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Keywords:
folk (351), folk rock (39), acoustic (438), vocal (144), fingerstyle guitar (21), ironic (3), collaboration (102), Pilgrim Village (11), tobin (66), ivanjs (4), life (122), story (26), song (188), TobinMueller (34)
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Description:
John Selvia has kind enough to lend his amazing bass talent to this song. His bass adds a wonderful yet subtle jazz sense to this folk tune, adding richness, and I am thrilled. If you like this, he plays on another tune with me, too: Pilgrim of the Return. Suzanne also had me add one more stanza to the lyrics (which I cut from the original post), giving the song a new coda. I had wanted to create a song with whimsical, ironic lyrics, a departure from my more serious lyrics, to create a different kind of love song. Artwork is "Cave Wall" by Will Kramer.
Lyrics:
IF I COULD LIVE LONG ENOUGH
Want to be an astronaut... play golf on the moon.
Want to invent something sleek and cool that will change the world.
Want to step on a stage and accept some big, tall, golden award,
so I can thank all the people that came before.
If I could live enough.
If I could just live long enough to be all I want to be.
Be a deep sea diver.
Be a rich man’s lawyer.
Be a toy designer.
Be a fair employer.
Be an honest lover.
Be a gracious friend.
Be the one to discover how this story ends.
How this story ends.
I’ve been the scourge of the world to my first wife;
salvation to my second.
I’ve been a hero of sorts in the coffee shop with everyone saying, “Hey,” as they beckon.
Now I’m anonymous and free, with a lot less to say
and a lot more to reckon...
if I could live enough.
If I could just live long enough to be all I want to be.
Let me be what I am.
Every day a new man.
I want too many thrills for one lifetime to fill.
Can’t see where I’m moving.
Can’t teach what I feel.
These days there’s no proving that anything’s real,
and so got to be myself and so
got to be myself,
if I live long enough.
If I live long enough.
You say you want to know me.
I can’t stop my life.
You say you got to find me.
It’s me, here, by your side.
Let me be what I am.
Every day a new man.
I want too many thrills for one lifetime to fill.
Can’t see where I’m moving.
Can’t teach what I feel.
These days there’s no proving that anything’s real, and so
got to be myself and so
got to be myself.
If I live long enough I could be everything to me,
I could be everything to you.
You say you want to know me.
I can’t stop my life.
You say you got to find me.
It’s me, here, by your side.
Want to see what they’re saying in tomorrow’s news.
Want to see grandkids dancing around the way kids do.
I want to thank all the people, especially you.
If I could live enough.
If I could just live long enough to be all I want to be.
Hardware:
G4; Roland A90ex keyboard controller; EV 757 mic;
John Selvia (ivanjs) and his magic bass
Software:
GB/Jam Pack
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Beautifully done Tobin &mdash 08/07/04 - 02:41:29 PM
Amazing song. Amazing playing. Great vocals. One
of the best songs I've heard anywhere.
John
[ Reply to This ]
Beautifully done Tobin &mdash 08/07/04 - 02:42:32 PM
Oh, and thanks for the opportunity!
John
---
If the goat runs to the well, cast no stones. [ Reply to This ]
Beautifully done Tobin &mdash 08/07/04 - 03:55:51 PM
You made the most of it, John. Being handed an already arranged song to
add to is not easy. You created an inventive and integrated bass line, played
it with heart and grace, and mixed such a lush sound to your instrument.
Now it feels complete. More than I had dreamed of. Thank you again. [ Reply to This ]
Great lyrics &mdash 08/07/04 - 03:40:58 PM
The music is good, of course. But I really really liked the
lyrics. They're fun and funny, but they also hit home.
Reminds me a lot of... well... me! (Including the scourge of
the earth for my first girlfriend? Well... You'll have to ask
her. Hehe).
