“Colder Weather” (2010) Zac Brown Band

She'd trade Colorado if he'd take her with him,
Closes the door before the winter lets the cold in,
And wonders if her love is strong enough to make him stay,
She's answered by the taillights shining through the window pane

He said I wanna see you again
But I'm stuck in colder weather
Maybe tomorrow will be better
Can I call you then
She said you're a ramblin' man
And you ain't ever gonna change
You gotta gypsy soul to blame
And you were born for leavin'

At a truck stop diner just outside of Lincoln,
The night is black as the coffee he was drinkin',
And in the waitress' eyes he sees the same 'ol light a shinin',
He thinks of Colorado and the girl he left behind him

He said I wanna see you again
But I'm stuck in colder weather
Maybe tomorrow will be better
Can I call you then
She said you're a ramblin' man
And you ain't ever gonna change
You got a gypsy soul to blame
And you were born for leavin' (born for leavin')

Well it's a winding road
When your in the lost and found
You're a lover I'm a runner
And we go 'round 'n 'round
And I love you but I leave you
I don't want you but I need you
You know it's you
That calls me back here baby

Oh I wanna see you again
But I'm stuck in colder weather
Maybe tomorrow will be better
Can I call you then
Cause I'm a ramblin' man
I ain't ever gonna change (I ain't ever gonna change)
Gotta gypsy soul to blame
And I was born for leavin' (born for leavin')

And when I close my eyes I see you
No matter where I am
I can smell your perfume through these whispering pines
I'm with your ghost again
It's a shame about the weather
But I know soon we'll be together
And I can't wait till then
I can't wait till then



Colder Weather is a song full of layers in its music and meaning. It starts out with a simple piano as he sets the stage for a familiar story:  a man has to leave his love behind to pursue his dreams. Then the cymbals add a little depth, along with a few more voices, as he shares his feelings with the girl he’s about to leave.

A violin enters as the chorus fades and we meet up with our trucker at a diner in Nebraska, and a guitar comes in with the second time thru the chorus. Finally, the drums bring us into the bridge and the heart of the story – he pours out his soul to his love and admits he can’t be without her – but he’s stuck in colder weather. A crescendo and the music swells; as the song draws to a close we’re brought to the finale, a promise that it won’t be much longer….

I love songs that tell a story, not just with the lyrics, but with the music. There are literally thousands of songs about lost loves and tragedies of life; what makes them stand out is how well the artist can draw in the audience by evoking an emotional response with a few instruments and some harmonic voices.

Zac Brown Band is a country group, and I know some people don’t really enjoy that genre of music; the twang of the guitar, that little something in their voice that says “country singer.” But this band has some great songs that tell stories to make me think, and make me laugh, and this is one of my favorites.