Here’s my first AVOYP for 2026, wishing every one a happy new year.
This song has resonated with me because I believe that forgiveness is an important part of any meaningful human relationship.
I performed this song at the last OM (13 December 2025, from 1:18:40 in the video) and decided to record it in a more relaxed context.
Constructive feedback is always very welcome.
It’s a beautiful song, Erion, and you sounded relaxed full of feeling.
The only suggestion is to review the levels of the three parts. I’d raise the level of the guitar just a wee bit so voice and guitar blend together a little better. and compare your lead level to your vocal level. I tend to think of a lead guitar as being like a vocal and I think it was alittle loud in the mix.
But mix levels are a matter of opinion more than fact.
It’s a sweet song. You sing and play it very well (thought this already when listening to the recording of the last OM). I especially like the short solo.
The only problem I have with the song, both Susan’s version and yours (don’t know any other), is that it’s just perhaps a bit too sweet and too round. I guess the song would gain by making it hurt more, by making it sound more brittle (of course only my imagination and preferences… I could also imagine a different version of the song with a big horn section and a big bold sax solo, with the sax always at risk of sounding a tad sharp …)
Would love to hear what the song would sound like, when you play and sing it more raw (and with less effects on guitar and voice). 
Edit: Just watched the beginning again. Or… With even more reverb (delay?) on your voice you could take it down the Elvis Costello road. Your voice reminds me of Costello’s ( meant as a compliment).
@erionstrings
Happy New Year Erion - great song - i hadn’t previously listened to it carefully - and really great performance (singing, rhythm and lead)
You sound amazing. I was at that open mic as well but had to work so left early. I missed a gem. Wishing you a happy 2026 and continuing success.
Jeff
Happy New Year @erionstrings. I hadn’t ever heard this song before - it’s a cracker!!
As @DavidP said, I’d tweak the levels a wee bit.
Thanks David. I agree, the guitar was too loud on the solo. I lowered its volume by -6db and uploaded again.
Thanks Nicole.
I’d love to hear more versions of this song too. I wanted to stick with ST’s version because I love Soulful Blues, and that’s what she made of it. The original by Iris Dement is more plain.
I also like raw and brittle. In the next OM I’m thinking of playing a couple of White Stripes songs which fit that profile.
I haven’t listened to Elvis Costello much but now you’ve made me curious 
.
Thanks @Jonjdarcy , @SDKissFan , @C_McG .
Yes, I adjusted the volume of the guitar in the solo. Thanks
What an enjoyable listen, Erion. Both, here in the recording but also back than at the OM! 
A lovely tune performed very well, what’s more to have at the end of a day to relax and enjoy? Thanks for sharing it and: Happy New Year for you, too!
Very good Erion, I detected a P Green feel in the solo. If you like that style of song and singing you definitely should listen to Elvis Costello, I would suggest the album ‘Mighty Like A Rose’ as a starter, and ‘Almost Blue’.
I have to try to find the orginal and check. 
Nice!!!
Enjoy Above Adrian already gave some recommendations, where you could start.
That is definitely an improvement in my books Erion.
I have a (well-deserved) reputation for freely sharing my perspective on a mix, noting always that it is JUST my opinion.
I think you could add maybe 2dB to the lead. Felt it could stand to be a bit more upfront over the rhythm.
And still fancy raising the rhythm to bring it closer to your vocal. But that is far more of a matter of taste, the lead-rhythm balance was most needed IMHO
I thought that was a fantastic recording Erion. It’s a beautiful song that I didn’t know before the OM and I haven’t listened to the original. I like your version and you look very relaxed playing it. I can see that the song means something for you and that comes out in the recording. You have a great voice for singing. I see the newly renovated guitar too. The tone of the guitar in the solo was sweet.
Best, Ian
Thanks David.
Please feel free to always share your opinions regarding any material I publish - getting constructive feedback is one of the main reasons why I post my recordings here.
I recently got myself a digital mixer (Behringer Flow 8) and I’ve been playing with it, but I’m not an expert by far. Unfortunately I recorded this song using the main output, not the separate channels, so I can’t do any post production. I managed to change the volume of the solo using the video editor because that was a separate clip.
The mixer can send the output in separate channels as well. I’ll try that in the future.
A lovely song Erion and nicely played.
Thanks Erion, appreciate that
That sounds like the right way to go, giving most flexibility for post production mixing.
If you follow that route then you can shift the priority when recording the performance. If convenient from a monitoring perspective then you could set the recording levels so the individual track levels at recording time range from say -18dB to -12dB, perhaps peaking no more than -6dB. Those are good levels and will give you flexibility to boost and lower levels to achieve the balance you’d like.