[ Reply to This ]
Great lyrics &mdash 12/28/04 - 10:41:40 AM
Thanks for the comments about the lyrics. I had all these ideas in my head,
knowing what I wanted to do, and the hook was written out, but I made up
the lyrics as I sang them, a phrase at a time, just trying to be honest in a
boyish open sort of way. I was smiling a lot when singing, too. Glad you saw
yourself in them. (Made me smile again!) [ Reply to This ]
You have got this &mdash 08/07/04 - 04:02:23 PM
habit of making really good tracks.(LOL)
Tobin, I thought the last track you did was amazing, but
again you surprise me.
Good harmonies, tight production. This song suits your
voice, or is it your voice suits this song! either way, the
whole track is extremely interesting, almost Simon and
Garfunkel.
I recognise some loops in this... very nicely fitted
together.
keeps one listening... and listening.
Ivanjs, great bass playing, it adds a depth to this track
that would not have been achieved with any
loop.Awesome.
Congratulations and yet another download :)
Slimmie [ Reply to This ]
Raising The Bar &mdash 08/07/04 - 04:11:24 PM
Over the last few days there have be some high
quality songs uploaded to this site. You capped this
fine run of songs off beautifully and Ivanjs is a
masterful bassist. [ Reply to This ]
Excellent &mdash 08/07/04 - 05:28:18 PM
What a great tune! Very Strong! It carries alot of feeling. Production sounds wonderful. Are those guitar loops? If so you used them masterfully! (If that is a word) Also the vocals are excellent and they are placed really well in the sound space. [ Reply to This ]
Excellent &mdash 12/28/04 - 09:53:32 AM
Thank you. The guitar is 100% GarageBand, a mixture of loops and MIDI
guitar, the acoustic sound that has a great bend when played at the fastest
key velocity. I wanted to create a song with only the GB guitar sounds. Also,
some of the loops are cut and pasted and truncated and mixed and matched
to make them do what I was hearing. [ Reply to This ]
Wonderful harmony &mdash 08/07/04 - 06:05:24 PM
Especially around 3/4 of the way into the song. That
part's just plain inspiring! this is definitely my
favorite song you've posted. downloaded. [ Reply to This ]
Wow, Surprising &mdash 08/07/04 - 07:56:56 PM
What I love about this song is how it eschews formulaic
songwriting. Captivating and innovative, this song
somehow manages to stay cohesive beginning to end,
even through multiple changes and progressions.
Production is best I've heard hear at MJ. [ Reply to This ]
Wow, Surprising &mdash 12/28/04 - 10:01:22 AM
Thanks. I try very hard to eschew formula. I've always believed in breaking
the rules, its one of my rules. I always try to write a song in a way someone
else wouldn't, to bring a unique perspective to both lyrics and structure. Yet
not have the rule breaking or complexity be noticable. Thanks for noticing. [ Reply to This ]
compositional gem... &mdash 08/07/04 - 10:33:44 PM
nice and tight...vocal vibrato is flavorful...harmonies r hip
.....ivanjs is quite the anchor...hey ivanjs whatcha been
doin...i dig this...... [ Reply to This ]
compositional gem... &mdash 08/07/04 - 10:40:22 PM
Hey McBoy!
I've been designing game levels for Neverwinter Nights. I started in April,
haven't done anything else since (well, some artwork and stuff, but no
music).
Finally coming to the end of that project, and Tobin asked me to bass
for him, so looked like a good opportunity to do something besides
design levels...
Art and Stuff:
http://homepage.mac.com/johnselvia/
Johnster
---
If the goat runs to the well, cast no stones. [ Reply to This ]
compositional gem... &mdash 08/07/04 - 10:44:01 PM
riding the wonderful waves of sound & words &mdash 08/07/04 - 11:19:12 PM
In addition to all the usual kudos for top-notch
composition, production and performance (GREAT bass,
ivanjs!!!) I truly enjoyed the words to this song, and the
way the music rises and falls in intensity. Many, many
layers of sound coming in and out like the
tide.....somehow holding everything together.
This has a folk/country/rock flavor, a fascinating mixture.
You have once again defied catagorization in any one
genre, which to me indicates true artistry and
musicianship -- to be able to reach many different kinds
of listeners who can identify and ENJOY this song.
