7 Years

racerat

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Description

Written about 15 years ago, I recently re-recorded this song. Matt M. and I wrote it as I was packing up to leave Phillie after living there 7 years, to follow my dreams in NYC. It was a big change, and big changes call to be immortalized! Kind of tongue in cheek, but also honest and from the heart. A rocker with group vocals ala Black Flag’s “TV Party”. Additional guitars by Andrew VanDusen and lead vocals by Matt M.

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Lyrics

7 Years
© 1991 Philip VanDusen & Matt M.

I’ve packed up everything I own
Said farewell now, to my home
Have I been here
Have I been here 7 years?

Gave my landlord a little hug
Told him he could keep my rug
Have I been here
Have I been here 7 years?

I’ve been here 7 years
Oh no, 7 years

If you see my neighbors tell them goodbye
If I did it I might cry, cry, cry
Have I been here
Have I been here 7 years?

I’m movin out this week
Movin’ up to the big city
Have I been here
Have I been here 7 years?

Yeah, I’ve been here 7 years
Layin’ low, hidin’ out
Playin’ dumb
7 years

I’ve been here 7 years
Oh no, 7 years

Song Stats

Hits: 1415
Comments: 30
Fans: 9
Plays: 189
Downloads: 70
Votes: 14
Uploaded: Jan 14, 2007 - 09:07:31 PM
Last Updated: Jan 14, 2007 - 09:07:31 PM Last Played: Oct 28, 2009 - 06:03:44 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Comments

DOCTORBIZARRE	DOCTORBIZARRE said 1043 days ago (January 14th, 2007)
	COOL ROCKER Nice track man! Great guitar sound! I would have a different sound on the snare. Cool track! Check out my latest song called STORM

	said 1043 days ago (January 14th, 2007)
	allways killer I'm a fan.. you guys have great tone and musical skill would love to see ya live sounds like alot of fun, keep it rockin!!!!!

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 1043 days ago (January 14th, 2007)
	loose yet tight.. and high on energy. got a good live type of action on this one! Check out my latest song called November

jiguma	jiguma said 1043 days ago (January 14th, 2007)
	Good sounds Love the production and the playing - I agree with Biz - that snare sound stands out a bit more than it should (not volume, but the sound itself). You get some serious drive into these songs you're doing. This is no exception. Neil Check out my latest song called Lost In Translation (w Mike Watkins)

Ed Hannifin

Ed Hannifin said 1043 days ago (January 14th, 2007)

Clean, great impact....
...you can call this 'alternative rock', but, ya know, this could've been a James Gang track in 1969 or it could be done tomorrow by Gov't Mule... Heck, ZZ Top could cover this and have a wonderful time of it...

That means, to my way of thinking, that it's got a timeless quality, which, also to my way of thinking, is good, because I've seen a lot of stuff get called 'punk' and 'new wave' and 'alternative' over the years that is ready made for sounding dated...

This rocks, it's tight, it's well written, like a little urban haiku... not a lot there, but what's there speaks volumes... and it's well recorded...

Ed

Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

bud	bud said 1043 days ago (January 14th, 2007)
	kick out the jams mutherfockers! Gotta agree with Ejh - this tune is a timeless classic. Tougher sound - but also brings to mind Rank and File. Can't crit this much - it does the job. Tell the truth - I'm lookin forward to hearing some more new solo stuff - maybe further out on a limb - I know you can go there. Check out my latest song called eye for you (w/particledots and michael2)

MJG

MJG said 1043 days ago (January 15th, 2007)

That is rockin'...
I really like the live feel to it, and the realism of this song that many of us share in your story. My only complaint is i'd like to year the story evolve just a tiny bit, just a tiny bit more variety in the lyrics, the actual vocals/harmonies I thought sounded really good, you blended well, and the music , well thats what you guys play for, sounded Great!-MJG

Check out my latest song called Fox River Spirits(Acoustic)

racerat

racerat said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)

fun
Yeah, it tries to do the job anyway. The drums get monotonous because we just turned on the drum machine and let fly it was essential all done in 2 or three passes: 1: Drums, bass,guitar, lead voc...then 2: doubled guitars & extra vocals, then 3: lead guit and group shouts. Fun, that's all it really was, or is....kinda like livin in Phille.

