Heaven or Hell - Revisited 3

Community Recordings Originals (Not Covers)
21

Hi Pam,
Hum… It might be I missed the mark on the piano levels? That would tend to do what you said. I actually had them down a bit but brought them up in this final version. I will have to listen again and see.

I see the doc next week and will know more about the PRP injections. I need to do something. I so want to pick up the guitar and know that if I do, I will regret it. PRP shot(s), if they work, will deaden the pain. But my question is if it will cause more damage to kind of play through it all?

Take good care and be well!
LB

22

Nope, that was my post.

23

Strange Dave,
I must have saw some other post and attributed or morphed it into yours??? You got me going on this one now!

Take good care,
LB

24

Thanks for condemning me to hell. Appreciate it! The song is absolut pain, it’s probably what Jesus felt when he was on the cross.

25

@ Allaxxor,
Ah, but it is not I that condemns one to hell my friend. I believe that is between you and the good Lord. Though the song was written to point out some key aspects to consider in one’s life on this subject.

The main theme and chorus actually comes from a friend of mine that suggested the song could be a bit more mellow. He is fond of the saying “if you miss Heaven, you won’t miss hell”. That one stuck with me and I realized at some point that simple fact is rather profound and that possibly a song could be built off it. Thus, the song came to be. The other main saying in the song is “an insurance policy one can’t earn”. That one is from yours truly and is a very true statement IMHO.

So I guess in summary this is not meant to be a condemning song, rather it is more of a wake up call and something to consider in ones life!

Thanks for the ear and comments! Take good care and be well,
LB

26

I knew you would say this! :wink:

But first let me apologize, my response was a bit on the angry side but it wasn’t my intent to insult you in any way. Every one can believe whatever, I don’t care.
That being said, for someone who doesn’t believe in your particular religion, your lyrics can come across quite hateful and outright agressive. Like your saying “if you miss Heaven, you won’t miss hell”. It’s only good if you are a believer. Same goes for “accept the Lord to be forgiven or you will burn”. It just makes me sad, that you will probably never understand how bad this is. Burning in an everlasting fire pit, because your not convinced of something? (Regardless of how you lived your life?) It’s not a good thing! You say it’s a wake up call and something to consider but it’s not, it’s just a threat.
I understand this is a christian song and made for christians. I’m not the target audience. But you posted it in a public guitar forum, where all kinds of people have access to it.
I don’t have a problem with religious songs per se. I actually listen to and like a lot of them. But the problem I have with your song is that it seems to me, it was made just because.
I don’t know where to begin. The voice (consisting of only 3 notes, which could be an artistic choice of course, but I somehow doubt it) is quite terrible. It’s better in the version. I don’t know if it was rerecorded or altered there, but in the original you even get this wrong. It sounds like someone stepped on the tail of a cat in some parts.
The guitar is all over the place. Is there even a concept to it or just random riffs glued together? Also lots of wrong notes. I read the part about your struggle with your hand. Sorry to hear.
Timing, tempo? I guess who cares about that if you’re on a heavenly mission. Ok, I’m getting facetious here. Let me stop. I still think the song is a real mess and even without the lyrics amongst the worst tunes I ever heard in this section of the forum.
I’m sorry. I hope there was some constructive criticism in some shape or form. I will shut up now.

Blessings!

27

Hi Allaxx, @Allaxxor
Thank you for the in depth reply. You bring up many points of differing subject, I will attempt to reply in the order you presented.

In reality, the song was not meant to be aimed at Christians. Think about that, if they are towing the rope so to speak, they don’t need such a song. On the other hand, someone just be-bopping along in life very well might. Maybe they have never considered such in or for their life. I will agree it is a bit “aggressive”, though I would call it by another name. It is more Hell, fire and brimstone in nature, for sure… But realize something, I am simply a messenger here and I did not make the rules. I don’t think there is anything in the song that is off base when held up in context with scripture. For example, take this verse where Jesus himself is talking: John 14:6 - Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and life" no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. To me that is pretty clear what He meant and again, I am not the one that said this, but I do believe it.

The second part of the your response was centered around the song writing. I will admit that is an evolving endeavor for me. My songs tend to be simple as I don’t have a lot of song writing skills. I feel more comfortable producing than writting… I wonder if some of you comments are influenced by your feelings about the message of the song? When first released, many thought the lead guitar tone was good to better in tone. I personally like the tone and yes, it certainly cuts through the mix. I don’t think I have done a song with that type of tone before or after. Sorry it is not up to your tastes. As far as the bends and what not hitting the right notes. It could well be right as I may have duffed some notes in there. To my ears (double hearing aids that I call bionic ears), it sounds pretty good and that is not fat head syndrome talking. Yes on the riffs being “fills” that were intended to compliment the song. I guess we diverge there in how the final content came out. The vocal lines are as I said, pretty basic stuff. No advanced modes or scales were used. Perhaps as time goes on and my skills toolbox increases, I will be able to write songs that have more technical merit. We shall see. On lyrics, I think your looking at a mater of perspective. They dovetail well I think in both message delivery and the Word in consistency. Tempo - Ha, not my strong suit mate. I struggle with that a lot.

I am curious what your take might be on other originals I have done. I will link a couple of them below and they stand alone in subject, having no reference to the Word or the Lord. They of course are off the OP subject, so feel free to PM on that if you like, your call:
Old Engine 109 - Good old fashioned train song

The Deep Sea - This is about the first song I ever wrote and has NaNa, my daughter in it. Look for a pretty low skill set here.

Take good care and be well,
LB

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