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First Train For Home


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Well, sigh! I love the pedal steel guitar. so I started playing with the loops and then I just had to write a quick tune to use them. I'm not a life long CW fan, but I love George Jones and I guess its buried in my blood somewhere. This is just a simple progression, but it is my first attempt to play with voices and Oh BOY! I recorded my daughter too hot on the first verse, then she didn't sing with punch on the second and then she went back to college (so no retake). I'm a high tenor trying to sing baritone so I used the voice transformer to give me a hint of baritone. But the real problem is not having an environment to record in. We did it in the kitchen (noisy). Also singing into the internal iMAC mike is a real pain. My last problem is how to effectively patch loops together so that you don't get spikes. I tried an ending guitar strum that just sounds awful. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it.
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Lyrics
First Train For Home
(c) 2008 Stephen M Schedra

Thought I could make it happen
If I moved into Manhattan
A dollar and a dream and I'm alone
Then I met a golden Starlet
Who looks just like a harlot
But I can't be a judge 'cause I'm the same

If its a different day or town
You know I'd love to stick around
But I'm leav'in on the first train for home

Dreams are bright and pretty
When they're made in NY City
But I left my dreams behind when I left home
And the princes are so charming
With their stories so disarming
So I took it all in stride now I'm the same

If its a different day or town
You know I'd love to stick around
But I'm leav'in on the first train for home

The whole world's at Penn Station
When I sense her hesitation
Then she sits by me and I know she's the one
Pressing through the faces
I've been lost in smaller spaces
Then a friendly face from home and I'm undone

Don't mind me sittin' down
I'd like your company leav'in town
'Cause I'm leav'in on the first train for home
Yes we're leav'in on the first train for home
Song Stats
Hits: 816
Comments: 16
Fans: 8
Plays: 146
Downloads: 68
Votes: 3
Uploaded: Jan 09, 2008 - 08:34:34 PM
Last Updated: Apr 16, 2009 - 10:01:34 PM Last Played: Nov 23, 2009 - 09:58:34 PM
Song License
Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Creative Commons

Song Actions
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Hardware:
iMAC
Software:
Garage Band
Comments
Feter said 686 days ago (January 9th, 2008)
First Train For Home
Impressive ..the production is way cool
the slide guitar sound awesome ..sure
the pickin guitar gave in it more reality
the kitchen feel with your daughter sound
just made more wonderfull to hear her ..
perfect ending as well ...so the only
suggestion is to move the iMAC to the living
room .. :-) wink ...thnx alot for sharin it !
cjhoose said 686 days ago (January 10th, 2008)
I love pedal steel too
You and your daughter have similar voices (i know... that sounds odd). It fits the song.
Check out my latest song called Julia
sschedra said 685 days ago (January 11th, 2008)
Thanks for the comments
I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I am a high tenor (ala Stevie Winwood, Dave Davies). I used the vocal transformer in GarageBand to effect the baritone quality (I didn't change the pitch, but the timbre). Interesting thing about Becky. She has been trained in opera (colatura sopranno). She wouldn't know a country western song unless the train ran her over. So I had to constantly encourage her to "sing dirty" and "sing like you drank whiskey and then screamed all night at a football game". I think on the first verse she got the picture, She moved her voice up into her nose, but I blew the recording levels.
Check out my latest song called Love's Fingers Fall
caroline said 685 days ago (January 11th, 2008)
i love this song!
and i like the little imperfections too!! i would pay real money for this with them smoothed out - delicious - thank you
Check out my latest song called clink that link mjrf
sschedra said 685 days ago (January 11th, 2008)
Yup
Unless Becky will quit school and go on the road with me (or she comes home any time soon) her vocals are fixed. So I stopped short on this when she left me (Hm-m-m, sounds like the beginning of a new Country song) ;-)
Check out my latest song called Love's Fingers Fall
dajama said 682 days ago (January 14th, 2008)
This is a good song
I like the lyrics and the sentiment behind them. The recording part could be cleaner, for sure, but I truly believe that's something that can be addressed anytime. You've got the song, and the song is the thing, man! For your next track, I would suggest avoiding the vocal transformer. It has its uses, but I think it can also hold you back. Let your true voice shine through! I love the story about trying to get your daughter to sing country-style, by the way! Nice one. I'm looking forward to your next one. Peace.
Check out my latest song called Across the Wire (MJRF)
Roxylee said 677 days ago (January 18th, 2008)
You two are great!
You are a very good songwriter, and I love the energy in your music. Tell Becky I like this better than opera.
Check out my latest song called Sweet Grace
guitapick said 667 days ago (January 28th, 2008)
I rarely...
...listen to the recording technique first or 2nd time around. I've only been at it since April '07. Takes time, but the important thing is where the song's coming from. I'm sure you know that.