I certainly did!!! [ Reply to This ]
Damn you Tobin! &mdash 08/08/04 - 03:45:46 AM
Quit raising the bar so high! Great, great arrangement and performances in this. This is an expansive piece which you held together begining to end. More than that, you maintained constantly evocative progressions. I'm really quite in awe here. [ Reply to This ]
For any of the doubters &mdash 08/08/04 - 12:01:58 PM
of what loops can do in skilled hands: behold. I think
Tobin proves the point beautifully by pretty much
constructing the song around these guitar loops (some of
which could easily be put into the "overused" category).
But he uses them in such a rich way that we forget all
about the fact that most of the guitar part is loops and
focus where we should for this song, on the words an the
melody. I loved this piece before and it only gets better w/
John's bass (welcome back John!) Also made me go back
and fill out the rest of my votes on the original version
from before the multi-vote system. [ Reply to This ]
For any of the doubters &mdash 08/08/04 - 03:06:59 PM
Thanks, man! However, didn't Tobin actually play the guitar parts on a
keyboard using an acoustic guitar sound in GB rather than use loops?
John
---
If the goat runs to the well, cast no stones. [ Reply to This ]
For any of the doubters &mdash 08/09/04 - 07:35:48 AM
There are six main guitar figures used in this song, three are completely MIDI
playing without loops ("You say you got to find me...", the bridge, "If I live
long enough" at end of the chorus and other connective music), two are
a layering of loops in which most flourishes are cut-pasted and key-changed
samples from loops to create variations over GB/Jam Pack loops (the chorus
"Let me be what I am..." and the main verse groove ("Want to be an
astronaut...") which is a Jam Pack loop with key-changes to create a chord
progression and flourishes modified note by note), and another is a mixture
of sampled loops and MIDI ("Be a deep sea diver..."). Sometimes I took a loop
and inserted a MIDI guitar for a beat or 2 so that it would end or begin the
phrase correctly. The music bed was intended to illustrate how great GB/Jam
Pack are in creating acoustic music, thru a combination of MIDI guitar and
loops . [ Reply to This ]
Also... &mdash 08/08/04 - 07:17:20 PM
Thanks all for the kind comments about my bass
playing, but let's be real-this is Tobin's incredible
talent showing thru here, I just hitched a ride to rub
shoulders with da man! But sincerely, thanks for
taking the time to notice my small part of this great
tune!
John
http://homepage.mac.com/johnselvia/ [ Reply to This ]
great song &mdash 08/09/04 - 12:14:03 AM
I really enjoyed this song; great lyrics, melodies, and
instrumentation. Thank you for this listening experience. [ Reply to This ]
You earn your reputation &mdash 08/10/04 - 12:04:35 AM
So many elements of this song are done with such grace
and taste...
The guitar parts are spectacular, and add a subtle but
powerful drive throughout the song. You?ve given a clinic
on how to create a great acoustic guitar part without
using an actual acoustic guitar.
The bass sound is sweet and the part is a pleasure to
follow, yet it remains simple, as it should. I love what it
does at "Be a deep sea diver..." Nice to hear the bass
featured during the outro, too.
The percussion - shaker, tambourine (nicely panned),
cymbal hits, congas, then the kit... all just *right*, but not
predictable.
I think this is your best vocal performance; maybe this
song is the most appropriate in your catalog for your
timbre and style. It?s as if this were the song you were
born to sing. The vocal arrangement is goose-bump
quality. The oohs at 2:48 ? really fine, perfectly executed.
The flow of the song is also outstanding, and keeps the
listener thoroughly engaged throughout, which is no easy
task in a song that goes past six minutes. You have a lot
to be proud of here, Tobin. Damn?Ķ
One very picky thing I would change (it's your song - this
is just my taste): There are what sound like identical tom
hits at 2:43, 2:45, 2:47, & 2:49. I don't think you need any
of them. I'd like to see them all go. At the very least, I'd
suggest you vary them a bit.
This song is a gem with many remarkable facets. Thanks
for presenting it to us.
