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Description:
I learned some things on this song. I often write when I’m driving, and I spend quite a bit of time driving. One day this song was coming to me so started jotting it down as I drove. When I got home I said “don’t talk to me” as I ran past to my studio. I didn’t want to loose what I was hearing. I picked up my guitar and proceeded to loose the whole thing. Guitar is my main instrument and it is very at home in my hands, so there are things that I do on my guitar that I don’t even think about. Those things took me further and further from what I originally heard. I finally put my guitar down and walked away. The song was lost!
I went to a quite place and when the song that I originally heard started to come back to me... I went and wrote it on piano... I’m just proficient enough to get the song out on piano, and the piano will not lead me anywhere... so I could still hear the song as I got in there and found the song that was originally in my head...
I learned quite a bit about song writing in the process
I have had this song on the shelf for a long time... When I played Mercy live I did it on piano, because the piano hook is essential... One of the last times I played Mercy live, Captain Jack, a friend who played incredible sax, played with us. I always knew that the break was wanting a sax solo... but when I heard it done live, I was married to the idea... Jack and I made plans to record his parts, when I got the song ready for him, Jack died of a heart attack. We never recorded it, and I put the song away after trying several acoustic and electric solos that never quite sounded right to me.... I have tried to fill the space that Jack took as well as I can... there is a version coming with real sax
one last thing... the guitar solos sound too loud to my ears, but I always get the same
comments... “turn up the guitar solo”... so here it is... McBoy r u out there??
I'm not sure about this genre
Lyrics:
Ever the wanderer, often away
Only half listen to things that you say
Then the storm drives me home, and I find I’m alone
and I’m frightened and longing for friends.
When the grace is all used up, then your mercy begins
And the mercy that follows me where ever I’ve been
Is the mercy that saves me again and again
The God of that mercy has been a great friend... oh mercy
Send me mercy, tender mercy again
Sometimes a fugitive, guilty of crime
Fully preparing to do some hard time
Then i fall to my knees and I cry out God please
I’m afraid I may die in my sin
When the grace is all used up
then that’s when your mercy begins
And the mercy that follows me where ever I’ve been
Is the mercy that saves me again and again
The God of that mercy has been a great friend... oh mercy
Send me mercy, tender mercy again
Mercy keep me in this place
never let me fall from grace
Mercy finds me when I’m far
brings me back to where you are
If my heart is far away
precious mercy let me stay
Close enough to see your face
God of mercy ful of grace
Hardware:
drawmer preamp/compressor, yamaha baby grand, taylor c612, g4 and g5, mackie mixer, several mikes, all condensor
Software:
started on logic 4 using ADAT preamps via light pipe... finished on logic 7
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Turn up the guitar! &mdash 08/02/06 - 02:23:10 AM
Just kidding! Everything sounds balanced wel to my ears.
This song is great, ah, GREAT! Beautiful song, beautiful singing,
amazing guitar shredder solos (!), great feel; it's everything you could
possibly want.
The genre is fine, but is there any reason you shy away from
'Religious-Inspirational' as a category? Because that would seem like a
natural fit to me, and there ain't nuttin' wrong with that category!
I'm curious... is this from a CD ? if not, it SHOULD be on a CD, and it
should be getting radio play.
10-10-10-10 [ Reply to This ]
Turn up the guitar! &mdash 08/02/06 - 07:02:24 AM
LOL... wow Clark...thank you, thank you and thank you... i did see the post
where you mentioned me as a "guitar shredder" I didn't know how to
respond... I know so many players that are better, i don't think of my self that
way, and I only pick up my electric when I need to record parts...