---
-Philip

Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

MJG

MJG said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)

hey racerat, sounds a lot like here in Chicago,
Actually were about 65 NW of Chicago, we record in similiar fashion, on my studio stuff, I usually just hit the drum machine, which ever drum loop comes close to matching a rythm I come up with. Try to narrow it to 1st or 2nd takes too. As for the live stuff, yeah , it is all just one take tryin' to flow with it, in that particular place and time. Just tryin' to keep it fun. Take care-MJG

Check out my latest song called Fox River Spirits(Acoustic)

MJG

MJG said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)

Check out my latest song called Fox River Spirits(Acoustic)

MJG	MJG said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)
	Sorry, must have Triple clicked? ooops Check out my latest song called Fox River Spirits(Acoustic)

MJG

MJG said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)

Check out my latest song called Fox River Spirits(Acoustic)

Youra	Youra said 1042 days ago (January 15th, 2007)
	Great rockin' track I don't like everything in the melody (the chorus), simple question of taste, but the production is brilliant, fantastic energy, voices and guitar simply perfect. You sound like a pro to me. Great rock to start my week. Check out my latest song called Funkaboka

	said 1042 days ago (January 15th, 2007)
	Let's kick some ass This is so good ROCK LOVE IT.....Thanx for this one. http://www.macjams.com/song/27921

craft	craft said 1042 days ago (January 15th, 2007)
	ok... First I like the lyrics. Second the snare is ok!! Gives it a punch! Really nice rock!! Don't change anything!! Maybe the solo guitar is too loud!! Check out my latest song called Blue Lights (feat. Spleenveil)

mikkinylund

mikkinylund said 1042 days ago (January 15th, 2007)

Hm
This one didn't quite do it for me as most of your other songs have. It's a very good production, and very tight performance, at the same time, it doesn't have that edge or unique approach I am looking for. It's brave to post a song written 15 years ago, so I should also take that in mind. Again, good performance, arrangement, but almost a little bit too polished for me, over-arranged? All your other stuff has kicked my ass, but this one doesn't... Just trying to be honest. /Mikki

Check out my latest song called Fairyland (Satumaa)

racerat	racerat said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)
	Yeah! Mikki, I have been waiting for someone to be brutally honest around here. You are my main man for life! You can't like everything you know, and that is OK, you came you, you listened, you panned...good for you. Thanks. --- -Philip Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

Leon

Leon said 1042 days ago (January 16th, 2007)

Rock on, guys
You told me to write a not-all-sunshine critique. Hard to do when a song is honestly well-done.

I was tryin to find specific elements of this song that will make it stick in my mind. The guitar playing is outstanding and the percussion were all energized. I liked the group singing and it has a slightly impomptu quality to it that makes it memorable in its roughness. Can definitely be a little more polished and more harmonized but I imagine that was deliberately done to render a live gig atmosphere. The melody, probably its weakest aspect, is generic rock, nothing groundbreaking or novel except the ending. It is very eagerly and emotionally sung, however, and that makes it more than ordinary.

I love rock with vocals, and although less stellar in comparison to your last 3 vocal rock pieces, this is an awesome listen by any standards.

Check out my latest song called The Nightingale (music and lyrics by Oceans)

racerat

racerat said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)

Raw
Thanks Leon,
Yeah, raw is what we were going for, and as I said to bud up above in an early post, this was recorded in about 3 passes, very off the cuff. I guess I have an emotional attachment to this one cuz it represents a memory of days gone by to me. But what the heck, that's why I post more than one song at a time, so people feel a little more free to like one more than another....

I appreciate your honest feedback, that's how we grow....

