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Home In Tennessee - V2


We first posted this 12 years ago in 2011. We'd been a member of this forum but 2 weeks at the time. It was the first song on which Di and I co-wrote a lyric.

The only modification I've made on it is I EQ'd it a little bit in Audacity. I cut back on the higher EQ and bumped up the lower EQ a bit. I've considered redoing it, but my voice isn't what it was back then. I remember Floyd commented the harmony was a bit too loud, and I agree. I brought it back some with the EQing, but it's still too loud. Any other suggestions are most welcome.

Also, I think these two lines could be better, but I haven't come up with anything to replace them.

I've been almost everywhere
And seen most everything

They're not terrible, but could be better. I'm open to any suggestions to replace these - or any other lines that could be stronger - should I decide to rerecord it.

This is only the 5th or 6th song I'd ever mixed/produced, so I was pretty raw.

Thanks in advance.

Alan



File:Al - Home In Tennessee.MGU

Key=Eb , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=3:34

Style MIDI Instruments are : Fretless Elec. Bass (36), Strings (49),

RealTracks in song: 1263:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopShiningSync Ev 120
RealTracks in song: ~703:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Spirited Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 626:Harmonica, Background Travis Ev 085
RealDrums in Song: NashvilleEven16^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat

I don't know the name of the style as I failed to include that with the other song info back then. All the RTs and midi tracks come from BIAB 2011.



HOME IN TENNESSEE

(c) 2011 Alan D. David, BMI / Diana Bowers, BMI

(V1)
Sitting on my back porch, my woman and me
Strumming on my old guitar
It's a cool fall night in Tennessee
Whooperwill calling, fireflies buzzing
No other place I'd rather be
Hoot owl calling from an old oak tree
Kids are all gone, just the two of us
The old hound dog makes three
This is how we dreamed life would be

CHORUS
I've been gone more than I've been home
Pickin' on that old six-string
And now I'm settled down here on this farm
Yes I'm home in Tennessee, right where I belong
Home in Tennessee, with my woman on my arm

(V2)
I was born and raised right here
In these Tennessee hills
This will always be my home
I dreamed each night of being back
Where my roots are planted deep
This is where my heart belongs
How I missed these tall oak trees
And the misty morning fog
And the frost of an early autumn freeze.

CHORUS
I've been gone more than I've been home
Pickin' on that old six-string
And now I'm settled down here on this farm
Yes I'm home in Tennessee, right where I belong
Home in Tennessee, with my woman on my arm

(V3)
I'll be here til they carry me
To my resting place
Underneath that old oak tree
But til then you'll find me here
In the Smokey Mountain haze
This is where God meant me to be
I've been almost everywhere
And seen most everything
But there's nothing like my home in Tennessee

CHORUS
I've been gone more than I've been home
Pickin' on that old six-string
And now I'm settled down here on this farm
Yes I'm home in Tennessee, right where I belong
Home in Tennessee, with my woman on my arm

Alan,

This is a great song - love the lyric and your delivery. The harmonica is the perfect touch. The production is superb - great mix.

Country music at its finest... Love it!

Bob

Hi Bob ...

You are much too kind! Thank you so much for those very nice words. This is one of the first dozen or so songs I ever produced and mixed. Other than the harmony vocal, I think it turned out pretty good. But I've learned quite a bit since.

And thanks for the comments about the harmonica. I auditioned 5 or 6 other instruments but settled on this one.

Take care, and thanks again!

Alan

First song I think I've heard from you in this genre, Alan.
For me the piano seems a little too busy and getting in the way of the rhythm or maybe it's my ears.

The lines you have there work fine but you could play around with
"I've seen the wonders of the world,
met people good and mean".

All the best
Vic

Hi Vic ...

Thanks for chiming in on this one. This is the style of music I played for many years, although I've always liked music from most genres.

I'll play around with the lines you suggested and see how they work. Thanks for the suggestion!

Since the only rhythm guitar is on the right channel, and the piano is on the left, I'm not noticing the interference. But then again, these near-77-year-old ears aren't hearing it properly. This getting old thing has its challenges! They call the "Golden Years". Some days it feels more like cheap pewter!

Thanks again for the visit and suggestions.

Wishing you the best ...

Alan

Love this song, the track is superb, and the harmonica fit perfectly, vocals are great too.

Alan

A very enjoyable listen. Good to dust off an old one.

Really nice.

Peter

Alan & Di,
Smooth semi-spoken ballad. Good set of lyrics and those two lines don't bother me at all. Excellent structure & mix.
Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Alan...very relaxing, well written country ballad....I love the harmonica parts...there's nothing more homey and relaxing! anytime you write a song about Tennessee (or Kentucky for that matter) then you've got Americana by the tail...it was a lovely melody...well sung!

Alan,
it works. yes the harmony vocal could come back a little but then again it could be a stray strident thing in both vocals. Just play around with some surgical EQ until it eases a little. I assume you no longer have the original vocal tracks.
A fab thing.

That is GREAT imagery and would lend itself to superb video.

Your vocal, the lyric and melody allow one to immediately be absorbed and quietly drift along with it.

Well worth a repost.

We much enjoyed it!

J&B

EDIT:
PS I remembered really liking the harp on in it so I just looked it up and found the 01/11/14 post of the 2011 creation. That was the post that set me on the road to work with BiaB harp tracks until I finally "got it."
Thank you.

Hi peter ...

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

Alan

Hi Misha ...

I appreciate those very kind words. And I'll keep those two lines. Thanks for the input. Wishing you the very best ...

Alan

Hi Dan ...

It's always great to hear from you. Thanks for stopping in for a visit and listen.

And yeah, that harmonica worked out pretty good - better than i's hoped for.

Well, my current wife is from Tennessee and previous wife was from Kentucky - got it covered!

Thank you for your very nice comments. Best to you ...

Alan

Hi Ray ...

It's always nice when you drop in for a listen. You are correct I no longer have the individual tracks - just the stereo mix-down. If I redo this - a reasonable possibility - I'll give the harmony vocals more attention: less volume, a bit more low-end EQ, and some trim on the higher EQ. My voice isn't as good as it was on this one. But I might give it a go anyway.

Thanks a bunch! Wishing you everything good ...

Alan

Howdy Folks ...

Glad you "much enjoyed"!

You are correct - I posted this in 2014, not 2011. Thanks for the correction - appreciate that!

I hadn't really thought a lot about the possibility of what a video of the song would be like. But I think you are right. There is quite a bit of imagery in the lyric. Wouldn't a video be nice??!!

I'm most pleased that I played a small part in opening new possibilities in BIAB for Bud. I've used a couple of the harmonica We never call it a harp where I'm from. Never even heard that reference for the instrument until I was in my 20s, fifty-some years ago. Anyway, glad it opened a door or two for ya, Bud.

Wishing both of you the very best ...

Alan

Lovely story in the lyrics Alan. Super vocal. Really cool backtrack and mix. Well done

You're pumping out a lot of songs Alan.

This sounds like Glen Campbell.

I like this one a lot!

I think the two lines are fine, but when you write something better... you'll know it.

Hi Alan great vocals and lyrics the harmonica was perfect well done Eric