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*Song Description By Noles*

My initial intention for "Go The Distance" was to write and record a song in the style of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Funky guitar riffs balanced out with harmony-filled catchy choruses. The Chili Peppers have been a big influence of mine since becoming a musician in 2002. With their rock formula that sounds like no one else. Seeing them in concert in 2006 on the Stadium Arcadium tour was a huge moment for me. Considering how much they've inspired me through their artistry and musicianship. When I wrote the music for "Go The Distance" on April 4, 2013, I had already recorded 17 songs for the Mission Of Mercy album. After writing the music for "Go The Distance", I felt like the mid-tempo tune had a lot of room for melody.

I began recording the Mission Of Mercy version of "Go The Distance" on April 17, 2013. The funky guitar riff in "Go The Distance" is accompanied by a bass line that fills the groove. This guitar riff returns after every chorus. "Go The Distance" has a preachy sounding organ throughout the entire tune. This organ almost sounds like it's being played through a Leslie speaker. And it screams during the guitar riffs. There's a ton of backup vocal harmony all over "Go The Distance". Like I said before, when I wrote the music for "Go The Distance", it seemed like it was a song with a lot of melodic possibilities. But the melodies I made ended up being simple and repetitive. The chorus melody to "Go The Distance" is the same melody used in parts of the verses. So this left a lot of harmonic possibilities when it came to backup vocals.

The lyrics for "Go The Distance" were written on April 18, 2013. The inspiration for the title came from the 1989 fantasy-drama sports film Field Of Dreams. Protagonist Ray Kinsella played by Kevin Costner hears a mysterious heavenly voice three times in the movie telling him to do outrageous baseball-related things that transform his life throughout the film. The last voice he hears says, "Go the distance." I'm a big fan of the movie, and I've always loved that phrase. But the song "Go The Distance" has little to do with the plot of Field Of Dreams. It's more about going the extra mile to accomplish things in life. In order to grow and improve one's self. Going further than before.

I finished recording the Mission Of Mercy version of "Go The Distance" on April 29, 2013, and the entire Mission Of Mercy album was released on May 20, 2013. After moving to Toronto from Peterborough in September of 2013, the Plaid On Flannel band started on February 15, 2014 as a 3-piece. "Go The Distance" was part of the first batch of my original songs that I brought to the band. The next year, keyboardist Jen Doyon joined Plaid On Flannel on February 22, 2015. "Go The Distance" was a go-to live staple for the band. Here's a live version of us playing the tune at Cherry Cola's in Toronto on March 31, 2016... youtu.be/DWaWoAQdd8Q We decided to record a new version of it and included it on our Rising Above EP. That EP was released on May 14, 2016. "Go The Distance" is a song I'm sure will live on in POF's live arsenal of tunes for a long time.

lyrics

Words and music by Nolan Randall

Grinding out and I'm almost done
With just a couple left to make it complete
Gonna ride 'til the race is run
I know that finishing would be quite a feat
Said goodbye to my social life
I knew a little time off wouldn't hurt me
Because this dog has a ton of fight
After all, I'm on a mission of mercy

Only thing on my mind right now
Is that I'm willing to go the distance
Who, what, where, when, and why or how
The only way is to go the distance

Look for something for what it's worth
And try to make it into what you believe
Rites of passage starting from birth
From what you want to what you're gonna achieve
Many people think I'm not there
It seems that what I'm doing is depressing
Leaping over top every stair
We just might see who will be second guessing

Only thing on my mind right now
Is that I'm willing to go the distance
Who, what, where, when, and why or how
The only way is to go the distance

Making up as I go along
Don't wanna leave anything understated
Taking what I can from each song
The only way they're gonna be created

Only thing on my mind right now
Is that I'm willing to go the distance
Who, what, where, when, and why or how
The only way is to go the distance
Only thing on my mind right now
Is that I'm willing to go the distance
Who, what, where, when, and why or how
The only way is to go the distance

credits

from Vol. II: Mission Of Mercy, released May 20, 2013

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Plaid On Flannel Toronto, Ontario

Plaid On Flannel is an alternative indie blues rock act from Toronto, Canada. With 80+ original songs recorded since 2011, singer-songwriter Nolan Randall has remained the sole constant member of the band. POF's music is known for guitar riffs/solos, memorable hooks, catchy melodies/harmonies, evocative lyrics, & superb musicianship. While keeping a focus on originality and songwriting quality. ... more

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