FAWM: "The Closer To Heaven"

The Closer To Heaven

3 weeks ago by @carleybaer

The Closer To Heaven

carleybaer

00:00

Liner Notes

#bluegrass #oldtime

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

@sjbatavia 2w

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!

@robheron1 2w

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.

@deadhead 3w

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!

@tseaver 3w

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.

@nightwing521 3w

I intend to introduce this to my bluegrass jam group and it will (eventually) become "trad."

@leka 3w

Lovely song! I would not change a single thing.

I'll have to check your other songs too.

@trashdaisy 3w

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!

@robcrusade 3w

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.

@nadine 3w

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!

@brisk 3w

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.

@wcentennial 3w

Super catchy bluegrass tune, love your voice. Nice job! Cool to run into fellow PNW people here.

@dr_griff 3w

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!

@berni1954 3w

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.

@ltunes 3w

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.