As for the genre... I have posted in the Religious Inspirational category
beforre... but, I don't want to marginalize a song.. I don't want someone to
like it because they agree, or the reverse... I was a musician before I was a
Christian, so sometime i just want to mix it up with the big boys... I would
gladly post this elsewhere if that is the consensis... the guitar said ROCK to
me... but the piano changes are somewhat bluesy...
and no... I don't have a CD... this has been on the shelf in my house since
Jack died
thank you Clark again [ Reply to This ]
Turn up the guitar! &mdash 08/02/06 - 02:16:51 PM
Hi Scott, the 'shredder' label was something I thought you'd find funny when I
started that Yngwie vs. the Tiler thread, but really, this is VERY impressive
electric guitar playing.
Regarding genre, by all means leave it here--it's definitely rock, and people
should submit their songs in whatever category they think is appropriate. I
just am not sure that putting it in the 'religeous inspirational' genre would
limit its exposure in any significant way, because you've already established
yourself as one of the best musicians on the site, any you have many fans,
most of whom would check out your new submissions no what category they
were in.
Even polka. Or ska. (Both of which are woefully underrepresented at this
site, by the way! Conspiracy?)
I REALLY, REALLY think you should give the general public a shot at hearing
your music via Christian music radio or other outlets. Yeah, I know it's not
easy, and maybe you've already gone through all this, but if I had written stuff
as good as yours, I'd make a 3 song demo CD and do some Internet research
to see who to send it to. It's extraordinarily good.
I've mentioned this to you before, I think, but I was a Praise Band leader in a
church for many years, which, aside from the politics was a blast, and your
stuff is as good as any of the songs we ever did.
Also, I mentioned Steve Bell to you before; have you ever had a chance to
listen to any of his music? Some of it is on iTunes, I think, and your voice and
music remind me a little bit of his, and I LOVE his stuff.
---
Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores. [ Reply to This ]
Oooohh... &mdash 08/02/06 - 03:41:42 AM
Nice that you bring up the interesting problem of hands doing things
on the guitar that you don%u2019t even think about which leads further and
further from what you originally heard.
Have you ever tried having some small hand recorder in the car so you
can sing your ideas as they come? I did that once on an instrumental
idea. Was walking around outdoors for hours singing to the recorder as
the tune evolved. Back home I had a challenge to make the guitar
follow the themes, but it resulted in more interesting and non-habitual
music than ususal.
OK, your song then. Well what could I say, else than Splendid,
Wonderful! You are a strange one. You seem to have the ablity to make
everything right: composition, arrangement, recording, instrument
performance and above it all VOCALS!
This is to my ears a fully professional production.
Furthermore, and maybe more important; it is full of life and juice!
Sounds like the song is so fresh to you, that it still has all its love and
life within you as you perform.
Aside of that I agree on everything composerclark said.
10101010 to you Scott! [ Reply to This ]
Oooohh... &mdash 08/02/06 - 07:18:29 AM
Hey Curry... That is where I ended up... I can still be sparked by something I
come up with on guitar... but a small recorder really helps maintain a
direction, and my 50 year old memory can use a little help...
My wife and friends also call me strange, but they have a whole different set
of reasons... I like yours more.... and as for the freshness... i have better
mikes now than the one used on this but, I've left the recording alone
because the moment seemed right to me..
thanx Curry... starting with 10's... hi praise indeed [ Reply to This ]
Perfect &mdash 08/02/06 - 05:47:49 AM
Perfect sound. Great composition. Best adjustment of voices. Pretty
guitar. High mixture. Congratulations. [ Reply to This ]
Perfect &mdash 08/02/06 - 07:23:01 AM
thank you Jaun... The hi light of this one for me is the "composition"... It is so
different than where I would have ended up had I not jumped over to the
piano [ Reply to This ]
Wow, Scott &mdash 08/02/06 - 06:10:28 AM
Perfect. I rarely even listen to rock music, but this song changes my
mind. It all sounds pleasing to my ears, everything goes perfectly
together. I think the local Christian radio station should play this and
make it a number one hit. Truly great message, production, playing,
and singing. Did I leave anything out? Faved & downloaded. [ Reply to This ]
Wow, Scott &mdash 08/02/06 - 07:33:30 AM
thanx Rox... a download is the highest compliment... I wasn't sure about the
genre... I'm still not... I kept going through the list and not seeing where it
fit... [ Reply to This ]
great sound &mdash 08/02/06 - 10:03:47 AM
and playing...really well mixed......vocals sound fantastic......that lead is
soaking with soul....wow.... [ Reply to This ]
great sound &mdash 08/02/06 - 10:09:28 AM
thanx man... I enjoyed your interview, although you are still a mystery
wrapped in an enigma... it's funny how MJ effects us... as i was mixing, I kept
thinking of you and putting the guitar up further than i would have... and I
trust you more than I do me... it seems to have worked [ Reply to This ]
I'm sure glad you're here &mdash 08/02/06 - 12:34:19 PM
Like all your music, Scott, this sounds fantastic. Beyond that is the heart
and soul that comprise the basis of all your music - your songs go
straight in and find their home inside immediately. This is a wonderful
gift you have, and all of us here are very grateful you share it with us.
I must mention the obvious: your musical skills are at a very high level,
and when they are combined with the above the magic that you create
gets manifested, like it is here.
Thank you for allowing me to put this in my iPod, which is where it's
headed. [ Reply to This ]
I'm sure glad you're here &mdash 08/02/06 - 02:59:53 PM
thank you Patrick... that means alot to me... I'm also very happy to be here,
and I have certainly grown in this art through the feedback and forums, and
learning to listen... this can only be good for us... and as for the ipod ..I'm
honored [ Reply to This ]
Yesss! &mdash 08/02/06 - 02:05:10 PM
I left a long detailed comment, or thought I had, only to see that it didn't
stick. Dang. I think I told you, yet again, how great you are, what a great
song this is, etc., etc. And then I mentioned that there are times, in my
speakers, that you sound like your Ss are lisping on this track, maybe due
to compression or EQ saturation. They only thing not perfect about the
track (yet it could be merely an mp3 occurrence). I really dig your
passionate vocal performance on this. Reminds me of Billy Joel at his
best. [ Reply to This ]
Yesss! &mdash 08/02/06 - 03:06:39 PM
I've done this before... now I copy my remark before i send it just in case...
because you put so much into the comment, it's a shame if it doesn't get
through... seems like more often I do the double comment... as for the S's... I
sang this right when I got back from the dentist... Kidding... I actually have a
de-esser on the main vox, and to my ears that fixed it... but I know that I am
hi frequency challenged in my hearing [ Reply to This ]
Yesss! &mdash 08/08/06 - 11:28:43 AM
Hey Tobin... I just got new headphones today, and I'm a bit supprised by how
much top end distortion there is in here.. I will certainly have to remix [ Reply to This ]
I'll buy... &mdash 08/02/06 - 02:16:47 PM
..if you have a CD out. To my taste, you are one of the best artist in your genre Scott. Not only at this site, but any given place. You have a very pleasing voice, and your melodies suits me very well. All what you play is at a pro level, and the composing, arrangement, production and mix ditto.
This song is no exception. I dig, I've fav'ed and I D/L:)
Thanks! [ Reply to This ]
I'll buy... &mdash 08/02/06 - 03:20:25 PM
Thanx very much Thor... If I get a CD out I'd give you one for such a generous
comment, because there are some monsters on this sight... I feel like I found
a gold mine when i stummbled into MJ [ Reply to This ]
Your musicianship... &mdash 08/02/06 - 02:27:57 PM
Your musicianship is incredible and the song is very fresh. I relate to losing that idea and the feeling and struggling to recapture it. It's supportive to hear you've gone through it too.
Well done buddy!
