|
|
|
|
#304217 - 07/26/15 06:32 PM
[User Showcase]
NEW SONG POST: The Lighthouse Keeper
|
|
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6327
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6327
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: 4785
Veteran
Registered: 05/30/08
Posts: 4785
|
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!
|
|
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: 9502
Loc: Florida
Veteran
Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 9502
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: 825
Expert
Registered: 12/13/13
Posts: 825
|
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
|
|
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: 2873
Loc: Karlsruhe, Germany
Veteran
Registered: 06/22/12
Posts: 2873
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
|
|
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: 3180
Loc: The Netherlands
Veteran
Registered: 05/02/14
Posts: 3180
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  Rob and Anne-Marie
|
|
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: 1718
Loc: New Zealand
Expert
Registered: 05/23/10
Posts: 1718
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.
|
|
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: 4989
Loc: California
Veteran
Registered: 01/24/03
Posts: 4989
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
Veteran
Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2646
Loc: Kentucky
|
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.
|
|
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: 7792
Veteran
Registered: 04/03/09
Posts: 7792
|
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.
|
|
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
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: 10744
Loc: GA USA
Veteran
Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 10744
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
|
|
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: 6473
Loc: South Carolina
Veteran
Registered: 04/07/13
Posts: 6473
Loc: South Carolina
|
Simply superb in every aspect Greg. Beautiful song, performance and production.
Charlie
_________________________
BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2021:RB 2021, 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: 5532
Loc: Originally Missouri ... Now Al...
Veteran
Registered: 12/29/12
Posts: 5532
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 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
|
|
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: 3477
Loc: Florida
Veteran
Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 3477
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.
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: 6327
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6327
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: 6327
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6327
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: 6327
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6327
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: 6327
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6327
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand® Works Great in Windows® 11!
Here's an introductory look at RealBand® running on the preview version of Windows® 11!
Watch the video.
Customers LOVE Band-in-a-Box® 2021!
Check out some of the latest Band-in-a-Box® feedback we've received:
"There's a saying 'Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.' That's exactly what my friend did in 1990. He taught me how to use BIAB and I've used it hundreds of time to do arraignment and to jam with any style band."
"Love BIAB. I use it daily. Their support is great too!"
"RealTracks are amazing!!! I use BIAB for backtracks in my solo act... Still using the basic package and it's all need..."
"I have used Band in A Box for many years. If it would have been around when I was young, I would have been a much better musician. I use it for all my songs I have written and recorded. With Band In A Box I can sit in my room and sound like a whole band without having to put up with them!"
"If you know something about music and take the time to learn the program, you can make it do some amazing things. It is a great help to songwriters who want to demo their song without paying for studio time. It makes changes and tweaks much easier as well."
"Been using it for so many years. It's a great tool. The instruments that I don't have or play make up the void and it saves so much time. I use this program for every song I write."
"Great tool for the songwriter!"
"An essential part of my studio! I write songs on piano, but I'm not a pianist by a long way. BIAB is like having a roomful of session players in your studio, and just the simple act of taking your basic idea and hearing a skilled pianist play it presents so many new ideas and options you hadn't thought of."
"Powerful, easy to use, inexpensive and they even split the modest payments up if you want. No complaints. Lots of satisfaction."
"I added a steel guitar to a fully produced original. He followed every change like he was in the studio reading the chart. Fascinating technology!"
"I have used it to make backing tracks for six CD's with about 12 songs on each. They make a great gift!"
"It's simply a necessity - buy it now - the staff and support do a great job as well!"
"A great tool for us songwriters!"
"I LOVE Band-in-a-Box!"
"I see it as a very worthwhile investment. In fact, from initial purchase about 8 years ago, using the backing tracks I have made, my income from that investment has returned over 5,000% on the investment!"
continued...
Do you have something to say about Band-in-a-Box®? Post your own thoughts for Windows or Mac version today!
Band-in-a-Box® - Boxing Clever - Sound on Sound #TBT
Did you know that Band-in-a-Box® is more than 30 years old? I stumbled across this 1990 magazine article explaining the relatively new program, and think it's an enjoyable read for any Band-in-a-Box user - it really shows that we are always listening to user feedback when developing our program!
Read the article: Boxing Clever: Band-In-A-Box Software
A few of my favorite statements:
"The intention of PG Music's Band-In-A-Box package is to couple that speed and convenience with the improved flexibility of the personal computer. Versions are available for the Atari ST, Mac, and PC compatibles. Have the programmers succeeded? And can they rid themselves of the stigma of the auto-accompaniment section? Given the above state of affairs, the first hurdle that the program has to overcome is one of acceptance and, frankly, a name like 'Band-In-A-Box' is a bad start."
(I think our name was a great start!)
"The final results are, to say the least, impressive. Band-In-A-Box achieves something that most hardwired auto-accompaniment sections have never been able to do - inject a degree of feel into the music. It really does sound more human than so many of the computer generated pieces I've heard."
"...I'm quite convinced that PG Music will have a winner on their hands. This is one piece of software that you can get more out of than you put in."
#TipTuesday Convert RealDrums to MIDI!
Did you know that you can convert RealDrums to MIDI?
VintageGibson shared this tip to our Tips & Tricks forum, which is a great place to look for program tips from other Band-in-a-Box users!
Read this handy trick.
Have a program tip or trick of your own? Share it on our Tips & Tricks forum today!
Band-in-a-Box® 2021 Italian for Mac is Here!
Abbiamo lavorato tanto e abbiamo aggiunto 80 nuove funzionalità e una straordinaria collezione di nuovi contenuti, tra cui 202 RealTracks, nuovi RealStyles, SuperTracks MIDI, Studi Strumentali, Performance degli Artisti, Bonus RealDrums "Singoli", trascrizioni RealDrums, MultiStyles PAK 1, Xtra Styles PAKs 10 e 11, e altro ancora!
Pacchetti | Nuove Caratteristiche
Export / Print a List of Selected Styles (Band-in-a-Box®)
Did you know that you can export a list of your Styles from Band-in-a-Box®?
Head to this forum post in our "Tips & Tricks" forum, where VideoTrack shares another handy tip for Band-in-a-Box® users!
Band-in-a-Box® Chord List Resource
Ever wonder which chords are supported in Band-in-a-Box®? Access the information from the Help file in the program, or read through the list with our Online Manual!
Chord List - Mac Online Manual
Chord List - Windows Online Manual
Review the other Reference topcs while you're there - with explanations of the different menus and the Keystroke Commands (Hot Keys), you'll definitely learn something new!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34913 Members
66 Forums
70929 Topics
614543 Posts
Max Online: 2537 @ 01/19/20 07:09 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous Topic
Index
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean