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Following along the historical theme this one tells about life for a family travelling to Oregon in the 1800's. Do you think it works lyrically and musically? Vic You can listen to wav or mp3 here: Soundcloud http://snd.sc/1jqUpfjSoundclick http://sclk.co/s7k4kuThe Promised Land © Vic Arnold 2014 v1 It's a hard trail from Missouri but we have to get to Oregon Sold the house in Independance and we're off to find our dream in an old prairie schooner that we all now depend upon. Next to you my darling, it's the finest thing I've seen ch We're going to the promised land just beyond those hills We know it could be dangerous but how else can we live? v2 We trade with the Kiowa, the Piute and Shoshone Tobacco for their horses but they took our smallpox too. Some folks die of fever and many are in mourning. Others take to whiskey and get picked off by the Sioux. ch Oh ... the promised land is just beyond those hills We know it's waiting for us or how else could we live? v3 Six oxen pull the wagon while we curse the stormy weather Then the hot and dusty desert dries and wrinkles your fair skin The mud clings to our boots and wheels but we all pull together If we reach the Blue Mountains we won't turn back again. ch Oh ... the promised land. just beyond those hills We know it's waiting for us, or how else could we live? Inst. br Soon there will be three of us. One more mouth to feed. We pray this storm won't last too long. Oh god please let it be. ch We're heading for ... the promised land just beyond those hills I promise you it's waiting. We can make it still? Repeat chorus
Last edited by Vicarn; 02/24/14 06:12 PM.
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VIC--
Another great story song!
An option for the ch:
Dreaming of the Promised Land (to me would sing better, JMHO)
You should have an ALBUM OUT SOON!
Mackie
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Very nice Vic! I love the story….oh and the 'monkey writing shakespeare' in your signature Respectfully, Aaron
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i like this Vic.My only nit is,you didn't mention it as the Oregon Trail.I would put it in the chorus maybe something like this, "Oh,the promised land,at the end of the Oregon trail,We know it's waiting for us,our dreams will prevail". Also other Indians along the way were Nez Perce,Fox,Sauk,Shawnee and and smaller bands.I know you can't mention all those,i just threw that in there.Keep 'em comin' Vic!Mike
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We're going to the promised land just beyond those hills where a new life beckons us, where are hearts will be still We know it could be dangerous but how else can we live? we owe it to our children, the only dream we can afford to give
Good story Vic with plenty of reading up on it too I imagine. Treavis
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde
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Hi Vic,
WOW -- you take us right there, on that dusty trail, full of hardships but love and hope too! What great storytelling!
It sounds WONDERFUL!!
Lisa
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Hi Mackie. Thank you for the encouragement and suggestion. I would actually prefer not to use "dreaming" as I used "dream" in the first verse already and it could suggest some sort of laziness when I want to portray struggle. Vic
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Thank you for the kindness, Aaron. Is there any Welsh in you with a name like Aaron? It was my Grandfather's name too. Vic
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Excellent lyrical writing, Vic. Musically compelling as well. Storytelling at it's finest.
One suggestion. I'd change "Blue Mountains" to "Purple Mountains" for this reason. The Blue Ridge Mountains where I live are in the Eastern part of Country. The Rockies are more purple in color as in America the Beautiful which most folks would connect.
Other than that you've got another hit to go with your American History theme.
Just a note of interest. My wife Sherri's Great Aunt told stories of traveling by covered wagon from Virginia to Arkansas when she was a little girl.
Stevie
I'm the only person here who is not unique.
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Vic,
Interesting imagery throughout. Nice production. Crisp and clear. Your vocal fits it perfectly.
floyd
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Hi Michael. Thank you for the input. Well, the first verse says they were heading for Oregon from Independence which is in fact The Oregon Trail. I thought that would be a good enough clue (more showing than telling).
I meant this to be more about the experiences and struggle of two people on a hard journey than the trail itself. I'll give your sugg some more thought though.
