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#1165287 06/11/20 10:51 PM
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https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal/life-is-a-rodeo



Life is a Rodeo ©2004 Tapani Rauha/Robert George

That steer’s-a-snortin’ fire
It’s-a-buckin’ at the gate
Ev’ry second’s a battle
But you’re gonna take it eight
Sometimes it seems this wild world
Has got it in for man
You gotta fight it all the way
It’ll throw you if it can

Life is a rodeo
It’s a hellavuh ride
You either win or bite the dust
And swallow your pride
Life is a rodeo
With one hand in the air
You’re reachin’ for your moment
And prayin’ that it’s there

Life is a rodeo…


This life is simple and hard
One more town…one more bronc
Then it’s ice on your ribs
And rounds at the honky-tonk
Ev’ry new day
Is like a wild one to bust
You break ‘em one by one
Till one leaves you in the dust

Life is a rodeo
It’s a hellavuh ride
You either win or bite the dust
And swallow your pride
Life is a rodeo
With one hand in the air
You’re reachin’ for your moment
And prayin’ that it’s there

Life is a rodeo…


Shine up your buckle
And boots for the show
Hang on and away we go
Don’t you know…


Life is a rodeo
It’s a hellavuh ride
You either win or bite the dust
And swallow your pride
Life is a rodeo
With one hand in the air
You’re reachin’ for your moment
And prayin’ that it’s there

Life is a rodeo…


Nashville demos etc:

https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=431939

other demos:

https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal

Amazon Kindle books by Robert George you may enjoy:

1) Americana

2) Teenage Graceland

3) The Will to Be

4) Fort Mystery

5) Wheel Sea

6) My One True Love
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Terrific. Well, I would like any song that has a banjo. But it really is good, lots of energy and good lyrics and message.

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Sure sounds "authentic" to me, "Couch."

Enjoyed my listen.

----Dave

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Thanks folks. smile


Nashville demos etc:

https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=431939

other demos:

https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal

Amazon Kindle books by Robert George you may enjoy:

1) Americana

2) Teenage Graceland

3) The Will to Be

4) Fort Mystery

5) Wheel Sea

6) My One True Love
Joined: Sep 2007
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Hey Robert,

Not crazy about this style of song probably because I wouldn't be able to sing one & make it believable. Gotta have a deeper voice for it to sound authentic. To sing & then sing/talk in a song is an art form I just ain't got, & melodically the singer performs the song in a way I would never be able to pull off. So when I hear songs like this, it just isn't my cup of Chamomile tea. Plus, I don't write em, so I won't naturally gravitate toward songs like this.

Personal musical preference aside, the amazing thing on this one is how you have an effective long intro. Because of the singers engagement in the intro, it works really, really well. This is not a run of the mill intro. This intro has a purpose

The tune comes in at under 3 minutes, & still has all those licks & fills, & the above mentioned intro. Under 3 minutes, by design...

What is best about the song is the marriage of the image of the rodeo life & "life". While the TITLE tells you "Life is a Rodeo" the lyric supports that HOOK. References to the rodeo & life are intermingled in such a way, that there is no conflict in the lyric. I understand the purpose of the song, even though you may or may not be THAT RIDER on the Bronc, life is a rodeo...So the metaphors work great...When the lyric goes to shine your buckle & boots, I get it...I'm not a rodeo rider, but I can relate to shining up my buckle & boots for the show (Rodeo of life)

It is a seamless transition...

But the crowning moment on this tune is the HOOK...Not melodically, but lyrically in lines 6 & 8 in the Chorus. Those 2 lines though separated, are interconnected. It just jumped off the page to me. This is how I interpret the HOOK

Life is a rodeo
With one hand in the air
You’re reachin’ for your moment
And prayin’ that it’s there

Life is a rodeo is the HOOK but it's the supporting lines that prompt the visual. The use of one hand in the air, is a great second line...The image of 1 hand in the air, AND one hand on the saddle horn trying to desperately maintain balance is clear, yet NEVER spoken...It is implied. You can picture 1 hand in the air flailing around, AND 1 hand holding on for dear life...There is an image of "holding on for dear life" yet it is never said in the LYRIC...ON TOP OF THAT, he's prayin' it's there, his moment....What is the universal sign for prayer? Most people would answer, you pray with 2 hands folded together, even kneeling on the floor, safely on a firm foundation. In the rodeo of life, we are in reality praying with one hand on the saddle horn holding on for dear life, & one hand flailing in the air...That is life...Also in life it seems like more praying is done when things are moving beneath us & shaking us to our very core...You can see the image of the Wild Bucking Bronco, trying to break you, & dump you to the ground, while you flail away, pray, & hold on for dear life...By the way the LYRIC never says one hand is "flailing" in the air, but once again, is implied...

I can relate to praying with one hand flailing in the air, & one hand holding on for dear life underneath a Bucking Bronco...Because Life is a Rodeo..

This song has a well thought out visual LYRIC that takes you on a journey where your mind is open to the different paths the LYRIC can take you. There is a huge difference between leaving a line "open to interpretation" & a line prompting inner thought from the listener. The LYRIC allowed my mind to roam, & interpret, but also led & KEPT me on a path. While the song isn't about prayer at all, because of the LYRIC, I was free to go there & "interpret" it that way. And the Writer, (The Grouch on the Couch), may or may not have had that in mind as this was penned...

