Recorded at Travis Plantico's Studio in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.
Music by Todd Ashbeck, Travis Plantico, and Jamie Bruhn.
Lyrics by Todd Ashbeck.
Lead Vocals by Matt Berndt, (Courtesy of "Rising Phoenix").
All Background Harmony Vocals by Todd Ashbeck.
All Lead and Rhythm Guitars by Todd Ashbeck
Drums by Travis Plantico, (Courtesy of "The Lizardz")
Bass Guitar by Jamie Bruhn, (Courtesy of "The Lizardz")

(Back Story).............
I was asked by a Facebook Friend who is a Military Veteran, and works with Veterans who are struggling to get their feet back on the ground, to write a song for his Veterans' group.  Because I support ALL branches of our Military, and Thank them sincerely, for fighting for MY FREEDOM, I was Honored to do it!

Enlisting the help of some Very Talented Musical Brothers, I asked Travis Plantico (Drums), and Jamie Bruhn (Bass), from the Central Wisconsin-based band, "The Lizardz", to help me come up with something cool, and record it.  Up to the challenge as usual, they jumped on board Immediately, and the wheels were set in motion.

Night #1 - Meeting at Travis Plantico's Studio.......
In about 2 hours, we had the music completely written, and recorded a very rough, live version of just the music alone.

Night #2 - I went home, and wrote the lyrics in less than an hour.

Night #3 - Myself, along with Travis and Jamie, got together again at Travis' Studio, and recorded the music For Real, in about an hour; give or take a bit.

Night #4 - I came back to Travis' Studio, to record a third Guitar Harmony, after listening to it, and deciding that it would sound cool in the second half of the main Guitar Solo.  I also recorded the beginning and ending Lead Guitar Fills; all withing about an hour or so.

Night #5 - Matt Berndt, the Lead Singer and Front-Man of MY band, "RISING PHOENIX", based out of Central Wisconsin as well, came over and recorded the Lead Vocals for the song.  That same night, I recorded all of the Background Vocal Harmonies; all withing about an hour-and-a-half to two hours.

Night #6 - (TONIGHT!!) - Travis sent me the finished copy of the song, and I Very Proudly Present to you............

"Take My Hand" (Veterans' Song).

I hope you All like it!!  Please say Thank You to a Veteran whenever you meet one!!!  (Lyrics Below).

Sincerely,

Todd Ashbeck
Lead Guitarist for "RISING PHOENIX".

“Take My Hand” (Veterans’ Song)
Lyrics by Todd Ashbeck

(Verse 1)

For the Love of Country, you answered her call.
Traveled to a foreign land, for All.
You stood beside your comrades there, even as they’d fall.
And in the midst of battle, you stood tall.

(Chorus)

Brother, please take my hand; you know where I stand.
You have kept me Free from harm, now we stand arm-in-arm.
Sister, there is no shame; let go of your pain.
You have made your sacrifice, and paid too high a price!

(Verse 2)

They told you not to question why; they just said “Do or Die!”
Carried out your duty with such pride.
You never heard the shot ring out; you never heard them shout.
And you left your blood upon that ground.

(Chorus)

Brother, please take my hand; you know where I stand.
You have kept me Free from harm, now we stand arm-in-arm.
Sister, there is no shame; let go of your pain.
You have made your sacrifice, and paid too high a price!

(Bridge)

Ah, Ah, Ah…………….  Ah, Ah, Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah……………  Ah, Ah, Ah…………….

(Guitar Lead)

(Chorus)

Brother, please take my hand; you know where I stand.
You have kept me Free from harm, now we stand arm-in-arm.
Sister, there is no shame; let go of your pain.
You have made your sacrifice, and paid too high a price!


