Slippin' Out the Back Door – ©1990 – Country Pop Rock – John Mellencamp - (32–1–0)

32 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 0

Style Prompt - John Cougar Mellencamp style country/pop with male vocalist singing all lead and female backing vocals and fiddle

Origin

In 1987 JCM released the album the Lonesome Jubilee. I was 17. Up to that point I had learned to play the guitar, bass and drums by listening to Rush, Van Halen, U2 and Ozzy. So When I heard this record, it was very different than what I was used to, but I loved the vibe of it. In those early songwriting days I wrote what I called “studies”. I would write a song in a style that I wasn’t familiar with to try to learn something new, and for me, this music was like, from another planet. Fiddles! Accordians! Wow!

Lyrics

you know I've got responsibilities

i've got to do what's expected of me

sometimes i just gotta break free of myself

bills to pay ain't got the money on me yeah

is it still tuesday or the end of the week, yet

start getting ready cause I'm getting set to go

feels like the days are flying by too fast

if I keep this up don't know if I'm going to last

I find myself thinking 'bout my past

me and you (hey, hey, hey)

tonight we're slippin out the back door

we'll live like rebels on our rock and roll

ride like we aint got no place to go

cause tonight, we're slippin out the back door

i'm tired of workin' for someone else

stackin' all my dreams up on the closet shelf

gotta do a little something for ourselves from now on

cause we need some real time to call our own

more than this shaving from this grindstone

the one thing that my life has shown me i need you

feels like lately I've been just getting old

people expecting me to do what I'm told

life's tryin' to chain me and I'm breakin' its hold

i will fight (hey, hey, hey)

tonight we're slippin out the back door

we'll live like rebels on our rock and roll

ride like we aint got no place to go

cause tonight, we're slippin out the back door

i don't care what the neighbors say

gonna shake this town to life

and play a little bit rough tonight

like time is on our side

let's pretend to be new again

alone in my back seat

i'll hold you close and then we'll dream of what we'll be

solo

chorus

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Original Demos

1st 4 track version no vocals 1:13

Later re-recording full song

1st 4 track version full song no vocals - damaged tape

Where We Come From – ©1996 – Gritty Country / HT – Kix Brooks / Jelly Roll - (208–1–1)

208 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 1accordian

Style Prompt - country, add lap steel, gritty vocal

Origin

I always think it’s interesting that some people try to completely disown their beginnings... who they were and where they came from, like that has somehow become something to be ashamed of. In my opinion, at the end of the day, no one place is any better than any other, even though in our minds we build up ideas of what make us "better" or "happy". It's very much a grass is always greener situation. That's why I don't travel much any more. I've found that after you get past the different food and language of other places, if you are there long enough it becomes the same grass, the same trees, the same people and the same problems. If you can't get it right where you are, you'll never get it right anywhere else. There is no easy fix, only the illusion of one.

One of the lines in the song is actually taken from my life. I have a rather large extended family and my parents threw a party. One of my many cousins, who was probably about 4 or 5 at the time and my absolute doppelganger at that age, was about 15 feet away from me and walking towards me. It was very strange for me to see "myself" almost like I was delivered back in a time machine. Anyway, the moment worked well in the context of the song.

Lyrics

show your face now

why are you hiding

are you forgetting

are you still trying

where are you going

how will you get there

don't you remember

you've always been here

you’ve always been here

it’s never easy

clawing upward

the times you’re happy

the times you suffered

to come from nothing

then to go so far

not just to make it

but to escape it

oh how quickly we forget where we come from

running to the places we think we belong

you better find your way before it’s gone, gone, gone

then take a look one generation down

i watched you living

questioned your choices

your foolish anger

your stubborn voices

and made my decision

when I was 4 years old

I would be different

I would not give in

oh how quickly we forget where we come from

running from the place that we call home

you better find your way before it’s gone, gone, gone

and then I’ll look one generation down

solo

I see you moving

you’re coming nearer

it's like looking

in a mirror

but your eyes are clearer

distance has been a friend

and you hold the best chance

inside your small hand

to live with reason tempered

with some common sense

to know what’s most important in the end

a part of something greater than yourself

in harmony with everybody else

oh how quickly we forget where we come from

stop and think about the things you’ve done

you better find your way before it’s gone, gone, gone

you should get to know the ground you’re standing on

you should really know the ground you’re standing on

you should learn to love the ground you’re standing on

Original Demo

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I Got Money – ©1996 – Southern Blues Rock – Lynyrd Skynyrd - (22 – 3 – 2)

