If I Could Live Long Enough - by Tobin Mueller MJCC

sloparts

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Description

This is my entry into the Mac Jams Cover Challenge.

It's a song originally written and recorded by Tobin Mueller as a Contemporary Folk song. I decided to have some fun with it and kick it up a notch or two. I'm not sure about it being better than Tobin's version, but it is different. I want to thank Tobin for letting me play in his sand box and try making this version of his song.

Here's where to find Tobin's original. I suggest listening to it before you listen to this one.

http://www.macjams.com/song/2991

I hope for only two things. One is that you enjoy the song, and the other is that Tobin doesn't come looking for me for murdering his wonderful song.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening.

Ed

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Lyrics

If I Could Live Long Enough
By: Tobin Mueller
Copyright (c) 2004 Tobin Mueller
All Rights Reserved

Arranged and performed By: Ed Wemmerus (sloparts)
with permission

Want to be an astronaut... play golf on the moon.
Want to invent something sleek and cool that will change the world.
Want to step on a stage and accept some big, tall, golden award,
so I can thank all the people that came before.

If I could live enough.
If I could just live long enough to be all I want to be.

Be a deep sea diver.
Be a rich man’s lawyer.
Be a toy designer.
Be a fair employer.
Be an honest lover.
Be a gracious friend.
Be the one to discover how this story ends.
How this story ends.

I’ve been the scourge of the world to my first wife;
salvation to my second.
I’ve been a hero of sorts in the coffee shop with everyone saying, “Hey,” as they beckon.
Now I’m anonymous and free, with a lot less to say
and a lot more to reckon...
if I could live enough.
If I could just live long enough to be all I want to be.

Let me be what I am.
Every day a new man.
I want too many thrills for one lifetime to fill.
Can’t see where I’m moving.
Can’t teach what I feel.
These days there’s no proving that anything’s real,
and so got to be myself and so
got to be myself,
if I live long enough.
If I live long enough.

You say you want to know me.
I can’t stop my life.
You say you got to find me.
It’s me, here, by your side.

Let me be what I am.
Every day a new man.
I want too many thrills for one lifetime to fill.
Can’t see where I’m moving.
Can’t teach what I feel.
These days there’s no proving that anything’s real, and so
got to be myself and so
got to be myself.

If I live long enough I could be everything to me,
I could be everything to you.

You say you want to know me.
I can’t stop my life.
You say you got to find me.
It’s me, here, by your side.

Want to see what they’re saying in tomorrow’s news.
Want to see grandkids dancing around the way kids do.
I want to thank all the people, especially you.

If I could live enough.
If I could just live long enough to be all I want to be.

Song Stats

Hits: 1234
Comments: 19
Fans: 14
Plays: 52
Downloads: 93
Votes: 4
Uploaded: Sep 01, 2008 - 12:57:41 AM
Last Updated: Sep 04, 2008 - 09:24:01 AM Last Played: Jun 25, 2009 - 09:17:44 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Song Actions

Keywords:

Live (114), long (28), enough (5), ()

Hardware:

iMac 2.0g , Tascam FW1804, Electro-Voice ND257b and Tascam PE-125 mics,Ibanez RX40 electric, Fender F35 acoustic

Software:

Logic Express 8, Audacity 2.5

Comments

DWL	DWL said 452 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Amen Ed A very nice take on Tobin's song. A great range of textures and sounds. The guitars are sounding good and some clever picking. I can see Tobin coming after you but only to shake your hand :-) Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

sloparts

sloparts said 452 days ago (September 1st, 2008)

Thanks Dick,
I was a little concerned that I might have taken it over the top too much, but I wanted to put some energy into it and make it my take on the song. I did have some trouble with a few places in the vocal because the key wasn't quite right for me. But we do what we can, and I finally ran out of time to work on it anymore.

Thanks again for the listen and the kind words Dick, they really are appreciated my friend.

Be well and be cool,

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

yrp	yrp said 452 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Killer guitar work all around. I wish I could stop hiding myself behind noise and use the guitar cleanly and elegantly like you did here... :-) Check out my latest song called Light (with onesweetworld)

sloparts	sloparts said 452 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Thanks yrp Glad you liked the song. Tobin really put together a hell of a song when he wrote this one. I just trashed it up with some guitars and other stuff to build more energy into it. Thanks for listening my friend. Be well and be cool, Ed Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

Feter	Feter said 452 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	If I Could Live Long Enough wow now this is clever ...your turn it into further dimension ...a new taste ..as always great guitar and keys work for this style ...this is a true gem ..... thnx alot for sharin !!!! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

sloparts

sloparts said 452 days ago (September 1st, 2008)

Thanks Feter, good to have you back man
I had ideas to completely change the song and d a re-write on the lyrics, but after I got into the song I decided there's no way I'm gonna mess with the lyrics. The only thing left to do was build a fire under it and see what catches along with it.

