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#579350 02/03/20 04:40 PM
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This song began with the phrase "dead reckoning"
Cambridge Dictionary:"a way of calculating the position of a ship or aircraft using only information about the direction and distance it has travelled from a known point"
Replace "ship or aircraft" with most of us and that seems a good description of how we travel through life.
The title line I stumbled on from a travel website... not original, but fair game for an alert songwriter!

The Million Star Hotel

Style is _APPLES.STY (Apples Even-16 Americana Ballad)

RealTracks in style: 2877:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060
RealTracks in song: 2667:Pedal Steel, Background DreamySingleNote Ev 075
RealTracks in style: 3159:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsBrentFX Ev16 060
RealTracks in song: 3058:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking SongwriterAlternating8thsQuinn Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 2542:Pedal Steel, Background ModernBalladAtmosphere Ev16 065
RT 1596 Acoustic guitar
RealDrums [in style:AmericanaRoots16th^01-a:Toms, b:Snare
RT 3156 Fiddle5string
RT3023 vocal oohs
*******************



The Million Star Hotel

danger don`t go there
on charts you can`t rely
stay home hang a picture
in your little box of sky

sit by the window
in the land of watch and wait
for a ship sails back roads
as your breath on the glass fades

there`s that loner
leaning into the wind
try to read on his face
the map of all he`s seen
by dead reckoning he travels
under heaven`s spell
tonight he`ll sleep
in the million star hotel

doubt gives a last shiver
compass reads magnetic south
city folds around you
hold course through crowds

in a prairie night ocean
lost in wonder sea grass
a coyote circles
wild eyes on your trespass

there`s that loner
leaning into the wind
try to read on his face
the map of all he`s seen
by dead reckoning he travels
under heaven`s spell
tonight he`ll sleep
in the million star hotel

feel the motion
moving at the speed of hope
destination hidden
eye on the sky hand on the rope
by dead reckoning we travel
under heaven`s spell
all we know is we sleep
in the million star hotel

© Robert Cordrey Jan. 2020

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Super visual Robert. Cool vocal and harmonies. Loved the backtrack


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Evocative lyrics - you're a very poetic writer. The pedal steel does a good job setting the tone, as does your voice.

A very enjoyable listen! laugh


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Love the way you write! Man, just one great line after another.

Nice use of the pedal steel, it really sets the mood early on, and nice harmonies in the chorus.

Enjoyed this one.

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Robert,

Cool.

Your unique, picturesque lyric style...your impassioned vocal...the steel...the harmonies - all high points in this one.

Neat title! (Dead Reckoning would make a good one, too!!)

Enjoyed.

fj

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coyote, wild eyes on your trespass. That was my favorite line. Also breath on the glass fades. Very Updike to me.

This felt a little more like a song rather than poetry set to music. Good production.

I'm a big fan, as I think you know.


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Wonderful song! Very good composition and mix... and I really, really like the lyrics. Passages like this:

"doubt gives a last shiver
compass reads magnetic south
city folds around you
hold course through crowds"

...is just so poetic. Love it!

Really well done job!

Edited because I need to ask: Is there really a hotel called that?

Thanks for sharing,
Will

Last edited by Will Josef; 02/04/20 01:50 PM.
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Originally Posted By: Scott C
Super visual Robert. Cool vocal and harmonies. Loved the backtrack


Thank you, Scott...backing has those sustained notes on pedal steel I mentioned to you.

Originally Posted By: dcuny
Evocative lyrics - you're a very poetic writer. The pedal steel does a good job setting the tone, as does your voice.

A very enjoyable listen! laugh


David,
I appreciate that!

Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
Love the way you write! Man, just one great line after another.

Nice use of the pedal steel, it really sets the mood early on, and nice harmonies in the chorus.

Enjoyed this one.


Dave,
Thank you! I scribbled more and threw away more lines than usual for this one- its very encouraging to hear you liked what`s left.

Robert

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Wonderful lyric. The backing is very effective and well put together. Everything sounds good, and the whole package takes me on a mental and emotional journey that will likely be different next time I hear this. And I will.


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I can't decide if your songs are perfect for sipping whiskey, cannabis or a mountain retreat.
Lovely narrative and melody.
Mentioning dead reckoning in proximity to and million stars struck me as a little odd - but I think I already had a sextant in my mind.
Lovely stuff.


Cheers
rayc
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Wonderful lyrics, and a enjoyable delivery, Robert. Perfect arrangement to bring out the mood.


