First, thanks for listening. The amazing thing about this is that all the dynamics for the song were already embedded in the poem... so the hard work was already done before I got there. And I'd like to say thanks to Paul for being open and generous enough to let a complete stranger come in and take something of his and turn it into something of ours. I'm a huge fan of his writing and feel deeply honored to have been able to do this.
Joshua contacted me almost immediately after I first posted the poem on Substack and expressed a good deal of interest and enthusiasm for collaborating on this. I had the poem but Joshua had a vision that turned it into a song.
Thank you for listening and we’re both interested in reading your comments about this project.
Woah... This is so freaking good! I love how Joshua found the absolute perfect style to accompany this song, and how his voice in the lower register sounds so much like your own, Paul.
This is so very cool and inspiriting. Congrats to you both!
Thanks for the comments, Constantine! I appreciate them. Joshua Nearly is on this platform. He doesn't currently have a 'stack of his own but you can locate him using Search <People>
Ah, I see! You know, you can tag him within the post like this @joshuanearly so that people can see that he's on Substack (you can't do it in comments though)
Thanks. You couldn’t find anything because there’s nothing to find! Seriously true. But there’s an amazing story that hasn’t been told… yet. And thanks… Johnny Cash and James McMurtry… I’d have no issue with adding both of them to Mt Rushmore!
OK, it’s nuts that I just DM’d you about covering this, and then I see this post. Joshua Nearly nailed this! I was going to do a shorter version, and just with acoustic guitar, but now I realize I’m late to the party. Sometimes it’s better just to step aside… Great words and great music and great singing, and great guitar playing!
Thanks, Sea - I think it turned out well. My first time working with a musician since 1971 or so. Joshua carried the ball on his end and I’m pleased with the results and the response thus far.
Sea… kind words from fellow musicians are always treasured. On the journey, music’s our joy and our sorrow, our burden and our relief… and musicians know the ups and downs of that more than anyone. So thank you… 🙏
The pleasure is all mine! You did a wonderful job on this one, Joshua. Yeah, there are the ups and downs, but then when a musician (you) pulls out a treasure, like this, from a masterful lyricist, (Paul) well—that’s when life is on the up and up!
Loved this. Somewhere in one of my old sketch books is a drawing I called "Fight for Peace", which your lyrics brought to mind. Sounds like our world these days.
Thank you, Brian. Yes, this is the first and only poem to be set to music. The song is based on the poem with the same title and was adapted and set to music by Joshua Nearly. I can't even play the kazoo!
This was excellent, Paul. Joshua and Joachim were both very good. This Poem.Song once again demonstrates rhe irrationality of War and the futility of using deadly force to try and solve our problems.
To Paul and You all...
First, thanks for listening. The amazing thing about this is that all the dynamics for the song were already embedded in the poem... so the hard work was already done before I got there. And I'd like to say thanks to Paul for being open and generous enough to let a complete stranger come in and take something of his and turn it into something of ours. I'm a huge fan of his writing and feel deeply honored to have been able to do this.
Joshua Nearly
Joshua contacted me almost immediately after I first posted the poem on Substack and expressed a good deal of interest and enthusiasm for collaborating on this. I had the poem but Joshua had a vision that turned it into a song.
Thank you for listening and we’re both interested in reading your comments about this project.
Great job, Joshua and Paul. And Joachim!
Thanks, Don & Yes, Joachim did a great job on recording and mixing!
Joachim’s amazing! Incredibly good ears and technical skills.
Woah... This is so freaking good! I love how Joshua found the absolute perfect style to accompany this song, and how his voice in the lower register sounds so much like your own, Paul.
This is so very cool and inspiriting. Congrats to you both!
Thanks, Troy - I like the sound of Joshua’s voice - maybe because it sounds familiar!
This song reminds me of a cross between Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive, Johnny Cash's I Hung My Head, and the songwriting of James McMurty.
I looked up Joshua Nearly but couldn't find anything on him online. Bravo, I hope this is the first collaboration of many
Thanks for the comments, Constantine! I appreciate them. Joshua Nearly is on this platform. He doesn't currently have a 'stack of his own but you can locate him using Search <People>
Ah, I see! You know, you can tag him within the post like this @joshuanearly so that people can see that he's on Substack (you can't do it in comments though)
Sorry, I read your comment too quickly before responding. I misread this that he had a substack
Thanks. You couldn’t find anything because there’s nothing to find! Seriously true. But there’s an amazing story that hasn’t been told… yet. And thanks… Johnny Cash and James McMurtry… I’d have no issue with adding both of them to Mt Rushmore!
Good company indeed. The collaboration hummed. Sing on
OK, it’s nuts that I just DM’d you about covering this, and then I see this post. Joshua Nearly nailed this! I was going to do a shorter version, and just with acoustic guitar, but now I realize I’m late to the party. Sometimes it’s better just to step aside… Great words and great music and great singing, and great guitar playing!
Thanks, Sea - I think it turned out well. My first time working with a musician since 1971 or so. Joshua carried the ball on his end and I’m pleased with the results and the response thus far.
Yeah, it worked out great!
Sea… kind words from fellow musicians are always treasured. On the journey, music’s our joy and our sorrow, our burden and our relief… and musicians know the ups and downs of that more than anyone. So thank you… 🙏
The pleasure is all mine! You did a wonderful job on this one, Joshua. Yeah, there are the ups and downs, but then when a musician (you) pulls out a treasure, like this, from a masterful lyricist, (Paul) well—that’s when life is on the up and up!
T Bone Burnet fabulous. Get this in air immediately. 🤔
Thanks, Wendy!
T-bone’s on my list of all time greats!
Really excellent. Feels very cinematic, like a song that would be playing as the credits scroll by.
Thanks, Jonathan. Credit goes to Joshua Nearly for the music. Credit for the 20+ years of war this century: too many to mention.
Brilliant, heartfelt...I love it. When I can, I'll post some music on this space. Encore, amigo x
Thank you for listening and for the comment, Mark. I appreciate it! And do post some music because we'll be glad to listen!
Paul, you got a good rendition and version of your song.
Thanks. Malcolm, appreciate it!
.. brilliant execution ! (excuse the term ! 🦎🏴☠️
Thanks, Thomas!
Excellent collaboration! I see more of this in your future, perhaps an album?
Thanks Monica and who knows? With Substack anything seems possible.
Loved this. Somewhere in one of my old sketch books is a drawing I called "Fight for Peace", which your lyrics brought to mind. Sounds like our world these days.
Thanks a heap-The music gives it a boost from just reading words on the page.
Poignant Poem
I think there's an emotional component to the poem that Joshua Nearly captured in both the music and the vocal.
Paul I love it. Is this the first poem you’ve put to music?
Thank you, Brian. Yes, this is the first and only poem to be set to music. The song is based on the poem with the same title and was adapted and set to music by Joshua Nearly. I can't even play the kazoo!
This was excellent, Paul. Joshua and Joachim were both very good. This Poem.Song once again demonstrates rhe irrationality of War and the futility of using deadly force to try and solve our problems.
Thank you, David. I think it’s an excellent collaboration and I’m happy to be a part of it.
Great job 👍
Thank you, Tawhid!
Great collaboration in transforming this powerful poem into a song.
Thank you for listening, VP!