22 renders / 3 versions used in Pro Tools / added 1 claps track, 1 guitar solo

Style Prompt - rock, southern rock

Origin

Corruption of power and wealth isn’t just a Donald Trump thing. It’s been around for ages, and I liked the idea of a super rich megalomaniac demanding to get anything he wants just because he has money. I'd like to say it was pretty prescient for a 26 year old in 1996, but this brand of nonsense has been going on for thousands of years so I really can't take any credit for calling it. My version was a straight blues rock version, but I had Suno turn it into southern blues rock. In one of the renders Suno also added the Meatloaf-ish ending, which at first I wasn’t sure about, but now I love. I like that the song sounds modern enough for today, but also has a nostalgic quality that makes the music sound like it could have ended up in Rocky Horror Picture Show or something of that era.

Lyrics

I want power

I want a lover

I want a new car, And I’m gonna buy it

And I’m gonna get it, cause I got money

I want to be famous

I want some justice

I want the best drugs

You’ll be corrupted

I want connections, I’m gonna buy it

I want to be president, I’m gonna buy it

I want salvation, did you know you can buy it?

And I’m gonna get it, cause I got money

How much does it cost? (I’ll buy it)

Name your price we all have one

Will you take

A personal check is cash OK?

Cause everything’s for sale these days

I want some good sex, I’m gonna buy it

I want a hit man, I’m gonna buy it

I want the government, I’m gonna buy it

And I’m gonna get it, cause I got money

I want your business, I’m gonna buy it

I want your silence, I’m gonna buy it

I’ll change your opinion, I’m gonna buy it

I’m taking your freedom

I want a hero, I’m gonna buy it

I need a scapegoat, I’m gonna buy it

Will you do me a favor? I’m gonna buy it

And I’m gonna get it, cause I got money

How much does it cost? (I’ll buy it)

what's your price we all have one

will you take

American Express or an even trade?

Cause everything’s for sale these days

solo

I want a young face, I’m gonna buy it

I want an airplane, I’m gonna buy it

I want an army, I’m gonna buy it

I can have anything

Maybe I didn’t earn it, I’m gonna buy it

Hell maybe I don’t deserve it, I’m gonna buy it

Baby, I’m gonna burn it, I’m gonna buy it

I’m gonna get it, cause I got money

I’ll be respected, cause I got money

I got lucky, I got money

Original Demo

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The Man Inside The Glass – ©1998 – Country – Trace Adkins - (34 – 2 – 3)

34 renders / 2 versions used in Pro Tools / added 3 tracks, 2 BV, 1 Organ

Style Prompt - country - add lap steel

Origin

This song was a collection of moments from the Connecticut house. I was in my 20s and I was the attic walking around looking for something. I came across a picture of my middle school basketball team. It had accumulated a pretty thick layer of dust and I couldn’t believe it was me in the picture, I looked so young. Another time, I was home for winter break from college and I was looking into the mirror in my room. It seemed strange at the time how the mirror itself, the pictures and stickers and the background were all identical to when I was a kid, but that the face being reflected was very different. For the last bit, at that time I was going to a lot of bars on weekends and doing all of the typical early adult stuff and searching for... whatever. I liked that all 3 of these moments involved glass and thought it was a nice through line for a song. This is what came out of it.

Lyrics

Is that me inside the picture frame

I hardly recognize myself

Feels like I’m a million miles away

And eveything’s so different now

Have I really changed that much

I wipe away the years of dust

Staring straight into my past

Looking for the man inside

Looking for the man inside the glass

Mirror you hold secrets you won’t tell

I draw a new line on my face

The world behind you looks so real

Am I imagining myself

In this same room years ago

Wondering who I’d grow into

Waiting for the time to pass

Looking for the man inside

Looking for the man inside the glass

And time goes by

A year is gone in the blink of an eye

And time goes by

A day is gone forever

Am I a mere reflection

Of who I am or what I once was

Nothing stays the same

For very long

I thought I would figure out the world

I was wide eyed I was young

And here I sit on this bar stool

Wondering what the hell went wrong

You ask me if I know yet

You light yourself a cigarette

I slam another shot of Jack

Looking for the man inside

Looking for the man inside the glass

I don’t know

If I know anything ‘bout

Where I’ve been

And where it is I’m going

I don’t think

Then again that’s all I do

Maybe I should, sit back and relax

And take it easy

Because what you see is what you get

I can’t do more, I’ve done my best

Tripping forward, falling back

Trying to find the man inside

I'm searching for the man

Original Demo

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One For The Road – ©1998 – Country – Garth Brooks / Chris Isaak - (48–1–5)