Mike T. [ Reply to This ]
Your musicianship... &mdash 08/02/06 - 08:26:52 PM
Hey mike... thanx man... this experience changed the way I approach a song
for the most part... the whole song was writen around the lyric..."when the
grace is all used up then your mercy begins" and while that is autobiographic
and heart felt, it seemed like a good hook...a new way of saying it... so the
song fell into place around that line... and as I drove I got both verses and the
chorus, and I could sing it before I got home...so I knew what I was hearing. I
just had to get in there and find it... thanx for the comment about my
musicianship.. [ Reply to This ]
WOW!!! &mdash 08/02/06 - 03:01:52 PM
Scott
Great job!! what else can I say other than that. We should all aspire to not
only create a song like Mercy but also be able to capture it on tape and
mix it as well as you have. Conrats and thanks for sharing your work.
Ed [ Reply to This ]
WOW!!! &mdash 08/02/06 - 08:30:31 PM
What could this be? &mdash 08/02/06 - 03:25:40 PM
Edwin Mccaine dueling Billy Joel, a little harmony from Jon Anderson... Steve Howe playing backup on the guitar. A big o'l touch of Scott Carmichael to top things off. It's crazy that you wrote this song while driving around... I don't know if that or talking on the cell phone is more dangerous but I know for sure the end result is a wonderful one. I'm sorry that your friend Jack died before he could share with you. I'm sure he still plays this song some where better. It's beautiful and to me there are no other options but 10's... I think your levels are fine. Right on with your brilliant guitar solos. [ Reply to This ]
What could this be? &mdash 08/02/06 - 08:41:54 PM
Thanx John... that means alot coming from you... high reguards here...
McCain and Billy Joel of such a high caliber... I remember reading about Joels
writing process... he would lock himself away, and struggle to the point of
tears... but he came up with lines that cut right to the heart... so if he had to
sweat we shouldn't think this will come easy... and you know thoe guys from
YES are my heros [ Reply to This ]
My Bomber &mdash 08/02/06 - 06:13:32 PM
AAAHhhhh I see my bomber has been here... to bad... would of loved
to know why [ Reply to This ]
My Bomber &mdash 08/02/06 - 11:46:49 PM
My Bomber &mdash 08/03/06 - 04:28:39 AM
Inspired, passionate singing. &mdash 08/02/06 - 07:34:11 PM
I'm glad you shared the back story on this - it adds a poignant note to the song. You have such a full background sound here, and the guitar solos are also great. Just beautiful. One little thing is that the lyrics are a bit hard to understand. They are really good, and I get them when I read along, but they're hard to understand on first listening. Otherwise, as usual, this has become an instant favorite for me. [ Reply to This ]
Inspired, passionate singing. &mdash 08/03/06 - 04:33:13 AM
I was concidering redoing the vox, mostly because I have better mikes now...
this might encourage me to give it a go... I always try to hear the song
through the listeners ears... but there is so much ground to cover when you
produce yourself, that something is almost always overlooked... the lyric is
real important to me too [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 08/02/06 - 09:43:34 PM
Really enjoying the song. Don't cut down your song writing abitlity on
Piano. As someone else said... this should be on a CD and being played
on the radio.
Keep up the great work. [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 08/03/06 - 04:46:02 AM
thanx Wally... I didn't mean to cut down my piano writing... the point was that
piano was enough to find the song... at that point the song really already
existed, I just had to find the key and the chords... I can't imagine having the
time to put out a CD.. i wonder if I could just get the work that's already done
mastered [ Reply to This ]
Mercy my man &mdash 08/02/06 - 11:45:31 PM
You once again blow me away with your excellent vocals, guitar and
mixing. You are the man for sure. Great GTR riffs, harmonies,etc...
mvh : )
[ Reply to This ]
Mercy my man &mdash 08/03/06 - 04:54:15 AM
MICHEAL HOUSE... welcome... thanx friend... if I am the man, I'm an old
one... Thank you for the GTR comments... I usually avoid soloing, unless a
song calls for it... edhara is doing sax on this...wait till you here it [ Reply to This ]
Warmth &mdash 08/03/06 - 02:25:24 AM
The warmth and love within you shine in this beautiful, moving, totally
pro song. I'll just add my voice to the many who are calling for you to
get a CD out and get your stuff on the radio. You are unique.
