JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum *** Dusty Road ***

A tornado sweeps through a small town, taking his family... and though he lives on, he never recovers.




DUSTY ROAD
by MisterNelson

Nelson, You really can spin a tale. This is like some Southern Gothic tragedy. A man trying to outrun the past on his own dusty road. The music is inventive. I think I heard some jazz overtones and chords. Not that I'm an expert on that. The bridge was perfect, filling in the details of the tragedy that sent the singer down his dusty road. Another Nelson classic for the archives. Well done, friend.

Hi Mister Nelson,

You keep getting better & better, this is a really nice tune and your vocals still shine through all that dust.
Happy New Year to you too & don't stay gone so long.


Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Hi Nelson -- This is wonderful...gives me the chills!! -- Lisa

Nelson,

A VERY enjoyable listen. Interesting lyric. Good vocal!
Nice simple production. The transition into the bridge could use some work. It needs at least one instrument holding a chord so there isn't that one moment of dead silence - like it was patched in...

floyd

I was listening to the local independent radio station while driving my daughter around and I heard a voice that sounded very familiar -- I thought it was you! Was it? Do you have a CD out now?

This tune is a pretty good one, you are an interesting writer and performer. I couldn't tell on the first listen if floyd had a good point about the bridge.

I hope that was your tune on the radio.

good song! I like your melody and your voice. Its very weathered. like a cowboy coming home from a long trek. He was attacked by Indians and lost some dear cowboy friends. Now he drinks his nights away and sings sad cowboy songs. songs about his glory days. about that dusty road he used to travel.

Your lyrics are terrific and guitar part in combination with the piano give a nice feel. Your lead guitar adds just the right amount of competition with your voice but never overpowers it. I like it. However I did think it was a tad bit too long for my taste.

Hey Dan
Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words.
In did the version about a year ago.
I fell in love with the idea of living life as a rolling stone but I figured it was time to put some meat on the bone. (Story) So rewrote the second half of each verse and added the bridge.

You know me brother, I ain’t no dang musician. I just play one in my head.
5 chords to the whole thing.

Calvin and Lisa, the dynamic duo, really appreciate you both stopping in.

Floyd
The silence is intentional, sort of like a story teller taking a breath before revealing the meat of the story. Folks tell me that silence is a no no, but I can’t help myself.
I definitely understand your point and appreciate your time and input.

Unfortunately Kev, that wasn’t me on the radio.

As for the bridge or the silence preceding it, man, that’s just one of those things, I love. I can’t really explain it, though out of respect to folks taking the time to comment on my post, I do wish I could better explain my musically wayward ways.

Mr. Nelson,

You are a master story teller my friend. You are perfecting this song to be a most delicious feast. I know someday I will hold my Mr. Nelson cd (signed of course!) in my hands and it will be such a wonderful ride everytime I play it..what a great day that will be!!

Just would love a little trail off at the end of this it cuts off and doesn't leave me lingering in the story....

Tammy

Hey Tammy
Glad you like it.
I'll look into the ending on the next go round.
I'm thinking of having the instruments drop out one at a time and just have vocals / harmonies at the end.
Humm a CD.........we'll C

Nelson! Good to hear you're still at it. You are a master story teller and however good you think you aren't, you get your point across far better than most.

Only a couple of thoughts. While I like the piano and it is sparse, it feels sometimes like it's competing with your vocal. Ideally, it would come in when you aren't singing.

The other is the bridge. It feels too long. I think between the verses and the chorus, you've said or inferred all of this except for this:
"Spinning wind, took them all, becoming the cause of the state I'm in". This explains everything and could be a two line bridge and you wouldn't lose any of the story. As is, it's way too wordy and awkward trying to fit all that in.

Just some thoughts.

Ricki

Mr. Nelson:

Wow ... my fave of yours. Love 'em all, but this just hit home right from the start and had the ear until the end. So many cool changes and instrumenting instrumentation, not to mention a fantastic lyric. Great song!! Loved it.

Dave

Ricki
Thanks for stopping in for a spin and as always I appreciate your insights.


Hey Dave
I'm really glad you liked it.

Being the world's biggest procrastinator, I'm arranging a few songs for a possible live performance, this year.

But I think I said that last year at about this time.

Humm........

Well, at least I'll have some songs ready, even if my KAHUNAS are not.

Thought I'd bump this one to catch the ears of folks who may have missed it the first time around.

Really nice, Nelson.

I'm with Ricki re the piano, though. It does interfere with the vocal imo.

Vic

Hell I thought I muted the piano.
Ok............ now it's muted.

It was just while you were singing, Nelson.

Vic

Thanks for giving this one a "bump"... Mr. Leach:

That honest vocal of yours coupled with powerful words and melody are simply hauntingly beautiful. That is one sad, well-told tale, my friend... and you did it so very well. Kudos!

Enjoyed this one MR. N heard it and kept meaning to get back and leave my thumbs up!
Travis

We live in GA in the hometown of the late Flannery O'connor and
this Southern Gothic feel is right in our wheelhouse.

I.m really not one to parse out songs that I like. So....I enjoyed
the write, the sparse production and the vocal.

Nice one!

J&B

so glad you brought this gem back up Nelson.What a great story and performance!Mike

Yes I understand Vic but in this one I only have piano during the vocals. I was thinking of adding something (keys / harmonica) at the end of the verse lines, just after the singing stops, but for now I'm kind of diggin the simple sound of it.

Thx again for your time and input.

Ah, it was my pleasure, Dave.

Going through my songs trying to find a few that best showcases my storytelling. Trying to put together a playlist for a live showcase or Ep.

I do appreciate your time and your kind words.

I could appreciate nothing more than someone taking the time to actually listen to a song and give their honest opinions, so as always thanks for your time and kind words.

Hi Nelson,

Nice vocal and great story. I like the sparse arrangement which helps to highlight your singing. You have a classic Stax-y voice that I could listen to all day.

Mike

Enough said......
Much appreciated.

Thank you much buddy.

Stax-y, eh? I'll take that.

My arrangements match my abilities, which are...... Sparse indeed...

Appreciate the spin and the kind words.

Good song, Nelson.....good performances, good recording, and this is a very nice write.
I particularly like your voice.......very easy on the ears.
Thanks,
-Tom

Hi Nelson,
Nice arrangement. Crisp and clean. Nicely balanced too.
I really like your calm delivery. I can't do calm. Don't have the voice for it. You can pull every emotion out of a note. A gift indeed.
You know what? I'm with Ricki on the bridge. A quick short bombshell. I always extend my bridges too. The new cords always sound so sweet. But the two sentences she suggested would be killer (oops rather inappropriate).
You've got skills man, always like to hear your work.
Tom

Hey Thanks Tom.
appreciate the spin and the kind words.

HI Tom
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

I never have done one those bomdshell short bridges… always extended or none at all.
Initially I wouldn’t the length here to give the musicians (chamber) time to take us on a short expressive ride. I just filled it in with strings, finger picking and up right bass, to give an idea of what I’m looking for.

Lyrically I wanted to show four things in the bridge.
1 Make it clear who and what he’s actually lost,
2 The horrible way in which he lost them
3 How pain and hatred clouds his view of the world.
4 Blames and accuses God of not wanting to see him happy.

Maybe it’s just my style of writing…… long hand.

One day I’ll try one of those shorter bombshell bridges.

Always appreciate your time