I Guess Life Goes On

[Mike_S]

Photo Fest...

So this is a fairly personal one... for some reason I just felt compelled to do this.

So basically a childhood friend of mine passed away sadly through suicide about 15 years ago now and it still saddens me to think about it. His name was Neil and this a photo of him albeit a slightly silly one, but for some reason it makes it even more poignant to me... we were just having a silly St Patrick's day and all wore typical daft hats etc (my wife is also half in shot wearing an equally silly hat). This was maybe a couple of years before he passed away. He suffered from poor mental health and depression from teenage years and throughout his life but he kept this private from all of his friends until later years when he told us.

I hope I have treated this sensitively and as Neil's first love was music (he loved The Beatles, The Jam, Big Country, Marillion and many more bands in all sorts of genres) I feel he might not mind me doing this. Miss you mate.

Life Goes On

When we were growing up
Finding our way
We didn't realise
How special each day
We were living was
We were too young

We stood around
Acting like fools
Thinking we were funny
And were breaking all the rules
But we hadn't
Hadn't got a clue

But life goes on
Hey, life goes on
Life goes on

Well I had a friend
Didn't really fit in
But he was kinda funny
So I guess we let him in
To the circle
The circle we were in

As we stood around
Tried to make each other laugh
How were we to know
That that was just half
Of the story
Waiting to unfold

But hey, life goes on
Yeah life goes on
Life goes on

Sometime later
It came as a surprise
Another friend told me
That there was another side
To him
That he kept to himself

So many years later
I got a call
I guess he couldn't take it
Take it any more
He decided
To call it a day

But hey, life goes on
Yeah life goes on
Life goes on

[Bluesberry]

I am incredibly impressed by this song....it brings tears to my eyes actually...looking at the picture and reading your very excellent/touching lyrics.....that guitar solo is played so sweet and is dripping with emotion....and your vocals are flipping excellent.....I totally love this song....very hard song for you to make I imagine.....I can see the pain in the dude's eyes in the picture......so incredible....what a listen...thank you for sharing...I am going in for another listen...

I am floored by this song.....

[Bluesberry]

What a song you have crafted here.....stunning......stunning.....so damn good

[TPB]

A touching song and friends of the past are on the menu as well I was thinking of mine and just posted a cover for him and come over to see this one. Well done brother and I am sure you friend is smiling down on you for making such a fine song for him
Touching lyrics
Outstanding
Tim

[BerryPatch]

Wow this is a beautiful, beautiful song. One of the very best I've heard on here, it just really touches the soul man. So sorry to hear about your friend, this is a wonderful tribute...

[BerryPatch]

Second time through and this song is making my eyes water. Fantastic

[Ray Brookes]

A sad and poignant song, Mike and the back story is so tragic. Lovely guitar work and nicely produced without any over the top frills or nonsense. A great tribute to an old friend who just did not make it.

[Greeny]

Absolutely incredible. Packs a hefty emotional punch without even the slightest hint at sentimentality or mawkishness. Just so real and heartfelt. And the way you perform it just reinforces that: understated and direct - almost conversational. It feels very intimate. And the guitar work is superb. He looks like a sensitive soul and I think he'd have loved this beautiful song.

OK - 3rd listen. It's a bloody masterpiece. Can't get enough of it.

[Redler]

Touching story behind the photo and fine job with the lyrics! I'm sure he had have liked your song, it has the vibe/ghost of those bands he liked. Brilliant job, Mike!

[StephenM]

Very nice tribute to your friend Neil....Mike I so love your music so an reason you have to write something and record it is good for my ears.... You have your own unique sound.. I can hear some influences buts still it's all yours...
Isn't life precious?  It is to me... I still get excited every day....even on days that I anticipate something might be off ahead.... and people are precious to me and I try and tell them that all the time....
thanks for your music... it makes me smile... and it rocks.