Last Stand

[Bluesberry]

All this talk about ukuleles and such made me go out to my local music store.  I tried a bunch of stuff and ended up bringing home a "Crafter" mandolin.  I am loving playing this little beast, so much fun, but totally different than guitar.  So I was playing it and this song kinda developed.  It ended up Alt.Country sounding, lyrically darker than my usual stuff, the mandolin had this song to get out.  I wanted to tell a story with this one.  The solos are done with acoustic guitar, mandolin, Les Paul.  I have a long way to go to figure this beast out proper but I am having a blast so far.  I laid this one down pretty fast so it is kinda rough around the edges.

Last Stand

words and music : Dave Berry
Instruments used: Mandolin, acoustic guitar, Les Paul, Bass, harmonica
recorded on BR-1200

Solo: acoustic guitar
You were mine, but now you're gone
I guess it's time for moving on
Now even the sun refuses to shine
You lit up my soul then you burned my mind
solo: mandolin

CHORUS: I had it all, once there was a time
Now I'm out of tune, I'm out of my mind
Tighten the screws, I'll say I'm doing fine
Until the string snaps and I cross the line

solo: Les Paul
Lost my job, it's really hard to believe
It's hard to keep work in this economy
Hit the bar, drank till I had a plan
Another sore looser is gonna make his last stand
solo: mandolin

CHORUS

solo: harmonica
And now I face a life behind bars
For the crime of being pushed too far
I wasn't gonna hurt anyone that day
The judge said sorry son were putting you away

You were mine, but now you're gone
I guess it's time for moving on
Now even the sun refuses to shine
You lit up my soul then you burned my mind
solo: Les Paul

Here is a picture of my latest GAS purchase.  Crafter Mandolin.  It seems pretty good for a low end mandolin, not super expensive, looks like a small ovation guitar.

[mike]

When I hear this I imagine it being played in the backroom of some bar with a lot of sorrows being drowned.  Great combination of instruments which go really well with the lyrics.  I like your accent.

Mike

[Satchwood]

That mandolin sounds sweet Dave!!   My ex-step-father-in-law used to let me play his mandolin, and OH what fun! 

You put together a really great song, luv the vibe of this composition ~ the lyrics are really dark, but really cooL,,,, yeah baby rock that outro !! 

Man i could have used another minute of your les paul jam man.....

[mr2kewl]

BB - this has such a Levon Helm and the Band feel to it.

nothing kinda rough around the edges IMO.

[launched]

You sure know how to write a heluva song, bro! I'm on my 3rd listen, just a great sound.

The mandolin sounds fantastic. I'll probably get in trouble for saying it around here, but I would probably go for a mandolin first, then maybe a uke.

You put lots of great tracks in here, but done tastefully so it still sounds awesome!

Great tune, Dave!

Mark

[cuthbert]

This one's mando-tastic, Dave! Is it an electro-acoustic? Electric or not, it sounds fantastic on your song, which does not sound rough around the edges at all to me.

The mandolin sounds fantastic. I'll probably get in trouble for saying it around here, but I would probably go for a mandolin first, then maybe a uke.

Differences between a mando and a uke are different tuning and strings - a mandolin is tuned like a violin (except they have double course of steel strings, but it could be considered a sort of 'backward' guitar tuning, G-D-A-E, except an octave higher), and a uke is tuned up a fourth from guitar (like the top four strings on guitar with capo on the 5th fret), and ukes have nylon strings.

I've played both, but find I prefer playing the uke as the chord shapes are guitar-like, and therefore more familiar (although different chords). But I love the sound of both instruments - they have an ethereal quality to them, and are portable as hell.

Anyway, back to the song - on second listen, I really like how you soloed with different instruments - very cool song, Dave!

[Jim1970]

OH MAN!!! That mandolin sounds so SWEET!!!!
It does look like an Ovation!!
I almost signed off before I listened to this.
What a Gem you have here.
Harmonica oh Man!!
I really enjoyed this!!
JIM

[Oldrottenhead]

brilliant dave, me want one o dem tings

[Geir]

You would make big money owning a music store. Not only James wanting a mando after hearing this !!!

Great great song Dave ! And that mando sounds fantastic. ....

but ...

you...

know ....

you ..

need ...

a...

uke....

TOO !!!!!

[OsCKilO]

You are one amazing songwriter Dave...

And a master of anything with strings!


Awsome song.

That Mando' it in great hands!!!!!!!!!


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