https://soundcloud.com/dammit-eugene/you-blew-away
 
Back in Late Oct '16 a young lady I knew (friend of my daughter's) took her own life at 23 years of age.  Her name was Joellen (https://www.instagram.com/joellenmwk/) and as people go, she was a shining star in this planet.  A real giver.  A bright light.
 
Wrote the tune You Blew Away not directly about her, but with her in mind.  Elements of the lyrics reference depression, survivor confusion, post-suicide anger/grief tones, and finally You Blew Away in the wind (scattering of ashes in the breeze.)
 
The tune did not start out as a song about suicide (or Joellen), but rather it materialized in my head while I was bathing my ratty ass cat; so the original project was titled Cat Bath.  Makes sense, right?
 
Did the lyrics roughly a week ago, and recorded them shortly after.
 
I don't like my vocals, and I'll be the first to express my thanks for multiple takes, and Melodyne!
 
On this song I used Melodyne, but not in a way to fix my vocal freqs, really, but rather as a way to approach how to thicken my vocals without the usual 2-track, slip one method, or the do multiple takes and over lay them, etc.  That's work!
 
Regretfully, I can tell you I am becoming more of a lazy basement musician.  Pre-divorce stress will suck the life out of you!~  Ha.  So the tune may seem sloppy in parts.  Ah, well.
 
If any interest, I'll document the Melodyne process I used..... trust me when I tell you it is definitely a lazy man's approach.
 
Cheers, mates!
Jim
 
Here's the Lyrics for now (until I boost the output as suggested below.)
when your mind fades to gray, Shadows are your friend. Life's a blur upside down
closed your eyes to no surprise, That's just how things unfurled. Something's amiss in your world.
 
All God's creatures, great and small, They're on their knees, pulling for you.
Can anyone make out the sign ahead? It's certainly nothing I've ever read, before.
 
of all the days you had to live, you picked this one to die.  What do we say to your friends?
trees are still with winter chill, Day just idles away. Wondering when the pain ends.
 
All God's creatures, great and small, They're on their knees, pulling for you.
Last I checked the phone was on. No calls just yet, but maybe one soon.
 
Can anyone make out the sign ahead? It's certainly nothing we’ve ever read, before.
 
Watch the Moon part the clouds, life just spinning around. You blew away with the wind.
Watch the Moon part the clouds, life just spinning around. You blew away with the wind.
Watch the Moon part the clouds, life just spinning around. You blew away with the wind.
Watch the Moon part the clouds, life just spinning around. You blew away with the wind.

Jim, DON'T worry about your vocal because I thought I was listening to David Bowie.  I love this style of music, and I really like your choice of instrumentation.  I'm going back to listen again because I had trouble understanding the lyrics which are a crucial part of this song, and I just love the synths.  Please turn up the vocal just a bit.  Otherwise, this is stellar!

I really appreciate the feedback..... updated my post to include the lyrics. 
 
Will tweak the project vocals volume this eve.
 
Music writing and production is certainly one of the best things in life.

Nice intro. Guitar flows really well in there. Love that type of guitar sound. Like a wailing sound. 
 
Great drums!
 
I agree, your vocals are good. Fitting with the song. 
 
Song style reminds me of Peter Gabriel. Especially the vocal melody. 
 
Awesome mixing! You're "in" the music. This is what I always aim for but never achieve. 

I really appreciate the feedback from you guys. You know how the system works and what I should be listening for, and that's always very helpful. Thank you.

Sad story, and a shame that she couldn't get help before it happened. She seems like she was an interesting person.
 
On to the music...
 
Dude, this rocks! Love the whole ambience of the song and the toe-tapping beat. The only thing I would say is raise the vocal...a lot...and don't HPF it quite so much.
 
I hear so many great touches in this, congrats!
 
Regards,
Dan
 
 

@dcumpian  Thanks for the feedback!  Have tweaked the project vocals and spiraled into a get nothing further done funk. 
 
Life!

Yes I like this a lot love the interplay of the unique instruments, the intro and breakdown. Cool drum beat move along. Vocals are buried but actually it suites the style and is not wrong or right.
Only weak part I thought was the fade out ending, it sort of came unexpectedly.  

Well, first off, sorry to hear any story like this, but it's getting more and more common.
 
this piano sound you've got, it's really great. It's so full and strong. I think your intro might be cut a bit, to get to that awesome power piano sooner.
 
Did you overlap a few piano vst's?
 
The vocals work, and yes by all means bring them up louder. Probably could take some of the flanger or whatever off of the vocals.
 
+1 on the ending, great fade out.
 
cheers,
-Tom

Just had a listen...  I'm not sure if this an edited version, but it sounds pretty good here.   The vocals aren't necessarily out front in "pop" fashion, but I like the mix.    Good song too, well written.  For me it gets the point across without being overly literal.