Winter Time
I follow John Mayer on Twitter. What does that have to do with the writing of Winter Time? Nothing. Just kidding. It has something to do with it. He recommended a book to the creative types called 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield. In his book, Pressfield says you have to make yourself sit down and write. You can't just wait around for inspiration all the time. I wondered if this was true. I decided to give it a try. I dedicated a day to do nothing but write. I would start completely new ideas and see what happened. It started horribly. One bad idea after another, and songs that sounded like every other song. Nothing special. It was discouraging to say the least.
It was 11:00 pm and I was about to give up and go to bed when I started singing the chorus to what would end up being Winter Time. I started with the words, "you're like an angel" because that's what naturally came out. Being silly, I followed with the phrase, "in the snow." After chuckling to myself, it hit me that this could be a cool idea. I started building a metaphor around a snow angel. It was like a girlfriend. A girlfriend who would leave and come back. So much that I could count on it happening again and again. The snow angel is cold, and in this analogy, so is the love of the girlfriend. As more similarities came, so did the lyrics.
I ended up writing and recording Winter Time in about an hour. The recording you hear on my album was my original demo. All we added was the beautiful voice of Sara Reeves. This song is one of my favorites on my album. I love the lyrics. I love the music and feel. But really I love that it demonstrates when you work hard at a gift God has given you, He will honor it.
Lyrics:
I'm laying here, waiting for you
Our season's comin round
The weather's cold, next thing I know
The ice is on the ground
Every year you meet me here but you never stay
You’re like an angel in the snow
I knew you'd come, but soon you'll go
You have to leave but believe
You'll be frozen in my mind
And back to life come winter time
Night time comes and soon will go and hide behind the light
I open my eyes and peak outside the ground is colored white
I hate it when you leave but I love when you arrive
I don't know why
You have to come and go
But when the weather gets warm
And the sun starts to shine I know its time
To say good-bye
Words & Music by:
Chris August
so glad u explained this song:) it is my favorite on the album also! i looooooove it! it is painful and beautiful :)
Just a PHENOMENAL song! I plan to learn it on the Keys! Great album as a whole though really.
Keep up the great work!
p.s.- It would be AMAZING if you played Winter Time at JoyFM's Sofa Concert Series Next week (Oct 14th) when you play. Thanks so much Chris! Keep doing God's work!
-Sean Gabris
I think what I like most about this song is the keyboard. No hating on the guitar but there is something about a keyboard or piano...