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about
I wrote this tune about busking in the subways in the middle of winter. We had this absolutely horrible winter in 2014 in Toronto- I had to busk all the way through January/February to help pay my hydro and rent. My hands and fingers were freezing to the point of burning from the cold, and I really did play in minus 17 degree weather all throughout that winter. That’s minus seventeen degrees celsius, for my American friends- that’s really really cold!!!
I will never forget that winter for as long as I live, but at least I got a fantastic Blues tune out of it!
Musically, I think this is probably the most traditional sounding Blues tune on the record: the solo section in particular sees myself, my pianist Anthony D’Alessandro and Liam Ward on the harmonica playing very classic, respectable Blues solos, building off each other.
And then in comes special guest Michael Keith with an irreverent, wild and completely off the wall Blues guitar solo! It stands out and makes you go: I’ve never heard anything like that before! Michael is certainly one of the most original guitarists I know, and I really hope I get the chance to work with him again.
lyrics
Lyrics:
Why am I working
When it's so cold outside?
Why am I working
When it's damn near freezing outside?
Gotta make my pay,
And this guitar's the only thing on my side!
Well I work here near the trains,
Playing guitar, while I freeze!
But I gotta make my money,
Support my family, make ends meet!
Yes I do
Now I love my job,
But why's it gotta be so damn hard on me?
Listen
My hands are freezing!
My fingers, Lord, they gonna burn!
It's minus seventeen outside,
And I got a whole lot to earn!
My hydro's overdue!
And I can barely make the rent!
I been working here for seven hours,
And I ain't made nothing yet!
Lord help me, oh!
People, I've made nothing all this time!
Oh yeah!
I've been working here for seven, eight, nine, ten, nineteen, twenty million hours,
And I ain't made a single, solitary dime!
Yeah!
Now I got this guitar
It's what pays the rent
But how can I play now
When folks don't give me a single shred of respect?
They call me homeless, say I'm an addict,
Tellin' all kinds of lies!
Man, I got the Blues so bad,
I wanna give it all up and die!
Oh, please help me!
C'mon, spare a dollar for me man!
Please brother, please brother, please!
I gotta make my pay, And I'm gonna die before I can!
Woah!
credits
from Outside The Box,
track released January 14, 2022
Produced By: Chris Birkett and Mike Nagoda
Engineered and Mixed By: Chris Birkett
Mastered By: Chris Birkett and Jacob McCauley
Performed By Mike Nagoda and the Spectrum Blues Band:
Mike Nagoda- Electric Double Slide Guitar, Hammond Organ and Vocals
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