48 renders / 1 versions used in Pro Tools / added 5 tracks, 3 BV, 2 Lap Steel

Style Prompt - country ballad

Origin

Even though the saying refers to getting one last drink of alcohol before leaving, this song is not about booze. It is about leaving a place and taking as much of the love with you as your arms and heart can hold. The things actually taken for the road are a look, a kiss, a piece of your heart, memories, etc. I always hoped some country artist would buy this song and use it as the last song on their live set, before the encore. Who knows, maybe it can still happen.

Lyrics

You know that soon I will be leaving

This chapter’s coming to a close

In all beginnings there’s an end - there is a moment like this

I wish that I could find the words

To tell you everything this place means

And thank you for the love you’ve shown

So I'll leave a piece of my heart

And I'll take one for the road

I thought that I would be here always

Just like so many times before

Thought I was standing - but it looks like now I’m moving

Time waits for no one anymore

I tip my hat and say I’ll miss you

You kiss my cheek and say I know

You give me one for the heart

And I take one for the road

solo

I turn and look over my shoulder

As I slowly walk away

Never too certain really where it is I’m going

Thinking of every place I’ve been

I know that someday I’ll come back here (and I)

Take one last look before I go

I keep one for my heart

And I take one for the road

These times will be with me forever

They’re in my blood and in my bones

So I give you my best

And I take one for the road

Original Demo

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Opening The Door – ©1996 – Indie New Folk – Phoebe Bridgers - (42–2–2)

42 renders / 2 versions used in Pro Tools / added 2 tracks, 1 Gtr Knock, 1 Acoustic Gtr Solo harmony

Style Prompt - Modern Folk with female vocalist

Origin

This is a song about possibility. It's very easy to get down on yourself when things aren't going your way. Being brave and taking a risk feels difficult at the time, but it is really the only way out of negativity. While I liked the song, I never liked my recording of it and always kind of considered it a throwaway. I wrote in a few minutes and it took very little time to record. I always thought it was just... meh. But then I swapped the male voice for a female vocalist in Suno and the song came alive in a way that I didn’t think possible. Now, it's one of my favorites.

Lyrics

it just seems so impossible

how do we get anywhere at all

we begin invincible

and end up beaten to the ground

so what happens in the middle

where is it we go wrong

guess it's too easy to get lost inside yourself

when you're not looking for a way out

but i

will be free to choose again

i, will begin to believe again

i, i am opening the door

we lose so much momentum

when things go wrong

and then start second guessing

when opportunity knocks

reaching for the handle

gets harder by the hour

if you wait until tomorrow

you might be lost forever

so i

will begin anew again

i, won't lay down in the fight again

i, i am opening the door

is it laziness or self-distress

fear of success or fear of failure

are you thinking to yourself

i aint got what it takes to make it (or stay there)

see i don't believe in dreams

the persistence and the patience

are everything you need

and i,

want to see the world again

i, want to breathe in life again

i, i am opening the door

i have the will to believe again

i, i can change my life again

i, i am opening the door

Original Demo

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When You Have It – ©1996 – Indie New Folk / Jazz – Norah Jones - (6 – 1 – 0)

6 renders / 1 versions used in Pro Tools / added 0 tracks

Style Prompt - Modern Folk (with female vocalist)

Origin

If Opening the Door was a throwaway, this song was already in the garbage. I was never sure why I wrote it or what I was trying to say, I always felt like, what is this? Honestly, lyrically, 30 years later, I still don't really know what to make of it, But... again, the female vocalist saves the song and the Norah Jones-y vibe makes it interesting. Nice save Suno!

