“Cold Finger Blues” - a song about cold fingers
Picture this. Working outside, shoveling stone, every day the same as the last. Each shovel full agitates the sore muscles from the shift prior. The unforgiving elements trickle through his old work clothes. Cold cracks his knuckles as he follows his known rhythm. His mind is elsewhere. On a small, hidden, pair of wedding bands. Purchased on credit, and outside of his means. Each swing of his spade equals a chip off of what he owes and one step closer to earning the love of his “meant to be”.
The stage is set. Bring on the song.
Backstory
This is the second of 4 songs I finished when I went to New Orleans in February.
On the way down we stopped just outside of Asheville, NC to stay at a friends Yurt. It is nestled into one of the most lovely areas in NC that I have been to so far. I would suggest heading that way and checking this place out, you won’t regret booking a getaway (plus you deserve it). It’s The Sunny Side Up Yurt, right by the Pisgah national forest. Go!
Now that said, we were staying during an off time of the year, so it was a little colder than normal. There is a wood stove inside that makes quick work of the chill and brings the entire space up to a perfectly cozy temperature… but I was having some trouble getting it started. My pride of course ensured me that I knew what I was doing, and it had to be just a fluke that it wouldn’t stay lit. For those of you that know Dan Socha, you won’t be surprised that he kindly agreed and endured the cold of the day right alongside me.
** Side Note: When we got back from Asheville, Dan took wood stove duty and got that thing fired up in probably 5 minutes tops… so… yea
As we were sitting in the yurt, cold, but about to head to Asheville for some exploring, a song started to come to us. The original thought of having “cold fingers” took shape into a song. Though it started out as a joke, I got the idea of a worker spending his days outside making money to pay for a wedding, but while he is gone the spark fades, the relationship ends, and he is left with cold fingers. Cold fingers in a dual sense. First because he is working outside and it’s cold (not much to unpack there). Second because he had hidden purchased wedding rings and before he could unveil and present the gift and himself, the relationship dissolved, leaving him an unadorned finger and a wasted treasure.
Writing Process
This one was built completely around the bass groove in the key of G. Credit goes to Dan Socha for that one, and it pairs awesome with his slide playing. There is some inspiration from local legend Roger Hoover in that fingerpicking style too.
The writing went quick on this since two minds were rapid firing the lyrics ideas, and building words around a story always makes things easier for me.
The song was basically done by the time we left for the evening, but it got cleaned up and solidified with harmonies and structure when we got to New Orleans. Bethany added a note that made the entire song feel complete, we lengthened the time holding the word “cold” and the song was done.
Recording this one was fun too. The audio is from the one and only Tuck Mindrum, and you can hear that a local bird felt the need to have a ripping squaking solo throughout the entire song…
Notebook Page.
Feb, 2022
Lyrics
I got them cold finger blues
Got the cold finger blues
Step outside, collect my pay
But that chill wont go away
Got them cold fingers
I got them cold finger blues
Got the cold finger blues
Take it home to my woman, shes as sweet as pie
Blackberry cobbler, keep me warm inside
Got them cold fingers
I got them cold finger blues
Got the cold finger blues
You and me, thought we was doing just fine
But you left me for a better time
Got them cold fingers
I got them cold finger blues
Got the cold finger blues In a little box, high on a shelf
Two rings, gonna keep to themselves
Got them cold fingers
Got them cold fingers
Got them cold fingers