The Battle of Kennesaw (Civil War Song)

[cameron]

Hi gang,

Been off the boards for a while but just finished adding music to some lyrics written by Louis Brown and wanted to run it by you. I started this some time ago but was never completely happy with it.

Recently, I was approached by a publisher looking for bluegrass songs for a Civil War Project, so I dusted this one off and rewrote a lot of it.

This is my work tape and the plan is to make a real bluegrass demo of it.

Thanks in advance for whatever feedback you care to give.

Cam

http://snack.to/au56x208

==========

(The Battle of) Kennesaw

I'm going AWOL at first light
Sherman threatens my hometown
I hate to leave Robert E. Lee
but my heart's not backing down
There's a railroad to Atlanta
I'll fight side-by-side with Paw
General Johnson's too outnumbered
But we'll stand at Kennesaw

I don't like to leave Virginia
But Atlanta needs me there
With my family in danger
It's a duty I must bear
I'll meet Mayde at Big Shanty
We can have some time at last
Get up at the crack of dawn
And kick old Sherman's ass

Headed home to battle Sherman
There's bluecoats two to one
And Sherman hates all rebels
He's the northland's meanest son
If we could get old Stonewall
To come down for just a spell
We could kick old Abe's invaders
From Kennessaw to hell

Mayde, I ain't scared of dying
If the rebel line should fall
I'll stand to fight those Yankees
Make 'em think they hit a wall
We don't own no slaves
But Sherman thinks it's Rebel killing time
So I'll shoot holes in those blue coats
Before there's one in mine.....

Headed home to battle Sherman
There's bluecoats two to one
And Sherman hates all rebels
He's the northland's meanest son
If we could get old Stonewall
To come down for just a spell
We could kick old Abe's invaders
From Kennessaw to hell

(c) 2012 Louis Brown and Cameron Earnshaw

[eeoo]

Hey Cam - Almost missed this one what with all the God Will Cut You Down action goin' on. I don't see why this wouldn't work well with a smokin' Bluegrass style band blazing through it. The only thing that gave me pause was that it could be construed as political rather than a historical character study.

Good luck!

eo

[nick.moxsom]

Hey, Cam

Being from North London I can't possibly comment on the authenticity of bluegrass or, for that matter, the civil war, but I do admire your writing skills. Despite my ignorance of the style, the pace seems wrong to me, and some of the poignancy is lost. The banjo and bass together are creating too happy a vibe, but your voice and the subject matter are so earnest, it doesn't fit for me. It might be worth stepping back a little and hear what pace it needs to be.

Just my thoughts.

Best,
Nick

[cameron]

Thanks Ethan and Nick. I appreciate the feedback.

Nick, I did originally have it at a slower pace, but I had to speed it up and make the style more bluegrass at the publisher's request. The original version sounded more like a film soundtrack, but that's apparently not what they want for this project. Anyway, I understand your point as I felt the same way initially. I've gotten used to it this way now but your comment makes me wonder if I'm just too close to it to be objective. Any other comments about this from others would be most welcomed.

Thanks,

Cam

[Kolstad]

Hi Cam,

I like the rolling feel of this, the building arrangement in the beginning and those strings sounded really nice!
It's a really nice story, and didn't really find it political, but I wouldn't know how to read subtle hints to American history.

For the demo it could build even more and break down for the last verse (where they hit home).

To my ears "From Kennesaw to Hell" was a very stong hook, I'd like to hear repeated more at the end of each section, and would make a really great title to hang the song on, Imo.

[cameron]

Thanks for your comments Magne. I have now had a simple bluegrass demo made, and the link now takes you to both versions. I'd be interested in hearing how you find it now. We made a couple minor lyric changes too.

Cam

http://snack.to/au56x208

[nick.moxsom]

Yeah, this has come to life now, Cam.

I love your voice, but your timing on the guitars was slightly out. This demo has nailed it. My only nit is still that bass line. I appreciate it's standard style but it seems a bit playful. Apart from that, bang on, I reckon.

Good work.
Nick

[Kolstad]

I really like the demo version now, Cam. It sounds real.
I would think you can up it a notch by automating the vocals so they sound more even throughout, and perhaps add some claps or something from the second time that b section comes and out. The intensity of the song seem to go down a little towards the end.

Aside from that, this works for me too! Great job, it doesn't sound like a demo. More like a recording (which is how it's supposed to be).

[marcblack30]

No nits here Cam, demo sounds great! I like Magne's idea to add some claps.

Is this a Nashville Demo Studio demo? They did a great job!

Marc

[feaker66]

cam

Glad you didn't get someone else to sing this.

Production is awesome.

It might be just me but it seems your vox is just a little bit out front in the first verse. Check that alignment. Might have to delay it a bit.

Sincerely

Paul