/14
Posts: 188
Loc: Edmonton,Canada
My, but that's a pretty tune.

Well done!

Thanks for the music,
Dan
_________________________


Top
#304398 - 07/28/15 08:16 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 13328
Loc: GA USA
Janice & Bud Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 13328
Loc: GA USA
floyd already quoted it but wow!!

"Sand and lonely lighthouse keeper
Had a love once, couldn’t keep her
She blew in one day off the ocean
He stayed put, she stayed in motion
Like the tide, came and went"

I see no reason to try and parse out
everything that is so good about this.
Both of us had rather just kick back
and enjoy it all again.

As an aspiring writer I am humbled.

Thanks for this addition to our SC
playlist!

J&B
_________________________
J&B Videos
J&B Soundcloud
J&B Website

Top
#304428 - 07/28/15 01:30 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 04/07/13
Posts: 7702
Loc: South Carolina
Charlie Fogle Offline
Veteran

Registered: 04/07/13
Posts: 7702
Loc: South Carolina
Simply superb in every aspect Greg. Beautiful song, performance and production.


Charlie
_________________________
BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2023:RB 2023, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.

Top
#304453 - 07/28/15 08:07 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 12/29/12
Posts: 6734
Loc: Originally Missouri ... Now Al...
Al-David Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/29/12
Posts: 6734
Loc: Originally Missouri ... Now Al...
Hi Greg ...

what a lovely song! This is sweet yet poignant ... and so enjoyable. We loved everything about this. Simply put .. a wonderful musical project from beginning to end. This is a great example when the sum of the parts makes the whole as good as it can be. We loved it!

Alan & Di
_________________________
BIAB 2022 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win10*8GB DDR4*I5-6th Gen*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120 Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar

Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops


Top
#304473 - 07/29/15 05:13 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 3810
Loc: Florida
tommyad Offline
Veteran

Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 3810
Loc: Florida
Greg, I spent the last week camped on the beach in the Fl Keys staring directly at the Tennessee Reef lighthouse. This is the only unmanned lighthouse in the Florida Keys that still has a lantern and it has a Fresnel lens. It is still in operation today. Also walked past the Key West lighthouse across from Hemingway's house. Since I had the visuals to go along with the song it made listening extra special. This is very well written, produced and sung. A touchingly beautiful lyrical and mood piece. Glad to see you toned down the brightness on the vocal. It is perfect. The melody at times is reminiscent of something that I just can't put my finger on. Really great work and a gentle reminder of better days gone past. Top notch all the way! Tom

Top
#304510 - 07/29/15 08:32 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 11/19/12
Posts: 2360
Loc: Middletown, PA.
44kfl Offline
Veteran

Registered: 11/19/12
Posts: 2360
Loc: Middletown, PA.
Beautiful melody and song, love the easy flow, love the piano and sax. Well written, made me think of Brian Wilson. I'd like to know if that's a piano real track or super midi also, wherever it comes from it's very nice.

Kenny

Top
#304674 - 07/30/15 01:18 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: Sundance]
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Thanks so much Josie!! I always look for you feedback and it was a nice treat to see you first to post. Really dig you Rhino song! Take care. Greg

Top
#304675 - 07/30/15 01:19 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: floyd jane]
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Thanks for the wonderful review Floyd! It means a great deal to me. You are truly a Zen master songwriter. I truly treasure your kind words (and your song posts)! Take care. Greg

Top
#304929 - 08/01/15 01:10 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: olemon]
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Thanks for the nice reply Scott! I checked out your link. Never seen a map like that. Very cool! You've been doing some really excellent stuff lately. Always look forward to hearing more. Take care. Greg

Top
#304930 - 08/01/15 01:13 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper [Re: boehm]
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6793
Loc: Davis, CA
"I'm not touched by songs very often. This is
an exception."

Guenter, this is truly one of the greatest compliments I've ever received. That's why I write-to try to touch people's emotions. Great to know that I occasionally succeed. Absolutely love your remixes. Every one is so much better than the originals. You are truly creative!! Take care. Greg

Top
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >


ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Holiday Hours

Saturday, September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. This day is also being recognized by employers on Monday, October 2nd.

We will have limited hours this weekend:

Saturday, Sept 30: 8am PDT - 4pm PDT
Sunday, Oct 1: closed
Monday, Oct 2: 8am PDT - 4pm PDT

Regular hours resume on Tuesday, October 3rd.

Review - Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Windows is Overflowing with Features!

