Time To Settle Down

[Ray Brookes]

He was like a stray bullet
Totally disconnected
Scowling at everything
Feeling over-corrected
I called him from his room
Ignored the teenage frown
I said son, please listen to me
It's time to settle down

Your room smells like a dumpster
Your bed a bundle of rags
You got clothes strewn everywhere
The floor littered with small plastic bags
Now things have been tough
Since your mother left town
But it's time to grow up
The same time to settle down

I don't wanna settle down
I don't wanna be like you
Living in the suburbs
Looking like I got something important to do
I don't wanna nine til five
Growing old in this old town
I just wanna stay alive
I don't wanna settle down.

Many years earlier
My head was in the clouds
When I was his age
I didn't wanna settle down.

[SE]

Really nice composition with straty tones on guitar, kinda had America vibe at the start then really rocks up, cool stuff, excellent!

[Rene Asologuitar]

[/quote]

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Hi Ray,
Lovely intro guitar solo!
Your vocals is exquisite, and the lyrics are well written.
The whole production is so nice sounding, very professional.
The guitar is my most liked.
Thanks for this gem of a song!!!
Rene

[StephenM]

Wow... spectacular Ray!  I pretty much know all your songs are wonderful and go in a wide number of degrees on the compass.  This one sounded like Ray and then WHAM!!!!  here came a Black Sabbath like onslaught of guitar and vocals....IM TOTALLY IMPRESSED.

[Zoltan]

Master storyteller & quality songwriting craftsman at work. I heard this yesterday, and the song stayed in my mind for a long time.

The storyline is simplistic and often heard. Yet you managed to find a new angle to it, and keep it interesting. The playing performances are strong, and you're really showing your chops here. The way you're using different flavours of instrumentation, guitar sounds makes for an interesting aural experience. The "Black Sabbath" -section was a slight surprise and same applies to those higher sung vocals. The wailing guitars. It's kinda like the songwriter inside of you felt that "ok, i'll show you guitar players how it's done", and you did Then the song calms down again and keeps on going like nothing happened.

There's a lot to learn about arranging, dynamics etc. just be listening to this song.

[Johnbee]

Thought provoking lyrics, for sure and the sharp change in dynamics from verse to chorus.  Your music is always great, but this is definitely one of your best.

  John B.

[Hook]

Man, this is a mini rock opera in a song, what a stellar production. Master storyteller, tunesmith, producer... I really dig this.
Rock on brother!

[kenny mac]

Excellent track,what a performance.
I love the acoustic tone on this.
And the leads at the end.
The clean guitar sounds are also outstanding .
The full track is mixed to perfection.
Superb.

[Mike_S]

Yeah, way to go Ray. Actually now the Black Sabbath comparison has been made there is a faint Ozzy touch in the vocal, almost like if Ozzy could actually sing. Great tune though. Love the chilled pensive rhythms on percussion and those chiming guitars are brewing away nicely, and then BAM! Wonderful stuff.

Mike

[danthecoat]

Great song and fantastic production here. It really conveys the message well too. Nice mellow almost America (The group) feel to the Middle aged Guys dialogue and then BAM!! full of teenage angst.

Nice Job Ray and Superb composition.