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Keywords:
Christmas (148), aclarke (9), Lonely (44), Road (17), Ziti (28), Alimar (81), hope (81), life (122), luck (9), holiday (69)
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Description:
Sometimes life is tough. But there's always someone out there who has it tougher. This is a song about realizing that hard fact. Here is to appreciating the good and important things we have.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
Adam
aclarke- Acoustic guitar, vocals, words and music
Ziti- Acoustic and Lead Guitar
Produced by Alimar™
Lyrics:
The Lonely Road
words and music by Adam Clarke
December 1993
Old man walks a lonely road
shivering in the winter's cold
in younger days he had everything
a heart of gold and a young man's dreams
He once believed in Santa Claus
Jesus Christ and God above
but life can break the strongest man
faith slips away
leaving empty hands
Oh God what did he do to deserve this
why won't anybody lend a hand
oh my God what did he do to deserve this
Christmas time should be a warm time
but it's the coldest time of year
a young boy sits on santa's knee and says
please don't bring a toy for me
they're closing down the factory
my daddy's job's in jeopardy
and ma's not feeling well at all
but Suzie'd like a brand new doll
Santa I believe in you
just do the best that you can do
oh God what did he do to deserve this
can't you see he's just a little boy
oh my god what has he done to deserve this
Christmas time should be a childs time
but he's got to grow up this year
(break)
I really can't complain I guess
my loving wife well she's the best
by my side through it all
and she lifts me up when I'm feelin' small
my kids believe in santa claus
Jesus Christ and God above
it's taken time for me to see
but I finally know what Christmas means
oh God what have I done to deserve this
I'm no better man than any man
oh my God what have I done to deserve this
Christmas time's a family time
I'm the luckiest man alive
Hardware:
Adam- Washburn Acoustic, MXL 990 Mic, mobilepre, PB
Ziti- Ruby (PRS guitar), Guild acoustic, some other stuff
Software:
Garage Band
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second? &mdash 11/24/05 - 05:19:42 AM
i'm impressed this is the second out of you!
nice lyrics... tender. i like the... for lack of a better work 'working man's'
sentiment in them... it's something we can all relate to. and isn't that
what xmas is about? humanity.
good tune.
nice work from ziti!
all in all, a nice piece of work, if a little sad... :) [ Reply to This ]
Very strong &mdash 11/24/05 - 06:41:34 AM
An excellent track. Thoughtful lyrics, terrific guitar work, and I must
say that the singing is really top-notch. Your voice really is spot-on.
One little complaint -- the EQ sounds a bit too thick in the midrange,
in the guitar parts.
All the guitar parts are really strong, but I enjoy that simple strum at
the beginning (and throughout) as much as anything in the song. [ Reply to This ]
It's too early for Christmas music &mdash 11/24/05 - 06:51:05 AM
Very Nice &mdash 11/24/05 - 08:08:29 AM
your best &mdash 11/24/05 - 08:09:33 AM
this is the best . your voice is perfect. the arangment is right there
adam. what a great story. i am impressed. [ Reply to This ]
The best part of this... &mdash 11/24/05 - 08:39:09 AM
...for me, anyway, is the vocal.
Adam, this is really good singing. You've got a really good voice. I'm very
impressed.
I relate very much to the sentiment. I like how you come back to "I'm the
luckiest man alive" at the end of the lyrics.
Ed [ Reply to This ]
terrific singing &mdash 11/24/05 - 09:04:58 AM
Blue Xmas &mdash 11/24/05 - 09:17:06 AM
I'll Admit It &mdash 11/24/05 - 09:27:47 AM
You made me start to weep some. Great song with one of those great
truth's as to what's important and what is not. Perhaps I'm the old man
in the first verse and perhaps not? I do know I have come a long way,
seen, read and heard so much that my brain is in constant overload.