No matter...The point is, by showing & not telling, & using vivid visuals, I was free to see...





Steve Altonian---"I'll just do my best & let God do the rest"

http://www.stevealtonian.com
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Thanks for that in-depth review, Steve.

It's been over fifteen years since I wrote this but I remember my co-writer asking me for something short, simple and punchy.

I didn't really like the song back then. I thought my lyric was too simple. I recently played it for the first time in over ten years and man, it's catchy. He did a great job on the music and demo.

You have to write to the hook and do it coherently. I don't know that much about rodeo life which helped me to not overwrite it.

I'm glad you liked it. smile


Nashville demos etc:

https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=431939

other demos:

https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal

Amazon Kindle books by Robert George you may enjoy:

1) Americana

2) Teenage Graceland

3) The Will to Be

4) Fort Mystery

5) Wheel Sea

6) My One True Love
Joined: May 2017
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This is not my kind of a song lyrically or musically, but I actually like the simplicity of the lyric in comparison to some of your other songs that the listener has to hack through with a machete. He can stroll through this one, or ride a bull through it.

I like the banjo and the overall production. Not so keen on that insistent guitar in my right ear or the repetitious chorus.

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Gavin, thanks, I think, although I get the impression you commented just so you can insult me. Fine. But if you think my lyrics have to be hacked through, what's your view of that dreadful "To Tina" song? and that's just one of yours, the most recent. Mine are structured and metered with good prosody, resulting in strong melodies.


Nashville demos etc:

https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=431939

other demos:

https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal

Amazon Kindle books by Robert George you may enjoy:

1) Americana

2) Teenage Graceland

3) The Will to Be

4) Fort Mystery

5) Wheel Sea

6) My One True Love
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I don't really have a view of that dreadful Tina song. I just did it for a laugh. Heck, it's not even really a song. This is your thread, not mine, so I'll say no more about that.

I just meant that some of your lyrics are very dense and hard work. This one is not and better for it. Just my opinion, which I maybe expressed more strongly than I needed to because I know you appreciate directness. If I hurt your feelings, I apologize.

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Lol.... "And man it's catchy" he says

It's not just density, it's trying to dictate where the melody goes. That hurts the melody especially if you don't have a good sense of melody.

Only one way you can write when doing lyrics first, you seem to have mastered that. But there's a reason why most of your collabs are basically spoken word.

But man, is that catchy....lollllllllllll











Last edited by Fdemetrio; 06/20/20 08:03 PM.
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And FD shows up within minutes, like gas after a Taco truck chimi. Nice to know your obsession with me remains strong.

Dude, on one of my trips to Nashville, we were pointed out as an example of a lyricist and melody writer on the strength of songs like Rose of Sunrise, And I Thought of You, Heavy Cross to Bear, Touch and many, many others.

You and your "songs" are a joke. A really bad one.

And this song is catchy. But not because of anything I did. Or very little other than structure, meter and prosody.


You've been on these sites, hiding under the rock.of anonymity, for what...twenty years?

Post one good song. Just...one.

Gavin, I like being direct, but after posting Ferry Cross the Jordan, Touch, Heavy Cross to Bear and this, it seemed odd you'd say what you did.

Here's one thing I regret about this song...I shouldn't have used "dust" in both the chorus and vs.


Nashville demos etc:

https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=431939

other demos:

https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal

Amazon Kindle books by Robert George you may enjoy:

1) Americana

2) Teenage Graceland

3) The Will to Be

4) Fort Mystery

5) Wheel Sea

6) My One True Love
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It's not catchy...whether you had anything to do with it or not. It's NOT catchy.
You heard? NOT

It's a cult!

But sure I'll bump up ONE good tune for ya. It's good when I say it is, not you.

Last edited by Fdemetrio; 06/20/20 09:47 PM.
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Hilarious, you think nobody else knows anything.

No publisher in their right mind or left mind , would say this is more "catchy" than some of these here. and they ain't even done, the vocal alone kicks this one's arse, and I didn't have to pay me to sing them.

Yeah, I'm humble enough to admit I'm no pro, but these are so far and away more CATCHY, and they ain't even done.

https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=13976865
https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=13976881
https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=13980907



Last edited by Fdemetrio; 06/20/20 10:59 PM.
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Those are awful. Human Spark is unlistenable after twenty seconds. Musical ability doth not dwell in thy breast.

Twenty years of blarney and stalking and that's what you've got?

I didn't pay for that demo. But demos aren't the issue. You write BAD songs. Your grating voice and cheap equipment just accentuate the negative.

Sad that.


Nashville demos etc:

https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=431939

other demos:

https://soundcloud.com/wabash-cannibal

Amazon Kindle books by Robert George you may enjoy:

1) Americana

2) Teenage Graceland

3) The Will to Be

4) Fort Mystery

5) Wheel Sea

6) My One True Love
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,989
Likes: 15
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No, my dad can beat up your dad...

No you're ugly!




Last edited by Fdemetrio; 06/21/20 01:37 AM.

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