I proposed this idea to Bill about doing a story line over one of my tracks. He comes up with this story that covers the gamut of emotions from first love, old love, new love, tragedy, sorrow, happiness, sadness, remorse and so much more.
The song is sung with great emotion and feeling which is hard to put into words...so I give you the story of Little Gerri
Words by: Bill White (@billwhite51)
Sung by: Bill White (@billwhite51)
Music and arrangement by: Garry Kirby (@Gm7)
Little Gerri
my name is gerald galpin
i married a flapper in the wild and roaring twenties
she gave me a daughter and i named her after me
Little Gerri
she was my tinkerbell
but her mother was in a class below me
so i had her committed to the mad house
i was an officer on the enterprise
and I fought the japs in world war two
then I remarried and I sired a worthy brood
Little Gerri
was accepted by her new family
and she loved her elegant cousins
but when the war ended
Gerri married a gunner from my ship
so i cut off the flow of the family chips
living on hot dogs and sleeping in the park
Little Gerri was married to a drunkard who beat her
When the jap bounded him in the battle of the midway
and we lay in the dark
i divorced my second wife and I married my secretary
who gave me twins and a blind son
they are all successful now and my time is done
Little Gerri
never knew that her mother lived to an old age
in the mad house just 12 miles north of the home
where Little Gerri raised five kids alone
And in the mad house the mother knows
Little Gerri never knew Mommy was
just 12miles from her home
Little Gerri never knew her Mommy was
just 12miles from home
Until the day she died
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri never knew
Little Gerri never knew
@berni1954 Mar 2022
This was like bumping into some old guy on a park bench who starts to reel off his life story with an intensity like that of the narrator in the Ancient Mariner. Tragic tale. Especially the fact that it seems the only reason he pushed the mother into a madhouse was her social class wasn't up to his. Grrr.... This song is positively Thomas Hardy in its scope.
@fearlessflight2014 Mar 2022
I’m transported to a whole other world! The easy flow of the music is such a perfectly unobtrusive foil for this intense life story. Amazing collab! Love it!
@johnstaples Feb 2022
We'll, right away this music pulled me right in! Such a clean, tasteful, and tasty tune! Garry nails this so well with all those sweet guitar flourish bits. Damn fine music indeed!
And holy cow, Bill wrote an amazing story to lay on top of this music! The details and depth, as well as the performance, reminds me of Dylan's Lilly, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts!
Nice work you two!
@fonte Feb 2022
Nice feel to this, and can feel the emotion. Nice guitar work too on the solo bits :-)
@robinkirby Feb 2022
great storytelling ;)
@karlsburg25 Feb 2022
Wow so emotional and what a beautiful collab you two. I love how youve both somehow managed to create a really classic sound espeicllay love those guitar interjections. Great stuff
@jamkar Feb 2022
Great hook. Story telling like this is rare anymore. There is a The Band vibe that is evident on the guitar fills. What a superb package.
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
Very nice collaboration, you guys. Great music and Bill always puts together a great story.
I'd like to keep thinking that the title of this song is an "homage" to me... ;-)
@nuchoyce Feb 2022
Wow it sounds like a natural flow without over thinking. You both make a good team. Straight up Story Telling!
@elesimo Feb 2022
Oh, wow... amazing collab! The story is rich in emotions and so intense. Great job!
@jessi14 Feb 2022
Wow, so intense! I love the delivery, makes me think of Tom Waits, very sinister! I am completely mesmerised by the story!
@wacha Feb 2022
This is a great collaboration! Gary's softer arrangement contrasts Bill's delivery very nicely and adds to the emotion of the story.
@daveyboy103 Feb 2022
Much more clarity Garry, make this the last step in your processing chain.
Still love it. :)
@erucaesounds Feb 2022
Great song, love the words! Great work both of you!
@daveyboy103 Feb 2022
I love Bill's words and and working with him on attack for this FAWM, I have even talked him into singing one of mine.
Love this one. There is soul in those words and that voice.
Run the WAV master through https://www.bandlab.com/mastering it will lift it to a different level.
@timfatchen Feb 2022
So dark, and gets darker and darker, It's compulsive listening. the whole thing fits, works, moves (both meanings). Vocals are just great and the backing both cradles then and sings with them on that guitar. Applause!
@gwyn1234 Feb 2022
This collab works so well! Great vox and lyrics and an insistent and pulsating bt that fits perfectly...
@cts Feb 2022
Amazing - y'all managed to take the spirit and authenticity of vintage 70s style storytelling and revitalize it for 2022. There's a great deal of energy coming from this one.
@nahlej381 Feb 2022
Ah yes. FAWM is here. Two of my favorites starting strong. Good to hear you both again!
@rayboneor Feb 2022
Dang, a successful collaboration right here on day one! It's a snappy number and quite a moving vocal performance. Y'all are collectively channeling Van Morrison. I love the details: hot dogs in the park, etc.
@djtjb Feb 2022
Man what a heartbreaking story. Garry's guitar weeps along with the lyrics. And those piano skills are sounding pretty awesome too. I loved it. Great collab guys
@metalfoot Feb 2022
What a dark story! Great backing track to support Bill's storytelling too.
@nadine Feb 2022
Oufz, what a story. Bill just nailed the emotion!
@skylermf Feb 2022
I love the guitar licks through this, great balance of storytelling and instrumental. Great stuff!
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
"The song is sung with great emotion and feeling which is hard to put into words" well said, Garry! Bill's emotional vocal delivery along with your stellar guitar is like an intense conversation. Pristine production, G. This is moving. Bill, your lyrics cut!