I can't believe you can sing this well, write this well, produce this well,
AND play such amazing guitar solos! If I could any one of those things
half as well as you I'd be pretty darn pleased with myself.
My theory is that His grace never runs out, for what it's worth.
The clown who insists on giving you low scores is an embarrassment to
this site, and I wish the admins could do something about him/her/it.
I gave you all 10s, which should help correct things a little bit anyways.
Mo. [ Reply to This ]
Warmth &mdash 08/03/06 - 05:08:08 AM
thank you Morris... It is hard to see your own stuff clearly... being 50 years
old leads me to believe that "the market place" would not be much interested
in me... I love MJ because, (although it feels like my day came and went),
here is a forum where anything goes... all of these genres are valid... in reality
they are valid, just not the market place...
my theory is also that His grace will never run out... hopefully this is a way to
emphasize... you know... say it new
I'm not willing to say "clown"or even that the admin should do something... if
the score is honest (no other motive).. I would really want to read the
comments that go with the score... some of the harshest critiques have been
most useful
[ Reply to This ]
Very Nice &mdash 08/03/06 - 07:42:13 AM
Very Nice &mdash 08/03/06 - 08:15:38 AM
Thanx Susan... I try to be well listened, but i must admit, the Goo Goo Dolls
got by me... where can I hear your stuff??? will you be posting?? [ Reply to This ]
G R E A T &mdash 08/03/06 - 09:29:45 AM
Scott, this is fantastic stuff. I have to agree with everything that's been
said. Stellar stuff! I'm so glad you've joined macjams! thanks for
giving me a chance to hear your music. kelli [ Reply to This ]
G R E A T &mdash 08/03/06 - 10:04:33 AM
Thank you Kelli... I'm used to doing music for no reason at all, so I'm more
than happy to have like minded folks who are genuinely listening and heading
the same direction... if everyone in the world was deaf, I would still be
compelled to do this [ Reply to This ]
G R E A T &mdash 08/03/06 - 09:41:23 AM
Scott, this is fantastic stuff. I have to agree with everything that's been
said. Stellar stuff! I'm so glad you've joined macjams! thanks for
giving me a chance to hear your music. kelli [ Reply to This ]
Top Notch &mdash 08/03/06 - 10:46:13 AM
I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been said in earlier comments,
so I'll just repeat it.
This is great & you are great!
This should sum things up quite nicely, no?
Fantastic!
-E [ Reply to This ]
Top Notch &mdash 08/04/06 - 06:14:29 AM
ok...so i would kill &mdash 08/03/06 - 04:06:25 PM
for your voice....man that's wonderful.
nice guitar too....the production is worldclass..i am not sure how much
better a guy can sound all by his-self with a coupla macs...this is really
fine...the hard work and dedication are there for the world to admire
scott...this is awesome....
sheeesh
deepest bows
z [ Reply to This ]
ok...so i would kill &mdash 08/04/06 - 06:19:02 AM
Hey Z... I know what hard work feels like, and I avoid it whenever possible... my studio never feels like that... it
feels more like an amusement park to me... and a bow from you is worth more than10 DL's... (DL's are the
highest form of praise)
thanx; your fan Scot [ Reply to This ]
Note to whomever... &mdash 08/03/06 - 08:54:31 PM
To whomever gave the low votes for Song writing and Originality... STOP
SMOKING CRACK!!! It F's up your mind! [ Reply to This ]
Note to whomever... &mdash 08/04/06 - 06:28:49 AM
hey nice try and thanx Rob... but I'm not sure if my bomber knows about the comment function so they won't
see this... this is still a great place, and several votes mitigate one bomber.. I still think it could be an honest
vote... they didn't give me 1's... it looks like 4's or 5's... I would just like to have the feedback that goes with i [ Reply to This ]
Not Bad &mdash 08/04/06 - 03:01:37 PM
Scott, this is pretty good work. The intro kind of reminds me of a Rich Mullins chop; can't think of the song, though. Would've liked fewer notes and more sustain with the electric guitar, but not bad. Keep up the good work!