Thanks for listening my friend, I'm really happy tou enjoyed this version. I do very much appreciate your kind words Feter.

Be well and be cool, and let me know when you get to Bozeman.

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

dajama	dajama said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Very nice I like this a lot. The guitar sounds lovely, bubbling along and pushing the whole song forward. Nice singing - do you have an effect on your voice? I like the funky drum sound, and the use of keys is very effective. Upbeat, soulful and groovy. This is excellent. I'm sure Tobin will love this. Very cool. Nicely done. Peace. Check out my latest song called Across the Wire (MJRF)

sloparts

sloparts said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)

Thanks Dave
Glad you check it out and liked what I did to Tobin's song.

What I did on the vocal is I actually did two separate vocals and when I played them back the timing on them was right on the money. So I laid some effects on one vocal and just a touch of reverb on the other to help them blend together. Then mixed it to get an almost chorus effect on the main vocal tracks. The harmony tracks are three part with just some compression and a little reverb on them.

I really liked what Tobin did with the song on the acoustic side, so I tried to duplicate his instrumentation there. Then I went a little nuts on taking the song where I felt it wanted to go. I wanted it to have a funkier feel mixed with some southern rock and blues combined. Hence the blues/rock guitar parts and the southern fried organ. I threw the synths in just to keep it from getting to quiet during the pulled back parts of the song.

So thanks again for listening Dave and for the kind words, they and you are appreciated very much.

Be well and be cool,

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

guitapick	guitapick said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Hey man... ...this is great. I love it. Love the tune and you've given it a wonderful slant. Love the guits and synth parts. Tasty as fine, Swiss chocolate... Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral

sloparts

sloparts said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)

Thanks Bob
I hope I did Tobin's song justice. It's really quite a song when you listen to the lyrics.

I had fun making this as you can probably tell. Built a fire under it to my reckoning. Thanks for listening my friend, and for the kind words.

Be well and be cool,

Ed

...this is great. I love it. Love the tune and you've given it a wonderful slant. Love the guits and synth parts. Tasty as fine, Swiss chocolate...

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

guygrooves	guygrooves said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Ed this is great!! I love this it truly is a musical journey. So many nuances and little diversions to hold your attention. I don't think Tobin will be looking for you, for anything else but to thank you. Great job Ed, totally worth the listen. Check out my latest song called Last Day Here

sloparts	sloparts said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	You are too kind Guy But I thank you for that. I'm honored that Tobin would allow me to even attempt it on this song. But he did and I tried to do the song justice but in my own way. I'm really glad you enjoyed my take on it my friend. Thanks again for listening and for your very kind words. Be well and be cool Guy, Ed Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

davisamerica	davisamerica said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	man ed .... what a great song to chose .. and you have made it so yours. i really enjoyed this .... from a basic loop track .. into tobin's hands .. and then to come to here with your very original take! WOW Check out my latest song called No Son(egobandit band)

sloparts

sloparts said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)

Thanks Jack
This is a really special song. I don't mean my take, I mean the song's lyrics and mood. I wanted to try to capture Tobin's original mood, and yet make it my song. I think I did a fair job on that.

But there are probably as many different way to tell this story as there are musicians to do it. This is just one place to go with this very soecial song.

Thanks for listening Jack, I'm very please that you enjoyed the song and sent along some kind words on it.

Take care, be well and be cool my friend. I'm not sure whether you live in OK or TX, but neither one is that far from where I am. In the future sometime we ought to try and get together and pop a few tops, maybe play a little music.

See ya

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

peacepiano	peacepiano said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Cool What made you think of using those synths? Creates a unique atmosphere that works very well with the vocals. I'm going to have to listen to the original, but I'm sure this is very different. Nice job. Thanks Bill Check out my latest song called I Should Have Known

sloparts

sloparts said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)

Hello Bill
I was trying to pull everything back in those quiet spaces in the song. When I did that it was just too empty to go along with the rest of the song because of the energy level dropping off to far. There are a million thing I could have done, but for some reason putting a staccato synth line behind the vocals seemed like what I wanted. It didn't override the soft feeling but it did give the other parts a counterpoint.