And what is the result? I'm as confused as I was at twenty four. Life has
a way of doing that! And so it is with relief that we occasionally turn to
the simple truths that we were taught as children even though we know
that many of them don't stand the test of time. [ Reply to This ]
How can you go wrong &mdash 11/24/05 - 09:55:37 AM
with this teaming. Adam, love your vocals on this and you can always
count on Ziti to provide just the right touch. Alimar producing? Now
that's just not fair. [ Reply to This ]
My favorite of yours &mdash 11/24/05 - 12:01:54 PM
This is a really solid song. Great lyrics, melody, and performances from
you and Ziti. Really a touching bitter/sweet song. Just right for the
holidays. Great work, AC. A song to be really proud of. Really excellent. [ Reply to This ]
Nice &mdash 11/24/05 - 02:02:09 PM
songwriting and singing, and the lead guitar fits perfectly, complementing without distracting. Great job guys! [ Reply to This ]
Christmas Classic &mdash 11/24/05 - 02:38:30 PM
It's frustrating sometimes to hear a song here on Macjams that you just
know would be a massive hit if it could just get some radio play. This is
definitely one of them. I could picture your song becoming a Christmas
classic, one that people would play year after year. Congratulations,
Adam and Fran.
You know how to push my boo-hoo buttons. I'm such a wimp. :-) [ Reply to This ]
Still loving it... &mdash 11/27/05 - 10:02:56 PM
Just wanted you to know that I still love this song, am still playing it like
crazy. [ Reply to This ]
Still loving it... &mdash 11/27/05 - 10:24:15 PM
Thanks, Lisa! That makes me very happy!
---
"An honest man's pillow is his peace of mind" John Mellencamp [ Reply to This ]
Heart strings &mdash 11/24/05 - 03:39:37 PM
this song &mdash 11/24/05 - 04:11:48 PM
is now part of my holiday. the first night we discussed this song, i told
adam that i thought it was a blue collar meat and potatos christmas
song, I was so surprised to see urbnite mirror those thoughts in the
very first comment on the song.
This song could be a christmas classic, and I am so glad Adam let me
play on it. It's simple honesty makes an enduring statement.
thanks aclarke
z [ Reply to This ]
Very nice... &mdash 11/25/05 - 02:17:22 AM
...indeed. I really enjoyed that. Lovely layers of guitars. Reminded me
of Mark Knopfler, some of that.
Singing was great too. Very believable. Lyrically, the verses flow
beautifully.
By the way, Christmas is very warm where I am. [ Reply to This ]
Nice stuff! &mdash 11/25/05 - 09:59:59 AM
Love the sounds of the guitars here, they all sound so well together. The guitarplaying sounds a bit like Mark Knopfler! It is funny to think of that i was only a child when this song was written! Your voice sounds great on this one! Keep up the good work mister Clarke! [ Reply to This ]
Beautiful &mdash 11/25/05 - 05:55:45 PM
Fantastic lyrics on this one, Adam. And a wonderful vocal performance.
The combination of those heartfelt lyrics, telling a story, and your
straight-forward, emotional singing really lifts this up. Then to add to
that, you have a melodic weaving of guitars that gives this even more
impact. Bravo! [ Reply to This ]
Timeless &mdash 11/25/05 - 06:15:28 PM
Written in 1993 and relevant yesterday, today and tomorrow. Great lyrics
with a poignant delivery on vocals. Your singing and playing just get
better and better. Tasty licks from the 'Z' man add just the right touch.
Thanks for putting it all in perspective for us in what can be an
emotionally turbulent time of the year for so many. Nice production from
Alimar. [ Reply to This ]
This is by far my favourite ! &mdash 11/25/05 - 11:28:54 PM
AC - ever since I was honoured enough to have had the "sneak peak" of this song ... I have probably played it over 50 times already ... I just LUV LUV LUV it .... I wish I COULD write LYRICS like those !!! They are absolutely fan-tab-ulous !!!! Believe me when I say I have fully "digested" these lyrics ... word by word by word ... and WOW Excellent job ! Radio stations all over the world are constantly having song writing contests .. this one could be a contender for sure ! [ Reply to This ]
what can i say &mdash 11/26/05 - 07:04:35 AM
AC, u r vocals and lyric writing are really evolving and sounding
great...from u r earlier works to now i can hear the evolution....lyrics are
thought provoking and ziti does a fine job complementing the
song...good stuff here! [ Reply to This ]
Excellent &mdash 11/27/05 - 06:23:16 AM
Adam this song is excellent and it actually sent chills through me. Nice
voice and the production is very good. And of course ziti%u2019s guitar
playing adds just the right amount of flow and complements you voice
nicely. And I agree with AquilA, this song is as relevant today as it was
when you wrote it and I think that is the measure of a great song. Nice
work to all involved.-JAC [ Reply to This ]
thank you SO much - &mdash 11/27/05 - 08:44:30 AM
this is lovely - i have family members who are going to adore hearing this - beautiful song beautifully done - thank you both xxx [ Reply to This ]
hey . . . &mdash 11/27/05 - 10:49:17 PM
WOW -- This is really good !! Thank you both for giving me this tune -- I work
in an enviroment that will easily promote this -- Outstanding, and beautiful.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You [ Reply to This ]
Believability &mdash 11/27/05 - 11:19:28 PM
The singing is not only very well done, it is also very appropriate for the
character and tone of the piece, as is the typically "just right" playing of
ziti, who always honors the song, rather than merely trying to glorify
himself.