[ Reply to This ]
You earn your reputation &mdash 08/10/04 - 08:39:24 AM
Thanks for all the wonderful comments and for your careful listening. I
always thought (sadly) that I had a cowboy sort of voice, even tho I wish I
sounded more like a hip jazz singer and would love to be able to sing high
like I used to (before allergies, reflux, and over-use made me a baritone).
And altho my roots are musical theatre and jazz composition, I truly
loved music first through Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel and am drawn
to do these sort of folk songs. Thanks again. [ Reply to This ]
More high marks for Tobin &mdash 08/10/04 - 09:23:50 AM
8-10-9-8; The only reason you got an 8 for overall
instead of 9 (since I usually avg the first 3 to arrive at the
last) is simply because this type of song is not my cup of
tea. 8 is no slouch of course! Great work! ;) [ Reply to This ]
Loved it &mdash 08/10/04 - 07:55:55 PM
I actually think that the bass was a little quiet but that
could be that it just fitted in so well. Really like the
acoustic guitar stuff. Loops or not they work well too.
Great. [ Reply to This ]
Loved it &mdash 08/11/04 - 11:20:59 AM
We tried bass levels on different systems and came up with this as the best
across the spectrum. There is another version with boosted bass (see #4 at
the end of my comments) if you would like to hear a version with more. [ Reply to This ]
listening again &mdash 08/14/04 - 09:23:30 AM
the song is simple yet so complex. like all your songs. after listening to this more than 5 times, what i like best are the vocal layers and the acoustic guitar passing notes, the subliminal things you add. such richness. and the amazing way you make GB sound like a real player. lets live long enough! [ Reply to This ]
listening again &mdash 08/14/04 - 09:26:28 AM
oh, and i forgot to pay proper tribute to ivanjs. his bass is so complementary, so perfect, so organic and warm. i cna't imagine the song sounding this real or this rich wihtout it. kudos, john!
---
morning girl [ Reply to This ]
listening again &mdash 08/16/04 - 07:32:54 AM
Thanks, Suzanne! This was a hard song for me to grasp at first. Not used
to playing this style, but when I stopped worrying about what style it was
and just played to the feel, it just sort of flowed at that point.
John
---
Art and Music:
http://homepage.mac.com/johnselvia/ [ Reply to This ]
listening again &mdash 08/20/04 - 12:32:14 AM
Yeah, and let that be a lesson to ya, Sport.
Cuz you done real darn good here. And your outlook on how to accomplish it
was obviously dead on. That's a very valuable insight you came across. It
caused you to create a very sweet and completely appropriate bass part.
Nice going, John. [ Reply to This ]
The words are inspired &mdash 09/21/04 - 08:11:29 PM
Beautiful music and lyrics.
The mechanics and nothing short of awe inspiring.
This piece is truly in a master class,
I am not worthy.
Thanks for posting it. [ Reply to This ]
Now we're talkin'... &mdash 11/27/04 - 05:35:12 PM
This is what i'm talkinin' about...thoughtful lyrics..snappy music......good work...
vidid [ Reply to This ]
Simply... &mdash 12/01/04 - 10:50:13 AM
...awesome song. I absolutely love the acoustic guitar
work. Is that real? If so, who? You sure know how to
paint a picture. Another landscape of your heart. [ Reply to This ]
Simply... &mdash 12/28/04 - 11:00:11 AM
I try to describe the use of MIDI guitar and snipped up loops in the above
comments. It is the only song I've done with not-live guitar playing. Glad
you liked everything. [ Reply to This ]
I have been to this tune before &mdash 02/26/05 - 12:41:43 PM
Nice 60's folk rock sound &mdash 07/06/05 - 01:46:50 AM
This kind of reminds me of Crosby, Stills and Nash. I like
that acoustic guitar playing - GB loops? Hard to
tell...sounds convincing.
An accomplished tune
S [ Reply to This ]
Words too true &mdash 08/04/05 - 06:56:30 AM
Fine song that goes very many places yet always stays a folk
tune. I really enjoyed your words. Life is simply too short.
But you say much more than that. I think this tune would
work well in a Bluegrass setting, don't you? Got to bring it to
the boys and see... [ Reply to This ]
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of the best songs I've heard anywhere.
John
[ Reply to This ]