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#304217 - 07/26/15 06:32 PM
[User Showcase]
NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
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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
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#304223 - 07/26/15 08:17 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 4580
Veteran
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 4580
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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!
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#304247 - 07/27/15 06:24 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 8222
Loc: Florida
Veteran
Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 8222
Loc: Florida
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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
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#304252 - 07/27/15 06:57 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: floyd jane]
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Registered: 12/13/13
Posts: 724
Journeyman
Registered: 12/13/13
Posts: 724
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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
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#304266 - 07/27/15 08:54 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 2868
Loc: Karlsruhe, Germany
Veteran
Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 2868
Loc: Karlsruhe, Germany
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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
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#304294 - 07/27/15 02:09 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 05/02/14
Posts: 3180
Loc: The Netherlands
Veteran
Registered: 05/02/14
Posts: 3180
Loc: The Netherlands
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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  Rob and Anne-Marie
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#304315 - 07/27/15 03:32 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 05/23/10
Posts: 1713
Loc: New Zealand
Expert
Registered: 05/23/10
Posts: 1713
Loc: New Zealand
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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.
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#304319 - 07/27/15 04:32 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 01/24/03
Posts: 4988
Loc: California
Veteran
Registered: 01/24/03
Posts: 4988
Loc: California
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Beautiful song.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Has a Barry Manillow feel/sound to my ears.
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#304333 - 07/27/15 06:17 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2646
Loc: Kentucky
Veteran
Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2646
Loc: Kentucky
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Great write and performance; thanks for sharing!
_________________________
My TunesPsalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
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#304334 - 07/27/15 06:22 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6939
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 6939
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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. As the sword chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer.
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#304344 - 07/27/15 06:52 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 02/12/14
Posts: 184
Loc: Edmonton,Canada
Apprentice
Registered: 02/12/14
Posts: 184
Loc: Edmonton,Canada
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My, but that's a pretty tune.
Well done!
Thanks for the music,
Dan
_________________________
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#304398 - 07/28/15 08:16 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 8802
Loc: GA USA
Veteran
Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 8802
Loc: GA USA
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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
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#304428 - 07/28/15 01:30 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 04/07/13
Posts: 5619
Loc: South Carolina
Veteran
Registered: 04/07/13
Posts: 5619
Loc: South Carolina
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Simply superb in every aspect Greg. Beautiful song, performance and production.
Charlie
_________________________
BiaB Ultra Pak+ 2020:RB 2020 Build 1. Dell Inspiron AIO Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, 7th Generation AMD A9-9425 Processor Five Core 3100 Mhz and 16GB DDR4 Memory.
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#304453 - 07/28/15 08:07 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 12/29/12
Posts: 4559
Loc: Originally Missouri ... Now Al...
Veteran
Registered: 12/29/12
Posts: 4559
Loc: Originally Missouri ... Now Al...
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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 2018 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
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#304473 - 07/29/15 05:13 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 3088
Loc: Florida
Veteran
Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 3088
Loc: Florida
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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
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#304510 - 07/29/15 08:32 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 11/19/12
Posts: 2360
Loc: Middletown, PA.
Veteran
Registered: 11/19/12
Posts: 2360
Loc: Middletown, PA.
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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
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#304674 - 07/30/15 01:18 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: Sundance]
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
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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
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#304675 - 07/30/15 01:19 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: floyd jane]
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
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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
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#304929 - 08/01/15 01:10 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: olemon]
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
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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
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#304930 - 08/01/15 01:13 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
[Re: boehm]
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 5564
Loc: Davis, CA
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"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
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RealBand 2020 for Windows Updated Harmonies Feature!
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(remember the first Audiophile version?!)
-Callie
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