JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Song Challenge- Eugene Field's "Long Ago"

Oh I'm glad.. Sam., thanks...I started working on it!!!... good to push myself out of comfort zone.... vocal or piano? ...no, piano on this one...

best...with hugs...
Kaley

Many Genres' Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=8404
Children's Music Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=6469
Wyman and Kaley's Andy & Friends CD Here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwwg

Sorry for the delay everybody.. my 'puter crashed and it took me a while to get back up and running.

samuel, I was as interested as you to check out everybody's take on this. Your tune was really cool! Your music made the lyrics sound current. The endings of the stanzas were really well done.

Graham.. wow, a lot of different tunes. Personally, I preferred the bluegrass version w/ the lyric variations. This was an excellent exercise and you "worked out" plenty of times. GJ

Rick.. Nice take. The speeding up of the middle lines adds an interesting dimension, especially before the slow ending w/ the 2 vocal parts. nice

Kevin, I didn't hear this in 3/4 timing but it works out really well! It reminds me of something kind of, but I can't put my finger on it yet(usually the sign of something good). Your tune is easy to smile and sway to. I liked the guitar work at the end too.

Scott, I think the melody fits perfect.. I wanted to hear the whole thing The clip you put up was good.

Andy, I really admire your guitar work. You have a lot of fire first thing in the morning. My only question is this: is this before of after your morning coffee(lol). Really well done man!

I'm sorry if I missed anyone, but some of the links were not there by the time I got to check them out. Thank you everyone for the comments on my take, and I hope to see more of these in the future.

j d lucas

Nicely done Andy! Can you relate to the lyrics- I mean the American references to Pickerel and checker berries? I love the guitar style and it sounds just like it belongs in a folk festival. Really good job, I hope you post more things in this style.

Kevin, I almost missed this one. The waltz time had the effect of making this very playful and upbeat. You should have kept going- you stopped too soon. I didn't know soundclick had a poetry category. I think the poets like it- number 9.

J.D,
Good to meet you

Thanks for the comments and yes a couple of shots of espresso may well have been involved.

Your cut of it is very nice you have a great voice.
I'm an 80's boy myself so liked that vibe.


Thanks

Andy

Samuel,

Thanks for you're very kind comments. I have to say I had no idea what 'checkerberries' or 'pickerels' were but google rocks

Really loved the words to this though, and i've had that tune kicking around for years without words and it just fitted. I may record it again and repost it as I like how it went. It would be good to have another go when I haven't just woken up lol

This is a great idea you should keep it going like the lyric challenges that run .

Andy

I was going to go back and give the versions a second listen so I could make some comments -- but soundclick is having errors across the board this morning.

I will say that the last one I listened to, Andy's, was a winner. Love that highlands sound.

Samuel: I am one of the few people who can listen to my singing and even I was having a hard time with that one (lol)! Thanks for the listen and I only thought of the 3/4 time approach because of that guitar jam track.

JD: Thanks for the comments!

Kevin

Thanks Sam. This is strictly a piano worktape and not quite what I'm hearing...but for now...thought I'd post this.
Have enjoyed everyone's musical interpretation of this poem.

Hugs to y'all...
Kaley

First Song Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=8404

Long Ago
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)
Melody by Kaley Willow,©2007

Slightly revised at the end to fit the music

I once knew all the birds that came
And nested in our orchard trees,
For every flower I had a name---
My friends were woodchucks, toads, and bees;
I knew where thrived in yonder glen
What plants would soothe a stone-bruised toe---
Oh, I was very learned then,
But that was very long ago.

I knew the spot upon the hill
Where checkerberries could be found,
I knew the rushes near the mill
Where pickerel lay that weighed a pound!
I knew the wood---the very tree
Where lived the poaching, saucy crow,
And all the woods and crows knew me---
But that was very long ago.

And pining for the joys of youth,
I tread the old familiar spot
Only to learn this solemn truth:
I have forgotten, am forgot.

Yet here 's this youngster at my knee
Knows all the things I used to know;
To think I once was wise as he!---
But that was very long ago.

I know it 's folly to complain
Of whatsoe'er the fates decree,
Yet, were not wishes all in vain,
I tell you what my wish should be:
I 'd wish to be a boy again,
Back with the friends I used to know.
For I was, oh, so happy then---
But that was very long ago!
Yes..I was oh so happy then....
But that was ..very long ago....

Very...Long...Ago


First Song Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=8404
Children's Music Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=6469
Wyman and Kaley's Andy & Friends CD Here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwwg

Good job Kaley. I have never had a problem following your piano only melodies. I think you correctly found the "bridge" in this one. The mood and drama changed at exactly the right place.