I really like this. Pedal steel fan, too.

Fine tune, Stephen. Compliments to your daughter. You've got a nice voice, too. And I really like your guitar playing. Fits right in there. Sweet sound...
Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral
sschedra said 660 days ago (February 5th, 2008)
Thanks
I still need to master getting a good mix in GB. Its not the same as doing a live mix or even using other consoles.
Check out my latest song called Love's Fingers Fall
said 661 days ago (February 4th, 2008)
Love the steel
great little C&W ditty here, not a huge fan but I like good ones. You could try some automation on your daughter's vocals to equal out the volume levels, that track does seem to clip a little. The vox effect on your vocals worked pretty nicely.

. - Harold
said 652 days ago (February 12th, 2008)
Wow !!!!


Hello
My internet angel you have also a little angel of your very own too. Your daughter sang beautifully You both sang this duet great. Its really nice to hear families sing together and father and daughter is very nice combanation. I am always amazed at how clever you are and on the first take as well. I felt right at home.
with this great song many thanks for sharing this little 'Gem' as well :-)
Warren Smith said 651 days ago (February 14th, 2008)
all over the place
Nice writing _ and some great rhymes.

I may have to steal that one for Manhattan : >

Your loopy music is all over the place, from opera to country-western to classical to rock, which makes it fun to listen to.
Check out my latest song called Pushing and Pulling
sngwrtr said 574 days ago (May 1st, 2008)
Very fun
Anyone who likes George Jones is okay in my book! Love that stuff!

For me, this was a fun listen and I really enjoyed the duet aspect of it. Musically, it held my interest and had a nice "sing along quality" to it.

Lyrically, I wasn't as excited. I winced a little at the first two lines, but could live with them. However, the "golden starlet/just like a harlot" rhyme doesn't work at all for me. That simply isn't something you'll hear in today's country and, arguably, not even 30 yrs ago ('though maybe).

Another pairing that didn't really make much sense was the Penn Station/hesitation piece. I mean, is there a point in that? To me, it felt as though you were simply matching up rhyming lines with little regard to the continuity of the story.

I don't know what he thought he could "make happen in Manhattan" nor why he gave up so quickly (apparently), and why a "different day or town" might have made a difference.

And at that point, I don't know that I care any longer. What I mean by this is that the gaps or inconsistencies in the story left me disinterested.

I do think there is quite a bit of potential in this song and quite a bit of evidence of skillful songwriting that can be found here. I hope my critical comments are accepted in the manner they are intended!

Fun song to listen to ... like to hear more.


Check out my latest song called Long Legs Of The Law
sschedra said 564 days ago (May 11th, 2008)
Appreciate the critique
John,
Your remarks are accurate, as I just sort of threw this together to give me and becky a chance to do the duet. It really grew from me playing with the pedal steel loops. As a last effort Iquickly wrote the lyrics and then we did it. Myb very astute daughter also had problems with the lyrics, but I am such a slap dash impressionist, I just said "lets just do it!!

Honesty is appreciated and respected.
Stephen
Check out my latest song called Love's Fingers Fall
MarkHolbrook said 40 days ago (October 17th, 2009)
Wow...
I'm wondering if there is a genre you cannot do well!? This is like the others solid, well written, well sung, performed... Whats not to like? Nothing!
Check out my latest song called Never Say Goodbye - Bond Challenge
sschedra said 39 days ago (October 18th, 2009)
MArk,
Did this one with my daughter. It was a lot of fun.
Stephen
Check out my latest song called Love's Fingers Fall
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Name: Stephen M Schedra
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Started performance life as a guitar player and vocalist in Sympathy (60's Rock) and doing acoustic performances with Michael Salveson. Then as a guitarist for Joe Lobianco (Rock Dance band). Next I did stints on bass and guitar and vocals for the ... [see more]

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Genre Info
Country music, also called country and western music or country-western, is an amalgam of popular musical forms developed in the Southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, Celtic Music, Blues, Gospel music, and Old-time music. Howe

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