Enjoy whatever happens!
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Robert,
There are tunes that plug you in like a appliance to outlet, there are tunes that are done well, but far from emotional state, there are some that are bursting with fine detail like insane kaleidoscope.
I do not worry about those things when listening to your songs. I just fall back and enjoy. Robert, beautiful tune. Everything shines, especially lyrics and vocals.This was a treat to my ears and mind. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

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Love the lyrics! So poetic, they stand on their own.

Very nice!

Steve


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Conjures up all sorts of wonderful earth images.
Well done!

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Seems very lonely & desolate to me...
Good vocals, backing, lyrics, & delivery...
But if given a choice...
I rather not spend a night
in that "million star hotel" smile


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Originally Posted By: floyd jane
Robert,

Cool.

Your unique, picturesque lyric style...your impassioned vocal...the steel...the harmonies - all high points in this one.

Neat title! (Dead Reckoning would make a good one, too!!)

Enjoyed.

fj


Thanks for your comments,Floyd.
Until the day before I posted, the song was called "Dead Reckoning"... the last line just seemed more sparkly!
And now I can still use the original title for a gunslingers` shootout song or something.

Originally Posted By: TuneMonger
coyote, wild eyes on your trespass. That was my favorite line. Also breath on the glass fades. Very Updike to me.

This felt a little more like a song rather than poetry set to music. Good production.

I'm a big fan, as I think you know.




Thanks for those very kind comments.
On this song I wrote the melody before I had more than a few lines of lyrics... just saying; I`m wordy there`s no doubt, but hardly ever have lyrics done before I think of the music.


Originally Posted By: Will Josef
Wonderful song! Very good composition and mix... and I really, really like the lyrics. Passages like this:

"doubt gives a last shiver
compass reads magnetic south
city folds around you
hold course through crowds"

...is just so poetic. Love it!

Really well done job!

Edited because I need to ask: Is there really a hotel called that?

Thanks for sharing,
Will


Will,
I don`t know where that hotel is... I`ve stayed in a few the owners overrated that much though!
Thanks very much for saying the lyrics connected with you- its encouraging to hear that.

Robert

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Back in the early 90's when we started listening to a lot
of Americana several of our favorite artists formed a
company called Dead Reckoning...

So nowadays we are listening to Americana style music on the
forum...cool.

The poetry is wonderful and the emotive vocal captures,
along with the band, the feeling of motion as the tune
progresses.

Janice's comment, "As always wonderful imagery!"

Indeed.

Topped off with a very nice mix also.

Nice!

J&B


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Robert, you are a poet turned lyricist, and you have mastered that!

Great backing tracks, excellent vocals, but man those outstanding lyrics did it for me.

Outstanding work Robert.


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It's called the Heineken Maneuver.

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Originally Posted By: Tangmo
Wonderful lyric. The backing is very effective and well put together. Everything sounds good, and the whole package takes me on a mental and emotional journey that will likely be different next time I hear this. And I will.


I`m glad you enjoyed the journey!

Originally Posted By: rayc
I can't decide if your songs are perfect for sipping whiskey, cannabis or a mountain retreat.
Lovely narrative and melody.
Mentioning dead reckoning in proximity to and million stars struck me as a little odd - but I think I already had a sextant in my mind.
Lovely stuff.


I don`t know much about sipping whisky-those other things you mentioned quite a bit!
I was counting on some sailor to notice that, strictly speaking, stars aren`t involved in dead reckoning...and that most landlubbers like me think "winging it" when they hear the phrase.
Thanks for your always interesting comments.


Originally Posted By: BabuMusic
Wonderful lyrics, and a enjoyable delivery, Robert. Perfect arrangement to bring out the mood.

I appreciate your listen!

Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Robert,
There are tunes that plug you in like a appliance to outlet, there are tunes that are done well, but far from emotional state, there are some that are bursting with fine detail like insane kaleidoscope.
I do not worry about those things when listening to your songs. I just fall back and enjoy. Robert, beautiful tune. Everything shines, especially lyrics and vocals.This was a treat to my ears and mind. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.


Misha,
Wow! If I every write album notes I`d like to use these great comments... and to think someone can actually relate to my "insane kaleidoscope" has made my day and then some.

Robert

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Robert

Certainly musically one of your best - great sound, mix and melody with very nice harmonies.
Lyrics as always a stand out.

Excellent.

Peter

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