As you say there were other tribes along the way but I couldn't fit them all in so just mentioned the tribes this family traded with. :-)
Vic
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Another great job of storytelling, Vic. Enjoyed
Bill
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Listening to the song right now and your writing style is a lot like Eric Gibson's. Also love your singing voice, and that slide bit sounds like something that Joost (my guitar tutor) could easily come up with.
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Travis. How come you have time to comment with all those lyrics you're bringing out? Thanks for supporting and chipping in. Not sure if their hearts or anything else would be still if they ever got there though. :-) Vic
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Lisa. I was to go on it but I turned back after seeing the accommodation. Thank you for the wonderful comment. Vic
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Hi Stevie. Thanks for the thumbs up. The Blue Mountains I refer to are the ones in Oregon next to the Cascade Mountains. Apparently they were very difficult to cross and wagons had to be dismantled and taken over piece by piece or taken up the river on rafts.
I wish I could have listened to those tales from your wife's great aunt. They were living memories then.
Vic
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Vic,
Very cool song. What I really liked here was how you made an old tale sound contemporary and new. Love the guitar and the harmonies made your chorus really pop! No crits... just a thank you for sharing!
Tom W.
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Well Professor Arnold,
You are on a "roll!" I feel like I should get some American History credit for listening to all of your works! Another very interesting and pleasant story/melody. Genuine sounding vocals which fit nicely. Nice work.
I'd be curious to hear this song with a more crude percussion track which I think might add to the "Americana/Country" or Western vibe. Spoons, washboards/ tambos/ etc. Just an idea, I could help you with that should you be interested--even got a washboard. The tempo is pretty upbeat and happy, but it's a lot of work to get to Oregon in one piece--I might slow it down (not sure)a few BPM, (just slightly).
Very enjoyable Vic. Keep'm coming!
steady-eddie.
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Hey Vic,
Another killer song. Everything worked for me musically and lyrically. No complaints here. Great stuff as usual.
Dave
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Floyd. Thanks for the support. That's good to hear.
Vic
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Hi Bill. Thanks for that.
Vic
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Hullo again, Wysha. I had to look him up. Shame on me. Do you mean of the Gibson Brothers bluegrass band or the other guy from Barbados?
Vic
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Thanks Tom. Glad you liked it and to hear your thoughts. Vic
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Eddie, consider yourself credited. Maybe I should now grow a little white beard and sport a pair of pince nez.
I'll think on the tempo & drums idea but at the moment I'm not convinced. Maybe I could try a hand played set. Thanks for the comments. Vic
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I enjoyed the song and story. I wanted to hear more guitar picking popping up here and there to accent things, but maybe you had just enough to leave me wanting more
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Hi Dave. That's nice to know and thank you. Vic
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Hi Calvin. Thank you for that. Vic
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Thanks Fred. You'll have to listen again to get a bit more. Vic
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Another successful song I think Vic.
I don't know the history, but the song (lyrics and music flows so well)
And it got me to looking up 'old prairie schooner' on google.
So yep I learnt something to day
God Bless Roy and Helen
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Hullo Roy. I like researching these things. Doesn't take long but you learn a lot. Thanks for the visit.
Vic
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Nice country sound. Love all your history tunes Vic.
Learn all the musical rules inside and out- Then break 'em... Grace..Peace...Love
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Hey Vic,
Well.... uhmm.... phweww..... just got torn through a tornado and chucked out the other side.
Vic, this is going way too fast, slow it down a bit and let it breathe. Nothing wrong with the song writing, or the delivery, but man it's just travelling along like you want it to end. Likewise, the song is way over compressed.
Relax.
I'd look at it again.
cheers, niteshift
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Thank you for the comment, Doug. Vic
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Hi Niteshift. Thanks for listening. Re the tempo: I thought it was about right but I will think again about that. Not sure about the song being over compressed as I only used just a small amount of multiband compressor on the master. If you listened on Soundclick to the mp3 then I can understand what you meant. Try listening to the wav on Soundcloud instead. Vic
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