Hi Steve
Is anyone gonna get around to transcribing “Been a long time…” ?
I’m pretty sure it’s in Open G, but as I’m a lousy guitar player (no
time to practice as I’m in the Army) I’m having trouble figuring out a
couple of parts.
Loved the KC show in July…see you in December at the Fillmore.
Thanks for all the music…you guys have always been there with me…
Dave
MAJ, MI, US Army
School of Advanced Military Studies
Seminar 5, Afghanistan Planning Group
Dave
I don’t know anything about anyone transcribing any song. Every song we play is in the same key to me, so I am sorry but I can’t help you with this.
But, if I could be so bold, I can advise you not to let a little something like the centuries old query of what to do with Afghanistan keep you from the guitar! Practice is essential if you want to make something of yourself. Sooner or later, you gotta get your priorities straight. I didn’t get to where I am today (rolling down I-40 westbound somewhere around Jackson, TN., to be exact) by allowing trivial issues like the Taliban’s brutal and catastrophic resurgence, or the upcoming deadly winter weather in the Hindu Kush mountains, keep me from my music.
Now, I don’t know what they teach in this “army” you mentioned, but I do know a little something about what awaits you as you push aside all of life’s insignificant problems and focus on your musical quest.
Will there be hardships along the way? Probably.
Will friends and family mock your dreams and question your decision making skills? Maybe.
Is there a chance you will learn something along the way about real commitment, real service, and the real power of self respect and discipline? Absolutely!
You see, when we were just getting started, NOTHING stood in our way. We endured hardships that would have killed most people. One time, in the fall of ‘87, I forgot to pay the phone bill. (By “forgot”, I mean that I didn’t have any money) You won’t believe this, but Bell South had the balls to turn off our phone! I’m not kidding! Can you believe that shit? They just turned it right off! Two letters in the mail saying we needed to pay by a specific date to avoid a “discontinuation of service” or some bullshit like that, a phone call or two from the customer service folks making sure we had received the bill, a two week “grace period”, and then BOOM! No phone. Just like that.
Now, Dave, I could have gone into a state of depression over the fact that I could no longer make late night drunken phone calls to old college friends to rub it in their faces that they had cars that worked, steady incomes, and solid credit scores…but I didn’t.
I could have climbed the walls wondering how many gigs we were losing because club managers who wanted to book the band couldn’t contact us…but I didn’t.
I could have easily turned the whole situation into my “Afghanistan” and sat around blaming Bell South for deferring my musical dreams….but I didn’t.
As tough as it was, I simply picked myself up by the boot straps and marched right down the hall to Chris’ girlfriend’s apartment and used her phone for a few months. And you know what? Bell South is still around and so am I. See what I am saying?
I hope this helps.
SG
(Bullshit aside – to know that our music has always been there with you through whatever unimaginable situations you have put yourself into so unselfishly, is humbling. Thanks for everything you’re doing.)