Feb 2022 country-folk
Valentine is a small town at the eastern end of a very long, desolate stretch of road, and a swell place. Seems like a town worthy of a song.
I kinda fell into my country feel here, but that's OK, right? There is supposed to be an electric guitar (or *something*) filling in the intro, outro and solo sections, but I'm not feeling very confident on guitar nowadays, so... I would love it if anyone wanted to flesh that out.
I left behind your sweet, sweet voice
I left behind your smile
Now I’m out here in Nebraska
And regretting every mile
There’s no one to talk to
'Cept the preachers on the radio
And I don’t care what they have to say
Heard all their stories long ago
[chorus]
Something keeps me going
Heading for the Kansas line
A quiet place to spend the night
And it’ll be all right
In Valentine
Valentine Nebraska
City of love, or so they say
It’s not big enough to lose yourself
Or small enough to hide yourself away
Somewhere up ahead there’s a motel
With a heated pool and bar
And I try not to think about you
Try not to wonder where you are
[chorus]
When I get to Oklahoma City
Have to drop off one last load
But right now I’m tired and I’m thirsty
Been too long on the road
[instrumental verse and out chorus]
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
You do such a wonderful job capturing this small town and the loneliness of being on the road alone after the end of a relationship. The nuances and details - from the preacher to the hotel - are perfect… and your groove and vocals are great! Fantastic slice of America!
@nancycunning Feb 2022
Oh, those preachers on the radio - makes me miss driving cross country looking for something on the dial. I love a good place name song, and this one is like a whole songwriting class.
This feels like a song I've always known, but can't remember whether Guy Clark, John Prine, or Townes van Zandt wrote it. You did a great job singing and playing it (and writing it too, if you're sure you did).
@nancyrost Feb 2022
Poignant slice of life, and that rising vocal melody does a lot to contribute to the emotion. I love the use of space in the song, too. Having driven across Nebraska many a time, that sing .......... strum ........ sing cadence is very on-point.
@arthurrossi Feb 2022
Wow! How beautifully written and phrased lyrics with a nicely subtle feel of longing and of that bitter-sweetness that I love in songs so much. Great melody and guitar play and awesome singing! You made a truly lovely song here!
@jorgevallentine Feb 2022
Had to check this out based on the title alone (would I be Jorge Vallentine if I didn't? haha)
Really nice lyrics and storytelling here. Playing and singing is very nice as well and the simple drum beat keeps things moving nicely!
Really resonate with the "and I try not to think about you // try not to wonder where you are" lines right now. My FAWM songs so far have been about that kind of sentiment in a lot of ways.
Keep it up!
@elesimo Feb 2022
This was a great listen! I loved the story, even if bitter sweet. I loved the line "It’s not big enough to lose yourself / Or small enough to hide yourself away". Really beautiful song!
@janeg Feb 2022
You have created a POV very different from me and yet fully understandable. I too love the little details that make the song feel real.
@angelinapowersuit Feb 2022
Also wanted to say that I was struck thinking about early Wilco/Jeff Tweety when you started to sing.
@angelinapowersuit Feb 2022
Great choice of a town name to write about., and I just love the story and details that you’ve crafted here. So many great lines… “regretting every mile,” “preachers on the radio,” and the entire “Valentine Nebraska” chorus. I was so into listening to the lyrics and melody I did it even notice the guitar. You’re doing just fine!!
@jonmeta Feb 2022
Out here in Nebraska
Regretting every mile
— wow, that’s a powerful start. Pulls me right in. Using that town name to build a song around is top songwriting. You’ve captured the road trip country sound for sure.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
This all works so well together. The strumming of the guitar, the well crafted lyrics and vocal delivery. Enjoyed this…
@standup Feb 2022
I like the way that guitar sounds.
And I've been a few of these places. Not Valentine, NE, but that motel up the road with preachers on the radio, and nothing but big midwestern cities on the horizon.
But I do wonder about that sweet voice left behind. Maybe we should hear an echo of it later in the song? One more line other than "Try not to wonder where you are"?
@jacobeverettwallace Feb 2022
This sounds just like every road trip I've taken across middle America. I really enjoyed this! Some really tight lines here as well. Nice delivery! Good work.
@sjbatavia Feb 2022
Dude, I really like this song. The story paints a great picture of out on the road in rural, small town America. Nice job!