Dennis posted his very thorough Band-in-a-Box® review recently, where he dives into some of the new features added with version 2023: Sound-Guy's Band-in-a-Box Review

Read his thoughts on the Download & Install Manager, partial track regeneration, Playable RealTracks, Audio Editing, the addition of SynthMaster, the VST DAW Plugin, and more!

"Band-in-a-Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is, without negative connotation, a monster of a program. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. No DAW can do some of the things BIAB does, while BIAB can do a lot that DAWs do."

Band-in-a-Box® Tutorials for Low-vision and Blind Program Users

Our friends at EyesFree_Tutorials have just released their Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2!

Created for low-vision and blind program users, this collection of Band-in-a-Box for Windows tutorials includes 31 audio instruction files and 19 music files for practice, plus help documents. Specific topics include "ABACA, let's make a song form," "Recording melody and lead-in," "Playing and editing: part markers; the handy clipboard. The play function. Search and replace," and more!

Learn more about their new tutorials, and connect with Roy & Gudrun to order the Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2 here.

Introducing... ChatPG!

Looking for answers to your questions about Band-in-a-Box? From "How do I ____?" to "What do I ____?" to "What is ____?" and more, you'll find your answers when you ask ChatPG!

We will be constantly updating the resources for this powerful addition to our website based on suggestions & feedback, as well as all of the questions that have been asked by program users and website visitors.

Videos! Get To Know XPro Styles PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16 for Band-in-a-Box® 2023

XPro Styles PAK 5 adds 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin!

Here's just a taste of what XPro Styles PAK 5 has in store: electronic Latin funk, spacey dancehall grooves, soulful Americana ballads, heavy house beats, vibin' cool jazz, rollicking country train beats, playful pop country jams, gritty blues rock, modern disco funk, moody synthwave, subdued bossa nova, lo-fi jazz, and many more! Pick up XPro Styles PAK 5 today!

What are XPro Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). Each PAK includes over 100 styles!

XPro Styles PAKs aren't exclusive to Pro users, there's a huge range of RealStyles available for everyone - even Audiophile customers! That's right, XPro Styles PAKs can be used with ANY Band-in-a-Box® 2023 package!

XPro Styles PAK 5: https://youtu.be/QdhS9tc0y_s


Xtra Styles PAK 16 includes an absolute plethora of styles... 200 to be exact! 50 new styles each for Jazz, Country, Rock & Pop, and Praise & Worship!

Take a gander at what you can expect to find: modern disco funk, exciting gospel shout, busy jazz fusion, soulful R&B ballads, various Americana styles, modern pop country, blistering heavy metal, uplifting worship rock, lo-fi hip hop, a plethora of progressive rock, old-timey autoharp, modern surf rock, and many more!

What are Xtra Styles PAKs?
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). With over 2,600 styles included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-16, the possibilities are endless!

Xtra Styles PAK 16 requires the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® version 2023. They won't work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the 2023 UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition..

Xtra Styles PAK 16: https://youtu.be/KP1svm_RMfI


How do I know if I have XPro Styles PAKs or Xtra Styles PAKs?
You can find out in Band-in-a-Box® by clicking the "Add-ons" button in the StylePicker. Show me how.

Just Released - XPro PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16 for Band-in-a-Box® 2023!

We're back with 300 new RealStyles included in XPro Styles PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16!

XPro Styles PAK 5 adds 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin!

Xtra Styles PAK 16 includes an absolute plethora of styles... 200 to be exact! 50 new styles each for Jazz, Country, Rock & Pop, and Praise & Worship!

Amp up your Band-in-a-Box® 2023 experience when you add XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs!

Each PAK can be purchased for $49... Order XPro Styles PAKS | Order Xtra Styles PAKs

Mac User? Click here for your OS specific announcement.

Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac - Translations Available!

The Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac German, French, and Italian translations are complete!

Already using the English version? Download a language patch here.

Have you been waiting to order a translated version? Here are some handy links for you:
German: www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=mac&lang=de
French: www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=mac&lang=fr
Italian: www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=mac&lang=it

Forum Stats
37904 Members
67 Forums
79192 Topics
706360 Posts

Max Online: 2537 @ 01/19/20 07:09 AM
Newest Members
coder, DanYel, Chris Peters, MarkPiercy, Aisling

37903 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
MarioD 117
rayc 82
Rob Helms 78
Janice & Bud 78
rsdean 77
Rustyspoon# 64
musocity 56
BabuMusic 55
Bass Thumper 50
floyd jane 49
Today's Birthdays
Genaro Imperatore, Jack McCarty, SMaron40