[delb0y]

Not the Gordon Lightfoot song (were I to be so good!) but one with a similar-ish title. Recorded in my usual fashion - can't turn the vocals up because they're recorded live with the guitar, but it's about the song anyway.

Was originally going to be a bluegrass song, but I stuck to fingerpicking in the end with a kind of bluegrassy lead guitar in the background.

An anti-war song, of course.

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13607888

Ten Degrees Colder

She came out of the mist and the snow was falling down
Walking 'long the rails on the west side of town
A scarf around her shoulders and ice upon her shawl
It was ten degrees colder than I ever could recall

She came into the tavern and shook the snow from her shoes
Stood by the fire and asked if we had heard the news
There were soldiers from afar marching forth to war
It was ten degrees colder than I ever could recall

I rushed into the street but the sound of marching men
And the blizzard and the ice drove me back inside again
Old Joe behind the bar was loading his cap and ball
It was ten degrees colder than I ever could recall

Billy had a shotgun, Little Jimmy had a knife
The girl from the west had been somebody's wife
We were widows and orphans and old men one and all
It was ten degrees colder than I ever could recall

They didn't speak our language they used lead and fire instead
When the tavern was ablaze into the winter we fled
I helped those I could but I saw some good men fall
It was ten degrees colder than I ever could recall

We came out of the mist and the snow was falling down
Walking 'long the rails on the west side of town
Me and a girl with ice upon her shawl
It was ten degrees colder than I ever could recall

[shadowfax]

well..we're all anti war so the sentiments of the song speak for me for sure, very good lyrics and lovely story, finger picking..always like finger picking so enjoyed the song....just started to flag a little towards the end for me because it never developed even a little bit..just a little harmony in the last verse would've done it... but..anyway,good song my friend

[Skub]

Yo Del.

Lovely picking,as ever. 

Quite a Lightfoot feel,which may be more difficult to capture than most folk imagine.

Some good friends of mine love their Folk/Bluegrass and they would love this.

Love the story,love the song. Good work young Derek. 

[Neil C]

Del,
Neat song as every with well described lyrics. Like it.
I'm with Kevin, perhaps some variation could give some contrast, maybe taking down the penultimate verse and perhaps talking rather than singing?
Anyway another good piece
:-)
Neil

[Martinswede]

Hi!

I like it but I don't really get the title.
Colder than ever before in the narrators life?

With some work this could be turned into a duet. It might give the song
that extra spark to keep the listeners attention.

Martin

[Vintage54]

    Hi there,

      Far as i'm concerned this needs nothing, cept a wider audience. Perfect as it stands, my kind of song. I'm a singer songwriter kind of guy, and if a song is good enough, one man and a guitar can stop a speeding train. Refreshing to hear just that, too much clutter on a lot of songs these days, a song should be allowed to breathe. Reminds me of someone that at this moment in time, i just can't recall. Pretty decent lyrics also.

                             Winner
                                Vintage54

[Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra]

Del

The pickin' is sublime and second guitar lines are great. Vocal too! Nice story lyric with a good refrain in that 'ten degrees colder etc'

I hate to be in the 'needs something else' camp but I am. Seems awful to say it when it's so bloody good. Just a little bit of harpoon coming in later or something ...I did even think that maybe just starting the instrumental section between verses on a different chord (the Em?) would add a bit of flavour....

Nothing wrong with the song at all...it's lovely. I wouldn't chop out any verses. Does what it's meant to brilliantly...a bit more of an arrangement would do wonders...

[Skub]

Every song needs a bit of harpoon,dear Count.

It Whaley does!

[delb0y]

Thanks folks. Really appreciate the listen and the feedback. The common observation about the arrangement of the song has given me some food for thought. As with all of these things I will play it live a few times and see how it develops - but I'll definitely ponder on how to maintain interest in the latter part of the song before I take it out. Turns out it was well worth posting.

Cheers
Derek

[pompeyjazz]

Hi Del. Wow that pickin is mighty good. I love this as it is. Appreciate the comments about repetition and to me that would make it a different song. All very subjective of course but an excellent piece of work in my book

[Mikey]

Hi Del

Great guitar work and good vocal, like the lyrics too, very nice song, reminds me of Ralph McTell

Mikey

[montydog]

Hi Del,

I am a big fan of your guitar playing and songwriting both of which shine here. I like a story song and this is very accomplished. It's a very effective trick to get every verse to finish with that title line. Reminded me of Bob Dylan for that and many other reasons.

Very lovely indeed.

M

[PaulyX]

Super guitar playing Delb0y.  I think I'm in the 'don't change much' camp here, since repetition felt like part of the point of it (as Montydog says, very Dylan).  As you gradually tell a story, I didn't think that the backing needed to vary much, as the narrative is the thing that keeps you hooked.  To me it has a kind of authenticity, as if it was a trad folk song that has been around for decades, which is a neat trick if you've just written it! Great stuff.

[giitlesriddles]

Nice folky style and fingerpicking. Very authentic. Same with the chord progression. I particularly enjoy the narrative in this one. This song is simple, and I think it should stay simple. It really just works nicely as it is. The lyrics are very vivid. I'm impressed with the song. It's a good campfire ballad song. Great work and keep it up!

Nate

[Cawproductions]

Dude,
This is a really nice song, has a great vibe.

Agree with someone who said it was a bit long, Maybe 1 less verse and an instrumental,

But I really liked the vibe of it and as others have said, Fingerpicking sound really good.

Also the recording was good for a one-er.

Andy