Lyrics

i tried to make the world

think my way but i

learned you can't change the world or

make people do what they don't want

i had to get myself

into reality

went the way that life goes

and now i understand how it really works

in another time

another place

good idea but

that's all it is, nothing more (hardly practical)

call it right

how can i say

that i'm i wrong

maybe i am

wouldn't be the first time

i was nothing more than

stubborn - not smart

and i fought my instincts

as to the direction i was moving in

was i misunderstanding?

was i misunderstood?

knew i'd see tomorrow, but now it

looks a little different than i thought it would

and it comes

and it goes

it might stay

will i ever know when i have it

it might not

be what i want

it might be everything i hoped for

or only what i need (for the time being)

solo

so please excuse me (i'll shut up)

sorry, am i depressing you, no

it's not a hopeless case

there's something out there i know there is

doesn’t matter if it’s big or small

if there’s a hidden meaning in it all

gotta move on unafraid

cause living life’s how dreams are made

there’s no need

to pretend

you'll only lose out in the end

and so will i

you don't always

have to be right

being wrong is beautiful

it makes life interesting

you ask where is this coming from

you seemed surprised at my answer

i just opened up my eyes

Original Demo

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How Can You Say – ©1998 – Southern Gospel / Country – ???? - (177–1–0)

177 renders / 1 versions used in Pro Tools / added 0 tracks

Style Prompt - soulful piano ballad with male and female gospel vocals

Origin

This is one of the few songs that has multiple versions, and for this song, there are three of what I am calling a Country, a Pop R/B and a Gospel R/B version. This is the country version, but you can hear the other versions on "What Are You Waiting For". So you are probably wondering, why would a guy who writes mostly rock and alt songs write a Gospel song? Here is the answer. I joined a Gospel choir in college and went to a few rehearsals. Before we started performing, I got very sick and was on antibiotics for about a month. After the medicine, I was still weak for about another month... so, no choir for me. I ran into the girl who was the head of the choir on campus and she graciously asked me if I wanted to come back, but I felt like I had missed so much that I would be too far behind. And I didn't love the idea that I would be holding everyone back. In trying to not completely lose my gospel experience, I decided to write a gospel song instead. Since I really knew nothing about writing Gospel music, I decided I would just do the story “Footprints in the Sand” but with a man and a woman. The song turned into more of a play than a song and runs about 6 minutes, but I do like the way it turned out.

Lyrics

You know I'm glad to see you happy

That's all I ever wanted you to be

And we waited so long

Now you're standing strong on your feet

Yeah, you're back on your feet

I think you know how much I love you

I showed you oh so many times

I stood right by you and helped pull you through

Those stone-hearted days and those dark lonely nights

Do you remember?

When times got tough

I lift-ed you up

And I carried you in through my door

So how can you say you don't love me anymore?

Lately I've been feeling lonely

And there's nothing in the world that can make me so blue (ooh-ooh)

It feels like you don't need me (you don't need me)

But please, please believe me (please believe me)

I still need you, oh, I still do

Now you say you need your freedom (now you say you need your freedom)

So tell me is this the end (so tell me is this the end)

You know you will hurt me if you turn and desert me

When I need you to hold me and just be my friend

Do you remember?

When times got tough

I lifted you up

And I carried you in through my door

So how can you say you don't love me?

How can you say you don't love me?

How can you say you don't love me anymore?

And it's so easy to lose your way in the good times

When you think that there's nothing wrong

And when you are feeling too sure that you

Know where you're going that's when you'll get lost

I'll always love you

And I'll always need you

And I'll be there for you

Give me your heart and I'll give you my all

Do you remember?

When times got tough (When times got tough)

I lifted you up (I lifted you up)

And I carried you in through my door

I let you in and I gave you all

So how can you say you don't love me? (How can you say)

How can you say you don't love me? (How can you say)

How can you say you don't love me anymore?

And I know that people change, I do, yes I do

And sometimes we have to let go quietly

But it's never been this bad before (never been this bad before)

I never felt so empty oh (never felt so empty oh)

I just pray that you won't forget about me

I still remember

When times got tough

You lifted me up

And you carried me in through your door

So how can you say you don't love me? (How can you say)

How can you say you don't love me? (How can you say)

How can you say you don't love me anymore?

How can you say you don't love me anymore?

Original Demo

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