[ Reply to This ]
Not Bad &mdash 08/05/06 - 02:14:03 PM
Good ears Ron... yes I try to avoid soloing in most of my music.... producing yourself is hard, and for me, elec
guitar solos are the hardest to self produce... when i play my acoustic I don't loose sight of the song... but
sometimes when I climb on my elec it takes me for a ride...
Rich Mullin made a ton of money on his 1st albumn... more than he knew what to do with... so he went to his
acountant and asked..."how much does the average american live on?"... when his acountant told him
$30,000.00... he told his acountant that's how much he wanted a year... all the rest he sent to an Indian
reservation... talk about puttin' your money where your mouth is!
thanx fellow ho [ Reply to This ]
Not Bad &mdash 08/05/06 - 07:04:51 PM
that was "fellow hoosier"... my computer got fried by lightnig... so I installed an old one(G$) in my office (temp)
and my comments are getting the last letters cut off..... [ Reply to This ]
simply marvelous &mdash 08/04/06 - 06:31:46 PM
I know everyone throws around 'you sound like so and so'..I usually
refrain from comparisons because I always feel I can express how I
feel..but man..this sounds like Jackson Brown doing his best work..but
with better guitars. Suprised me with your chops... mister
A top-notch tune, Scott well done...bravo!
Taylor 612...whoa... [ Reply to This ]
simply marvelous &mdash 08/05/06 - 02:25:04 PM
Thanx Tom... and welcome to my 1st commentor on my 1st song... If I do enough takes I can finally get
something to keep... you know... the monkey with the typewriter... and your comparison woked for m [ Reply to This ]
Man &mdash 08/05/06 - 11:16:28 AM
This shud be on the f****** radio very good feeling start doing gigs!!!!! [ Reply to This ]
Man &mdash 08/06/06 - 12:05:17 PM
thanx man.... I recently took my electric out of moth balls because I got a
great gig playing with one of the best writers I've ever heard.. Sam Cintron...
his writing is extrordinary, and his voice is like none I've heard... his whole
band is smokin'... in years past when people have asked me to play, the
answer is usually "no" I just don't have time... but I couldn't pass this up
as for this stuff... I played all the parts... so I don't want to teach a band how
to play this... and all the real good players I know are too busy [ Reply to This ]
hey mr carmicheal &mdash 08/06/06 - 02:15:30 PM
absolutly fantastic good to hear someone playing something classic and
beautiful [ Reply to This ]
hey mr carmicheal &mdash 08/07/06 - 06:48:55 AM
Djzoo through ego bandit &mdash 08/06/06 - 08:45:21 PM
Very cool!! A Fusion of Billy Joel and Tesla,With some floyd in there.You
make it all work ..so keep up the good work ya rockin bro!! [ Reply to This ]
Zowie! &mdash 08/07/06 - 03:27:19 AM
Scott...this is easily your best work to date. Thanks so much for turning
up the lead guitar. You really smoke here. This tune sounds and feels
similar to a piece or two by the Scottish folk-rockers Wolfstone, and
THAT, my friend, is a huge compliment. Lovely vocals and harmonies.
Great composition. Excellent production.
Be well!
(PS---I used to be the Conductor) [ Reply to This ]
Zowie! &mdash 08/07/06 - 06:31:43 AM
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This song is great, ah, GREAT! Beautiful song, beautiful singing,
amazing guitar shredder solos (!), great feel; it's everything you could
possibly want.
The genre is fine, but is there any reason you shy away from
'Religious-Inspirational' as a category? Because that would seem like a
natural fit to me, and there ain't nuttin' wrong with that category!
I'm curious... is this from a CD ? if not, it SHOULD be on a CD, and it
should be getting radio play.
10-10-10-10
[ Reply to This ]