Words: 08-06-2009 ~ 08-20-2009
Music: 08-06-2009 ~ 08-20-2009
What’s It All About?
This is the third track from my album, “Anyman: The John Smith E.P.” This project was a collaborative effort between myself and author J.C. Hutchins and part of the campaign to promote the publication of J.C.’s novel, “7th Son: Descent.” The idea was that each track of the record would be presented as if it was written and performed by John Smith, one of the characters in the book.
This song gets its title from what J.C. Hutchins called “some dreadful high school poetry.” Incorporating it into the “7th Son” / John Smith universe was a kind of inside joke with himself. While the original poetry was literally about, um, making love in the wintertime, we both agreed this song should go a little deeper.
I liked the germ of the idea that a love was dying as the year was dying… but for the longest time, I stalled there. Finally, I remembered the myth of the Winter King, who in ancient agricultural cultures was killed (ritualistically or literally) at the end of the year so a new king could rule over the year about to begin.
What if the woman you loved decided to discard you for a new model at the end of the year? What if you didn’t want to play along? Once I had that, and once I fell into a vocal mode that (to my ears) owes a debt of inspiration to the singer / songwriter Richard Thompson, “Winter Love” came fairly quickly.
Go Back To “Anyman: The John Smith E.P.”
Lyrics:
“Winter Love” by Matthew Wayne Selznick and J.C. Hutchins
Don’t gimme that bit about
“Every thing in its season”
That’s only numbers and blocks on a page
Don’t try to tell me there’s no
Particular reason
I won’t go peacefully into the next phase
Don’t tell me you don’t recall
The first day of Springtime
The way we met was such a sweet cliche
Can’t believe you would forget
The height of last summer
And how we spent each hour
Of the longest day
Don’t pretend
You didn’t plan this from the start
By Winter’s end
Passion frozen in your heart
I never said
I’d be an actor in this play
I don’t intend
To walk away as winter fades to gray
I don’t believe that you
Have found yourself a new prince
There’s no one anywhere in the world like me
Don’t tell me he was a surprise
Don’t try to convince
What makes you think I even wanna be free
Don’t care if the air you breathe
Comes cold from your lips
Don’t matter to me if the trees have lost all their leaves
There ain’t no golden bough
And I’ll remain your king
Sample And Buy
Listen to the first minute of “Winter Love” and buy a high-quality MP3 download.