I hear the success of the song as being caused by how committed you
were here, Adam. It seems as though you put yourself into this song fully
and completely, and as such you draw us in with you.
You have great reason to be proud, Adam. Congratulations on this
timeless work. [ Reply to This ]
really great! &mdash 11/28/05 - 08:35:02 AM
I like the easygoing strumming sound, like it's the kind of song you might be playing in the living room around an open fireplace. And the sentiments are very personal and humanistic. In that regard, the reverb on the vocal makes it sound more like you're in a cathedral and I would have much preferred a more intimate sound. The vocal is very good and I don't like the distance the reverb adds. But I don't want to diminish the excellent way that this song expresses the conflicted feelings that christmastime brings to many, or maybe that's just me reading myself into this song. I'm not big on Christmas music, but this goes way beyond that. I'm not sure if The Lonely road is the best title for this song, but I don't really have a better idea for a title, and that's in the first line, so I guess it'll suffice, but I'd think you'd want to reconsider that. I suppose with a song you've had around for 12 years, the title's something that you probably don't even think about much anymore.
And excellent laid-back picking on ziti's part of course is icing on the cake. Sorta Albert Lee like there! [ Reply to This ]
SPANKIN JINGLEBERRIES! &mdash 11/28/05 - 05:15:02 PM
Sweet track tinkleberries! I love it! Great melody! Ziti nice tunage and tone! [ Reply to This ]
SPANKIN JINGLEBERRIES! &mdash 11/28/05 - 05:15:05 PM
Sweet track tinkleberries! I love it! Great melody! Ziti nice tunage and tone! [ Reply to This ]
SPANKIN JINGLEBERRIES! &mdash 11/28/05 - 05:15:09 PM
Sweet track tinkleberries! I love it! Great melody! Ziti nice tunage and tone! [ Reply to This ]
good timing &mdash 11/29/05 - 12:23:25 PM
I stumbled on this late november; it was touching, the end wound things
up. Perhaps it was a bit of a downer for the old man and the young boy,
but imagination can fill in the blanks. Well done! [ Reply to This ]
It's a Wonderful Life, folk style &mdash 11/29/05 - 12:30:36 PM
Perhaps try a bit less reverb overall, esp. in the voice. I want to be
listening to the small hall performance from within the small hall, not
from the adjacent foyer. Other than that, excellent lyrics, singing,
instrumentation and mixing! [ Reply to This ]
It's a Wonderful Life, folk style &mdash 11/29/05 - 12:30:39 PM
Perhaps try a bit less reverb overall, esp. in the voice. I want to be
listening to the small hall performance from within the small hall, not
from the adjacent foyer. Other than that, excellent lyrics, singing,
instrumentation and mixing! [ Reply to This ]
Nice Lyrics &mdash 12/07/05 - 05:27:04 PM
Nice track, not my style of music. Like the guitar solo sequence, Lyric are
perfect for this time of year. Great work. [ Reply to This ]
Great Song... &mdash 12/11/05 - 05:27:07 PM
..and great collaboration.
Way to keep it real, Adam. A really nice bit of writing.
Ziti, you compliment the song very well. Really nice ballad guitar work.
A terrific job from beginning to end.
On my holiday playlist.
[ Reply to This ]
Merry Christmas! &mdash 12/16/05 - 11:10:55 AM
Always nice to hear a new, fresh Christmas song at this festive
time of year. [ Reply to This ]
Yes &mdash 12/23/05 - 05:28:24 PM
Yes &mdash 12/23/05 - 05:28:27 PM
Excellent Job! &mdash 12/25/05 - 06:12:16 AM
Adam, your vocals are wonderful. Great guitars and very nice mix.