Thanks again for dropping in to listen my friend, I really appreciate that.

Take care be well and be cool Bill,

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	i dig it very nicely done! i really like how so many elements come in and out and yet stays cohesive throughout the song. Plus, some impressive and wicked guitar playing! very cool entry Ed. Check out my latest song called November

sloparts	sloparts said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Thanks Vic Yeah, I sometimes don't when to quit when it comes to mixing it up with the instrument voices. But I'm glad you liked the way it turned out my friend. Thanks again for the kind words, and for listening Vic. Be well and be cool, Ed Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

Rebsie	Rebsie said 451 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)
	Go Ed! Funnily enough the original of this was one of the first things I fanned when I first joined this site. We had four-digit song numbers back in them days! Something about this reminds me of early Jethro Tull (and that is meant to be a compliment). I like the effect on the vocal. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

sloparts

sloparts said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)

Thanks Rebsie
When I put the link for the original into the intro was when I realized this one had been here for a long time, almost the beginning. Right away I noticed the 4 digit number on the song.

Jethro Tull is good, I like that reference. Tobin did a wonderful job on the original which I used as the pattern for my version. Once I had his tracks down as close as I could get them, I started changing it to give it more drive and energy. I like the way it turned out, and I'm glad you did too.

Thanks again for the kind words my friend, it means a lot to me.

Be well and be cool,

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

HenriROGERsoloandbands	HenriROGERsoloandbands said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)
	Arrangement Very nice ideas with the sounds and the song building . I find the voice a lil too loud in the mix . Love the energy . Check out my latest song called HyperKineziK 1/1

sloparts

sloparts said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)

Thanks Henri
Glad you liked my take on tobin's song. It really is a great song and covering it was an honor. I'm just glad I didn't butcher it up in doing so.

Thanks for listening and the kind words Henri, it is appreciated.

Be well and be cool my friend.

Ed

Very nice ideas with the sounds and the song building .
I find the voice a lil too loud in the mix .
Love the energy .

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

The Infinites	The Infinites said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)
	Solid take on the original, Ed I'm sure Tobin will be delighted that you chose this to cover - not miles away from the original, but great hearing your mellow tones on it and those added geetars are just tempting the ear to a rockier place than the 2004 version. Clever & subtle - well done! Jim Check out my latest song called Day-Glo

sloparts

sloparts said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)

Thanks Jim
It was such a great song to begin with I wasn't sure what to do with it when I started on it. I figured it out as I went, and basically just built more drive and energy into it. Like you, I stayed true to Tobin's original song layout and mostly did a remix with the additions, and of course my own vocals.

Thanks for taking time to listen and for the kind words my friend. And might I add it's nice to meet you.

Be well and be cool,

Ed

I'm sure Tobin will be delighted that you chose this to cover - not miles away from the original, but great hearing your mellow tones on it and those added geetars are just tempting the ear to a rockier place than the 2004 version.

Clever & subtle - well done!

Jim

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

sonnyjim

sonnyjim said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)

You're pickin'
and I'm grinnin'.

Sounds sweet, Ed. That 80's synth sounds like five_extra_arms donated it to your song, and it's all good! Good vox, great solo unfolding here after the 4 minute mark, followed by Keith Emerson (??!). Quite a ride! Thanks for this. One observation: some of those fades on the guitar are a little quick, I think. Small criticism, though.

Check out my latest song called LIOLI 9 (Interlude)

sloparts

sloparts said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)

Hey there Jim
Thanks for listening my friend, I'm glad you liked the song. It was a great song before I got it and I tried not to mess up Tobin's fine work too much.

I know what you mean about the guit fades. I should have just cut the part after the section I used and let it go away, but the saying, coulda, shoulda, woulda is soo true.

If that's all I did wrong on this one I'll live with it for now. Maybe go back and do a remix after I've had a chance to rest my ears from it. Then I can fix the guit fade problem and anything else I discover over time listening to it.

Thanks again for the kind words Jim, and for the spot on comment about the guitars.

Be well and be cool,

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 449 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

Variety
What fun to hear such a lively take on the song. The different textures, styles and placement of instruments and lines are almost like floating metaphors, examples of bits of lives lived and wished for, facets of a multi-person. The guitar solo moments are my favorite. Thanks for doing this. I am very glad you appreciated the song and spent so much loving time on it. Kudos to this festival, to the grassroots spirit of MJ, and to you.