"Take My Hand" (Veterans' Song)

Recorded at R Thomas Kofler's Studio in Plover, WI; Summer, 2012.   (© Copyright  2012  "Todd Ashbeck Music"  -  All Rights Reserved)

All Music, Musical Arrangement and Lyrics by Todd Ashbeck  (1998)

Todd Ashbeck  -  Lead Guitars, Rhythm Guitars, Harmony Guitars, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Special Effects Guitars ("Clocks")

R Thomas Kofler  -  Lead Vocals, Additional Keyboards (Verses)

Tim Gessner  -  Drums and Percussion

All Harmony Vocals: Todd Ashbeck

Additional Guitar-Track (Before end-solo): Axl Gessner

Mixed and Produced by R Thomas Kofler and Todd Ashbeck - September, 2012


Back-story:

I wrote this song back in 1998 for the forthcoming "New Millennium". It was written while I was playing in a band called "Unit One"; along with two more songs. We were planning on going into the studio to record some original songs for a demo. The band only played two of the three songs out in public a handful of times before splitting up. This song was originally called "Unit One - Time Travelers"; but because the band parted ways, it made no sense to keep the title of the song the same.

When I wrote the song, I envisioned "Unit One" as a group of scientists and explorers who were actually going to travel through time into the future to ensure a "better tomorrow" for Mankind. That was the "Sci-Fi" thought behind the song. But I also envisioned the REALITY of the Human Race traveling through time Naturally on the planet of Earth - our "Time Machine". The third vision that I had was that of my band at the time, "Unit One", going into the next millennium, making Music and bringing it into the New Millennium.

When I finally had the opportunity to record the song as a "Solo Project", I decided that the New Title of the song was going to be "HUMAN-KIND - TIME TRAVELERS (MISSION MILLENNIUM"), because it made perfect sense to the story; and also because it sounded similar enough to "Unit One", so as not to change the song too much.

One thing I had always planned on, was to have some sort of "Intro" for the song.  As such, I envisioned just having "spacial" noises mainly; or something that sounded eerie, like you might hear if you were moving through time and/or space. But I couldn't decide for sure just what to do for it. The Intro for this song was literally thought up the night before I recorded it while I was lying awake in bed; unable to sleep.  Besides the "Intro", the rest of the song had already been recorded, and Tom and I only needed to put the finishing touches on it, and do the final mix; which we completed that next day. So I decided to put the "Ticking-Clocks" part from the break in the main part of the song just before the main Guitar Solo ("The Journey") into the Intro as well; but changed slightly.  The Muted-Staccato Guitars are meant to resemble the ticking of clocks, as you can clearly hear the "tick-tick-tick" of the Guitar picking along with the notes being played.  I added no Bass Guitar or Keyboards so as not to take away from what I was trying to achieve.....The "Ticking of Clocks", representing "Time".

After I recorded the Intro "Ticking-Clocks", Tom suggested that I also put a Guitar Lead in there; which I had already been considering myself as well. That way, it would sound more "Musical" and tie into the rest of the song better.  I chose to make an abrupt end to the "Ticking of the Clocks" part, and to build the volume of those "Clocks" so as to build intensity and to create a clear separation from the Intro into the main part of the song for a more dramatic effect.  The entire Intro was done on the spur of the moment, right then and there; each track recorded in only one-take; a total of 3 tracks - not including the Lead Track.  It took me three-takes on the solo part, however, because the first one was too long, and the second one was too short.  (Third time the charm!)  I purposely extended the last note of the Lead Track to flow into the main part of the song, after cutting the "Clocks" part abruptly for dramatic effect.  In my humble opinion, the Intro turned out to be THE PERFECT "Intro" for this song, and I am very happy with the way it turned out!  After reading this, listen to it again and see if you can hear the things I've talked about here.....it'll help understand this babbling a little better!!  ;-)

I hope you all enjoy it!

Todd Ashbeck - Rock Guitarist from Central Wisconsin
(Lead Guitarist for the New Central Wisconsin Rock Band, "RISING PHOENIX"; Former Lead Guitarist / Vocalist for SURRENDER DOROTHY)


Lyrics:

Chosen as a special task force for this mission - a journey in time, destination unknown.
Selected for the skills we possess, and spirit for adventure - all our treasures in tow, moving into the great beyond - we go.

Heading toward a new horizon in the future - mistakes that we've made keep us looking ahead.
Will the new millennium wipe the slate clean?  So we travel ahead to (from) the edge of the century.

The future is our destiny - this is our secret operation.

Human Kind - Time Travelers.
Human Kind - Mission Millennium.

(The Journey)
(Guitar Solo)

Human Kind - Time Travelers.
Human Kind - Mission Millennium.

Human Kind - Time Travelers.
Human Kind - Mission Millennium.

(Guitar Solo)

Todd Ashbeck

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