Oh..Thanks so much Sam...

My son just started his first year of college...and I was having a Mom Moment...from..about midnight
through 4 a.m....So was a good time to sit down with this. I found most of the notes..but I really don't like the one transition I did on the last verse.....will try something different. I don't know how to edit out my mistakes...so I just have to keep playing it...till it sounds better.

Glad you could follow

best with hugs...
Kaley

Piano Melodies and Demos:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=8404
Children's Music Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=6469
Wyman and Kaley's Andy & Friends CD Here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwwg

Yes, Kaley I could tell. When you got to this part, your expression was so poignant, I could almost see you tears:

Yet here 's this youngster at my knee
Knows all the things I used to know;
To think I once was wise as he!---
But that was very long ago.

Oh...A Mother's Heart.... and I'm sure a Dad's Heart too....but He and I are close..and this is quite the transitional time for me.... so I could feel that section...
Glad it came across that way... thanks Sam

best with hugs..
Kaley

Piano Melodies and Demos
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=8404
Children's Music Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=6469
Wyman and Kaley's Andy & Friends CD Here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwwg

Wow - that was really pretty, Kaley....

Scott

Thank you very much Scott for Listening....and really glad you thought it worked. I finally got a recording around 3 a.m.
that night...and It sounds kind of tired to me..<G>..but I'll try to replay it some time soon...and figure out how to change what I don't like in the 3rd verse...

I loved your piano backing and melody and vocals on yours too Scott....Wished you would have kept going with it.... It sounded good to me. I was curious as to what type of piano or keyboard you were playing on.

I listened to everyone's last week...early this week...except
I didn't get a chance to hear Louis's ..I turned in to late.
Didn't get to hear Vanessa's either... Would have liked to have heard both...

Joe's was a well developed lovely song... Loved his bridge...
and how he pulled off the ending of the song too...and well,
his vocals..are always pleasing.

Graham's tickled me cause he can make a song work from the pages of a phone book...so it didn't surprise me that he put his together with such ease. **But I was worried about you Buddy...so much I was researching yesterday....and found where you said you were heading North...I'm glad...I was concerned.

J.D...Didn't pick up on it being 80's...just enjoyable.!!...

I loved Andy's guitar and voice...mesmerizing style...

Rick...another flavor...that worked!!...I just love that we each heard it differently...yet they all worked.

Kevin...Your interpretation gave a gentle sweet lightness to the
song...

Best to you all with hugs.....
Kaley

Piano Melodies and Demos:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=8404
Children's Music Here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=6469
Wyman and Kaley's Andy & Friends CD Here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwwg

Just in from a fortnight on the road and shot, but had a quick li9sten to Andy's one and liked a lot.
Will get back to threm all after about 12 hours sleep.
Graham

Got to listen to Kevin's waltz one just then.
It is what I call a forced walt as some of the words are broken to sing. Or-chard as an example.
Just phrasing I think.
Sure is fun this stuff.
Graham

Any waltz I do is forced! Not falling over is a major success for me.

This was a very pretty treatment of this poem. I like the gentleness of the melody, it wasn't so much that you lost the simple beauty of the poem, but it was delicate and lovely enough to complement it. This was very well done. By the way my favorite adaptation of a poem into a song was "Golden Hair" by the late Syd Barrett (former leader of Pink Floyd). "Golden Hair" was a poem by James Joyce and Syd's adaptation was brilliant. Again, I really enjoyed this.

I'd love to give it a little soulful twist but...like Joanne, no recording program here, or maybe I do have one. I don't know...I have a friend with a studio that knows how broke I am and kind of helps me out sometimes. I'll check with my daughter and see what I have here.

Roxy
http://www.soundclick.com/roxycain

If you can hear mp3 files, you have a soundcard Roxy, and most likely a recording program that comes with it.
If not, typing Audacity into your search the internet button will come up with the download of that and it is free, and works well.
If you need help along the way ask.
I hope to get time t9o listen to the rest of these today or tomorrow.
Has turned out quite the interesting post Samuel.
Graham

Thanks Graham! I'll try that later. This is cool

You are welcome Roxy.
Checking out your post in this forum, I got an error message there, so if you need help on how to get one on the net, feel free on that also.
Graham

You pulled yours down Kaley?
I finally got out of mechanic mode, and to listening, and I couldn't find this one on your page kaley.
And I wanted to too too because you are so easy to sing along to.
And kevin. Me too Cobber. Even in my dancing years, Waltz was always hard work for me.
Graham