Super job guys! [ Reply to This ]
Better late than never... &mdash 01/02/06 - 11:30:44 AM
i remember hearing this a few weeks back, wanting to comment but it slipped through the cracks. That being said, it's a wonderful song. The "Oh my God what have I done to desrve this" is sung with such perfectly laidback emotion. Personally, the reverb doesn't faze me much. Imagining it with dryer vocals it may work, but not necessarily better or worse. Aisde from that, this is one of those examples of songs that are very difficult for me to commment on. The writing, playing and production are all excellent. And Ziti, you just kick ass as usual. Great tune Adam. I really dig it. [ Reply to This ]
Should have seen this a week ago... &mdash 01/02/06 - 11:32:14 AM
Superior guitar playing and crisp string sounds. The intro immediately
makes you stick around to listen to the rest of the song. The clarity of
vocal recording brings out the great timbre of your voice... very heartfelt
and almost languid...
The composition itself is very heart-rending... a very real life experience
that comes from your heart, and which we can all seem to relate to and
empathize with...
A definite download for repeated listening, not only for the holidays but
also during my introspective moments... [ Reply to This ]
Great Christmas Song &mdash 01/03/06 - 04:20:55 PM
Just heard this track - it's now Jan 3. This is a great Christmas track. I
think it should be on the MacJams Christmas CD 2006. Oh yeah, and I
think we should MAKE a MacJams Christmas CD 2006. [ Reply to This ]
Outstanding! &mdash 01/03/06 - 09:27:39 PM
Lad, this is thoroughly amazing.
Chokes a guy up pretty hard.
-Aaron [ Reply to This ]
So moving.... &mdash 01/15/06 - 07:08:23 AM
Excellent message, timely for me ... &mdash 01/15/06 - 09:41:41 AM
... even though I'm late to this proverbial party. My pregnant wife is
currently in the hospital. I believe she and the baby are gonna be fine,
but as I visit with her, I'm finding it important that we keep our
perspective. Easy to do when you see people around you suffering (and
even witness some distraught family members dealing with the worst
news there is). "Luckiest man alive", you say? Let's call it a tie ...
The recording is very clean and nicely balanced. There were some
tempo variances / synch problems early on in the song, but that
resolves itself quickly and you settle in. Loved the lead fade at the end
leaving the solo strumming. Major props to all three involved parties -
providing a very tasty bed for an important sentiment. [ Reply to This ]
Classic &mdash 01/16/06 - 02:36:47 PM
This tune carry what I think is needed to become a classic. Superb quality
on all the most important parameters.
Less technically speaking: Wonderful. Heartfelt. I won't say I like it ... I
LOVE it!
This is a late comment. It is January "next year" and I am discovering what
I have missed!
[ Reply to This ]
Axl Rose with Mark Knopfler &mdash 01/21/06 - 04:35:04 PM
This reminds me of a chilled out Axl track - but thats not the first time
I've said that about your vox, Adam. Good choice working with Ziti -
his stuff si always dead on. This song dances a fine line between folk
and mainstream rock - but i can see you doing well in either direction.
Do you ever play live in the boston area? If so, it may be worth getting
ziti to bring his rig over and putting a live act together.
All in all, a good tune - well produced. Nothing in the mix sticks out
which means you guys did a good job. I like the reverb on the vox.
8/9/8/9
-u.
[ Reply to This ]
Where was I? &mdash 01/31/06 - 07:59:13 AM
I don't know why I never clicked on this post. This composition raises a question that crosses just about every persons mind. I do believe it's all in the big picture and yet to be understood. Your a lucky man. Great job the three of you.
a bit belated,
John [ Reply to This ]
A great song &mdash 02/01/08 - 11:49:00 AM
to open up our typical perspectives. Wonderfully put together folks!
All the best,
Doug [ Reply to This ]
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nice lyrics... tender. i like the... for lack of a better work 'working man's'
sentiment in them... it's something we can all relate to. and isn't that
what xmas is about? humanity.
good tune.
nice work from ziti!
all in all, a nice piece of work, if a little sad... :)
[ Reply to This ]