55 Comments
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Donna Blackmond's avatar

Beautiful. Very moving.

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Elissa Altman's avatar

Richard, it's gorgeous - Stunning.--

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Thanks Elissa!

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Ron Greitzer's avatar

Every Sunday morning, I grab a guitar, pick up a Starbucks from across the street, and make my way to the fountain in our town square and play for a couple of hours. I had just finished playing “Fishing” and “Deportees” when this came in. Yeah, that pretty much makes sense in a cosmic kind of way.

Anyway, I first heard this song in October 2019 at Lestat’s here in San Diego, which was the last show of yours I was lucky enough to have seen. I did immediately gravitate to the Miguel/Soledad verse, and the new one will take a little getting used to, but I felt then — and I feel now — that this is easily your best song in many years. Thank you for bringing it back.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Thanks Ron. That verse was precisely the sticking point. I'll say more about that soon. In the meantime, I'd like to allow the song as it is now... to be.

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JL Eisenstein's avatar

I should have read your post before i posted anything of my own, instead of after. this is my first listen for "Did I Hear Wrong," and i am impressed.

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Robert Hammond's avatar

Awesome. And your voice sounds great. - vintage RS. Can’t wait for you to get back on the road, if you do.

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Laurence Krulik's avatar

As my 10 year old now says as a positive exclamation... "Let's Go!!!!". Richard, this song belongs in a movie accompanying some beat up car down a dirt road. It's so great to hear your voice in new material! Keep em coming.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Thanks Laurence. Nice to see you here.

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Jessica Winston's avatar

Thought provoking and excellent as always :)

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Gary Young's avatar

Great song! I remember it from a few years ago. It helps so much that you include the lyrics, such a well aimed dart of a song. Your next album is going to be such a treat! Thank you for this!

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Georgette's avatar

Yes, you have performed a version of this twice(?) that I have heard.

This song is an example of one of the reasons why I fell in love with your music: Your compassion and genuine respect for the people whose stories you tell.

This is heartbreaking, but so beautiful. Thank you.

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Alex McGhie's avatar

Fabulous song, Richard.

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Matthew Bullis's avatar

Thanks for the song. Are you using a baritone guitar, tuned down to c, where the f minor is an a minor shape? Just geting used to the Substack platform and how it works.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Good ear. Close. Baritone tuned to CGCFGC. In that tuning, the F minor shape, from low to high, is 5x035x.

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Ron Greitzer's avatar

Is that essentially just DADGAD down a step?

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Yes, but see above.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Correction. The baritone is tuned B F# B E F# B. I have a capo on 1.

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Matt Stone's avatar

Thanks for asking about this Matthew B. I was thinking baritone as well and trying to hear if partial capo or alt tuning. I’m a baritone fan and own a few but haven’t crossed the threshold to electric. Yet.

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David Gray's avatar

Beautiful song. Words are very apposite to where we are just now.

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Wayne Simpson's avatar

I remember this song. You did it at the Troubadour (AKA the Folk Project) in Morristown, NJ just before you announced your hiatus. I regarded it as a protest song and was happy you wrote it and sang it for us.

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Maryellen Collins's avatar

Great song!

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Ben Carlton's avatar

Love it! Thanks for continuing to share your work on here.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Thanks Ben!

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Suzanne Kelly's avatar

love it!

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Bill Rathbone's avatar

I really like it. Imagining the power of the song with a band behind you makes me smile.

Introducing the songwriter directly into the story in the second verse was a bit jarring, and made me wonder if it is the songwriter, and not the person who poured out the water, who is the target in the final verse. Might not be what you intended.

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