Guess I'm the third person to try and sing Doug's (@crisp1) great lyric about not quite hitting it big in the Guitar City. Here goes...
Doug: Beautiful guitar playing and vocals, Jeff, and I love the way you work plaintiveness in, especially in the chorus, without ever taking it over the top. Great job! Thank you so much!
I’ve pulled the car to the side of the road
Somewhere east of Nashville
It’s blazing hot and the A/C’s off
And still I’m feeling frozen
And a voice inside my head just said
“You really should turn around”
But I’ve taken stock and know if I knock
On any more doors that just aren’t gonna open
A tender part of my once-brave heart
Will stop
It’s harder than I ever could imagine
There’s no one who can say I didn’t try
It’s harder than I ever could imagine
To leave behind a dream that hasn’t died
I’m taking deep breaths on the side of the road
Somewhere east of Nashville
I picture Ma and the star she saw
I don’t know what I’ll tell her
On the day I left, car pointed west
Her eyes had lit up with pride
A smile so big, imagining gigs
Me living like Elvis/Reba rather than in a cellar
What will she do when I walk on through
Her door?
It’s harder than I ever could imagine
There’s no one who can say I didn’t try
It’s harder than I ever could imagine
To leave behind a dream that hasn’t died
Tears might be falling on the side of the road
Somewhere east of Nashville
Pawned my guitar to gas up the car
I almost wish I hadn’t
When I look ahead, I feel half dead
I swore I’d outshine the sun
Need to come to grips with this total eclipse
When even one ray of sunlight leaves me saddened
I won’t be king/queen, not of anything
At all
It’s harder than I ever could imagine
There’s no one who can say I didn’t try
It’s harder than I ever could imagine
To leave behind a dream that hasn’t died
I’ve pulled the car to the side of the road
Somewhere east of Nashville
@nancycunning Mar 2022
Wow, guys, this is so good. I love the rhythm of those lines like "I've taken stock and if I knock" and the gentle pathos of still wishing that giving up and going home wasn't the best thing left to do. Then there's another layer of sadness that someone who could write and sing a song as beautiful as this one wouldn't be able to make it.
@berni1954 Mar 2022
Just listened to all three versions. Each has brought out something different from these lyrics. Proof positive that these lyrics are boss!
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022
I always love Doug's lyrics, and this one is no exception. And of course, Jeff's wonderful vocal and interpretation are superb.
Wonderful job, both of you!
@oswlek Feb 2022
Sweet! Five chords and the truth. :)
Doug knows how good the lyric is. You don't get three people to write music to any old piece. Terrific imagery, slick lines, creative internal rhyming and very relatable.
Jeff did a really nice job of weaving the chords and melody to connect the dots through the somewhat off-kilter structure. And the lift on "harder" really hits, as does the resolve to G on "died" at the end.
Great writing on both parts.
@andrea Feb 2022
Oh goodness, this is a real tearjerker. Well written lyrics tell a very sad and relatable story. Superb music and vocal performance by Jeff. This is A+ stuff. Fantastic collaboration!
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
Ooh, very nice--I wasn't sure which "version" of this song I should listen to. This one is great. (I did a similar-themed song a few years back called "Got Off The Bus With My Guitar").
I'm headed to Nashville in May for some fun. I hope I'll hear some music as good as this one. Great job on the lyrics AND the guitar/vocal. Very nice collaboration, guys!
@jdschramm Feb 2022
Great line- "A tender part of my once-brave heart
Will stop" Great song Jeff.
@geoff61 Feb 2022
This is a really great lyric, you can feel the guys pain and now I can hear it too, great job guys.
@bandybum Feb 2022
Fabulous lyrics that stay with you, expertly crafted into a lovingly and passionately delivered whole.
Great stuff, you guys!
@mikedebenham Feb 2022
Strong collab. Nice conversational delivery by Jeff, inviting the listener to lean in and listen to Doug's eloquent lyrics. 'Pawned my guitar to gas up the car' is a line that'll break the heart of any FAWMer.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Nice interpretation of Crisp1’s lyrics, which tell a hard life story so well. Guitar and vocals work well to complement the lyrics.
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice collab! Great melodic and guitar setting for the lyric. That recap at the end is perfect.
@cheslain Feb 2022
These lyrics sure are a hit! And you do them justice with that beautiful sounding guitar and great vocals. You are really nailing the atmosphere of disappointment and even bitterness in a wonderful way. Great, sincere vocal melody delivered perfectly. I can really imagine you singing this on the side of the road.