The Closer To Heaven
by @carleybaer
Liner Notes
I love living in the Pacific Northwest. Mountains everywhere, snow only when you want it and then you leave it behind (although I'm really really hoping that we get snow in the valley next week, cross your fingers). I chose the key of G because it's the friendliest to the instruments here, and also it gave me a chance to stretch my head voice a little.
I would also not be surprised if this song exists already, but I try not to agonize over such things when I'm writing. It was fun to pretend to be a bluegrass band.
Lyrics
Down here in the valley below We don’t often see winter snow But if we’re so bold As to go and brave the cold Then up to the mountain we will go
I’m going up to the mountain Come on down I’m going up to the mountain Come on down I’m going up to the mountain Even if I go alone Because the closer to heaven The closer to home
When spring comes and chases rains away It’s safe again to come on out and play If peace you need to find We can leave it all behind And up on the mountain we can stay
I’m going up to the mountain Come on down I’m going up to the mountain Come on down I’m going up to the mountain Even if I go alone Because the closer to heaven The closer to home
Comments
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A good bluegrass feel. I like your thought that it may exist already...that lyric and feel or something close...but so what! Didn't sound 'copied' in a bad way to me at all, but I thought the picking solo started to wander into 'Comin 'round the mountain' territory and then made an 'exit, stage right' move into something else.
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You nailed the bluegrass feel with the closed harmonies and strumming style of the backing instruments. And I agree, the mountains in the PNW are the best!
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Nice write! I've often felt the sense of the chorus, but can't seem to remember to follow it more than a time or two a year.
And an awesome take on the #bluegrass challenge: the vocal harmonies are dead solid perfect.
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I intend to introduce this to my bluegrass jam group and it will (eventually) become "trad."
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Lovely song! I would not change a single thing.
I'll have to check your other songs too.
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this is the sweetest of earworms ever and I love the instrumental solo riff on "She'll be coming round the mountain". Great production too, Carley!
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In my head as i listen, I am sipping moonshine from a jar, smiling as I notice the trill solo derives from O, Susana, which is either genius or an inspired mistake.
You could probably make a very successful Mashup between this and the momma of all mountain songs.
See that mountain?
Yeah, you do.
Good stuff.
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I have no idea about bluegrass, but this sound so lovely. The bass the uke, and that sweet voice. Something to sing along. Girl, the harmonies are perfect!
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Great stomp/chug going here, with your crystal voice cutting through. I like the lyrical conceit, the spiritual in nature. Seems like a really pure expression of the form, clear as a mountain stream, even.
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Super catchy bluegrass tune, love your voice. Nice job! Cool to run into fellow PNW people here.
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One of my criteria for a good song is one that makes me sing along and harmonize. You did that here. Great arrangement, great song!
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Wow! Carley goes Bluegrass! My Dad was a massive Bluegrass fan and that was the background music of my childhood. He would have loved this song.
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It is way too late here in the PNW to be posting songs! but this is an awesome ditty. Love the "coming round the mountain" lick in the solo. Fun harmonies too. I am a big bluegrass fan, so this is super satisfying.
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This is GREAT! It absolutely captures that Bleugrass feeling. I like the contrast of Going up on the mountain - Come on down! Nice harmonies and I like your mandolin break. Really nice!