Check out my latest song called Forge A New Life (MJRF)

sloparts

sloparts said 449 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

After I got into working on the song,
and really looked at the depth of the lyrics, I was in awe of it. I tried my best to do it justice in my own way. I'm very happy that what I did pleased you my friend, that was my intent. This really is a wonderful affirmation of life and living it to it's fullest.

Be well and be cool Tobin and thanks for encouraging me to not only do the song, but the whole song, including the vocals. That was the one part that intimidated me the most. Thanks too, for allowing me the chance to grow and learn from you in this effort by doing your song.

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

Ibstrat	Ibstrat said 449 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	It's really amazing how you mixed these sounds together.Incredible singing.Very nice cover of a great song! Check out my latest song called Blues in Bm

sloparts

sloparts said 449 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

Thank you Mark
Just the other day, I found and bought a t-shirt that had this saying on it.

"The Little Voices Make Me Play Guitar"

Those are the same voices that told me to mix in the sounds I used on Tobin's song, I had no control over it.

I'm glad you liked my take on this wonderful song of Tobin's. I do appreciate you listening to it and sending along the very kind words about it my friend.

Thanks again Mark. Be well and be cool,

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

egobandit	egobandit said 449 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	different I never heard Tobins version but I think this is movin right along. Love the placement and composition. All the extras you add make it enjoyable. Like the break and into the synth. Enjoyed! Check out my latest song called when its love

sloparts	sloparts said 449 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	Thanks bandit If you get a chance, go listen to Tobin's original, you'll like it, a lot. Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed this version my friend. I wanted to change it without destroying the meaning of the original song. Be well and be cool, Ed Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

SJB

SJB said 447 days ago (September 5th, 2008)

Superb
I don't think Tobin will have any problems with this. It's great. The variety of sounds on this is amazing. The wah wah sort of electric guitar is top notch as is the distorted rock lead. I also like how acoustic comes and goes and provides a folky background against which the electrics can do their stuff. Very nice job indeed!
best wishes
Steve

Check out my latest song called Short tune

sloparts

sloparts said 447 days ago (September 5th, 2008)

Thank you Steve
Basically, what I tried to do was duplicate as close as I could what Tobin had done for his tracks. Then I started adding things to energize the song and give it my own feeling. The acoustics you hear are mostly the same loops used in the original song's back track. That was the part that took the longest was trying to figure out and then redo tobin's tracks.

Anyway, thanks again for listening and for the kind words Steve, they are very much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed my take on the song.

Be well and be cool,

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

Parichayaka

Parichayaka said 429 days ago (September 23rd, 2008)

Fun!
Too many good things to comment on - guitars, drums, lyrics - great song! The first synth lead you introduce is a fun surprise along with all the other little effects and details in the mix. I could imagine the voice sounding a bit more natural throughout (is there a chorus on it?). How about a bit of talking in the mix, it is kind of a story you're telling and a deep voice with the guitar solo - might be a fun contrast.

Sounds like another great, fun collaboration with Tobin, the king of collabs.

Check out my latest song called f12

said 429 days ago (September 23rd, 2008)

Thanks
I was really sweating it on this one because I had to first figure out what Tobin had done, then try to duplicate it the best I could. Once I was satisfied with that, it was just a matter of making it my own, while trying to stay true to the intent and original feel of the song.

There were a lot of ways I could have done things differently, some better and some not so good. I hadn't thought of the talking part, but it could work on this song. Nice idea.

Thanks again for the kind words my friend, it's really nice to make your acquaintance.

Take care Pari

Ed

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 428 days ago (September 24th, 2008)
	Groove! A very smooth groove. Great guitar work. Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

sloparts	sloparts said 428 days ago (September 24th, 2008)
	Thanks Vic It was a great song when Tobin did it, I just tried to change the feel of it and build more energy into it. Glad you enjoyed the song my friend. Thanks again for the listen and the comment Vic. Be well and be cool, Ed Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

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Artist Info

Name: Ed Wemmerus

I'm just an washed up old Singer/Songwriter and Musician trying to hang on by my fingernails. Can't see, hear, or play much any more, but I just can't seem to give it up. I've been playing music since 1962 when a friend showed me how to play a few ch... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

Folk-rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. In the original and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and Canada around the mid-1960s. The sound was epitomized by tight vocal

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