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Here are two songs about a favorite topic of conversation in Minnesota. The first is a variation on the talking blues that I wrote in Ashland, Wisconsin during the winter of 1971, and the second I wrote in Minnesota about my 1970 Volkswagen square-back about three years later.
Talking Blues
I woke up this morning, it was 40 below The snow was piled up past my door That would not be too bad, but I live on the second floor But I like it here (I) Had two pairs of long-johns under four pairs of pants Three ski sweaters, and a hat to match Two pairs of gloves and a fur-lined vest Then I got out of bed, and I started to get dressed But I like it here It was snowing so hard when I walked downtown You could shovel that stuff, upside down Folks tell me it will be like this until winter comes around But I like it here
Am It was early morn' like so many before C Am Oh cold and misery Am C G Am I put on my coat and walked out of the door G Am Standing alone on the frozen ground
Additional verses:
I went to the place where my beast lay asleep
On four tires of rubber a long cord in its teeth
I opened the door and I jammed in the key
Not a sound did I hear, nor exhaust did I see
So I went to my neighbor and to her I spoke
She soon came a ' riding on white clouds of smoke
On it's terminals bare, long cables I placed
And I gave it a charge with revenge of my face
It coughed, and it rumbled then let out a roar
Lashing it with gas pedal harsh commands I swore
The smell of the ether ether did hand in the air
And empty "Heet" cans lay about everywhere
And when we were moving its anger was gone
From its radio voice, came music and song
But tonight when the dark comes to its moving parts
It will again be the beast with the ice in its heart
Previous Songs: Fine Old Lady * The Teton Dam * Goodnight Baby * The B. C. Rail * Play Us a Waltz * Ozawindib * Long Way to Another Friend * Itasca: A Place of Beginnings * I'm From Minnesota * The Strike Is On * The C.C.C. * Interstate of Broken Hearts * Rainfall Has Turned to Snow * Gypsy Woody * We'd Go To Town (And Go Dancing) * Towboat * L'Etoile Du Nord * The Hinkley Fire * Winter on the Farm * Darling * Fine Old Lady * Sam Smith * Getting In The Cows * Talking Home Improvement * The Ballad of Augie Mattsen * Itasca * Fall Is Here * When's That Train A'Coming?
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