---
-Philip

Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)
	Solid. Not much to say here. Good song writing, and the playing and production are A-ok too. I like the loose vocals. That heightens the "I'm outta here" mood of the song. Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

Mcboy	Mcboy said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)
	oooh yeah tight rockin fun track........sorta like an anthem for breaking free and accepting change.....very kool! Check out my latest song called Heros( aclarke/mcboy)

racerat	racerat said 1036 days ago (January 21st, 2007)
	McBoy Glad to have such a highly reguarded MacJammer show up! I dig your stuff. "brother Soul" is a killer track. I appreciate the listen. --- -Philip Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

j2morrow	j2morrow said 1041 days ago (January 16th, 2007)
	Rockin' I read over the lyrics before I hit the play button and was expecting something more acoustic and low-key. Wow, this has real punch. Nice track. Terrific vocals and guitars. Funny how time washes past us without us noticing sometimes. Check out my latest song called CAPTURE THE RAPTURE

Tadashi Togawa	Tadashi Togawa said 1040 days ago (January 17th, 2007)
	Strength. This is strong. Firm rock. I enjoyed it. Check out my latest song called Mexican taste

lineofdeadpixels	lineofdeadpixels said 1039 days ago (January 18th, 2007)
	Gotta love the gang vocals Great track. Love the song! Check out my latest song called Nothing Ever Ends Forever

	said 1039 days ago (January 19th, 2007)
	Excellent! I really got into this track- love the guitars and vox! I did notice the repetative drums, but a minor quibble with such a great track. I thought the production was perfect! Thanks for allowing me to "snag" a copy of this.

8piscean8

8piscean8 said 1037 days ago (January 20th, 2007)

7 Years
Production on this is superb. IMHO the phrase "7 years" however is overused. I think I am now brainwashed into thinking that "7 years" is something bigger than it really is. It is a measure of time no dout and has importance to you but I felt like it was overused. I like the guitar sound and solo. Don't turn it down. A live drummer would add a lot. Even though this was written 7 years ago ... I mean 15 years ago, this sound is still relevant today. Polish the over usage of 7 years and it will be even tighter.

Check out my latest song called The End

racerat	racerat said 1036 days ago (January 21st, 2007)
	7 Years 8piscean8, Thanks for the feedback. Hey, 7 years, it made you remember the title, 7 years, right? 7years, nothing like a little, 7 years repetitive, 7 years lyric hammering, 7 Years, huh? But seriously, thanks for listening! Great rockin' avitar dude! --- -Philip Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

said 804 days ago (September 10th, 2007)

The "Seven Year Itch" -would be over used....
Your lyrics allude to this which is better - (the length of time it seems to take human beings to realize they've become too complacent - time to move forward) Like the live sound - vocals might need just a bit more melody, and by now hopefully you've found a drummer, but at least the drums don't get lost in the back ground. Mikey_D's sound about as close to real drums as I've heard here. It's interesting to see the difference from where you were fifteen years ago - and where you are now. Heard you on echoroom's "Manhattan Hangs" and "Like Breathing Water" - amazing!

racerat

racerat said 802 days ago (September 13th, 2007)

drums
Carole,
Drums have always been my downfall. I have never much cared about them enough to spend the time to program, or loop them to convincing effect. Guess that is the guitar players curse...(us lazy musician types...) Thanks for listening to my collab's w. Steve (echoroom). We seem to have clicked. We have another coming out soon, as well as one with the two of us and AlexWeiler. Stay tuned!

---
-Philip

Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

Fan List

MJG

Artist Info

Name: Philip VanDusen

I went to school for the fine arts, painting, and taught that for a while, but I am now a graphic design executive by day, and a musician most the rest of the time. I play guitar and bass mostly, do midi synth stuff, use drum machine... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

The terms alternative rock and alternative music[1] were coined in the early 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired music genres which didn't fit into the mainstream genres of the time. At times it was used as catch-all phrase for rock music from under

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