10 Degrees and Getting Colder
Gordon Lightfoot · Summer Side of Life [1971]
When he heard a driver comin' 'Bout a half a mile away
Then he held the sign up higher, Where no decent soul could miss it
It was ten degrees or colder Down by bolder dam that day
He was raised up in Milwaukee-Though he never was that famous
He was just a road musician-To the taverns he would go
Singin' songs about the ramblin'-The lovin' girls and gamblin'
How the world fell on his shoulders-Back in Boulder I don't know
It was out in Arizona-That he heard the lady listenin
To each word that he was sayin'-To each line that he would write
So he sat down by her table and They talked about the weather
Ninety-eight point six and risin'-Down by Boulder dam that day
And she told him she would take him-For a ride
in the mornin' sun, Back in Boulder he had told her,
I don't know when I had a better friend
Now he's traded off his Martin-But his troubles are not over
For his feet are almost frozen-And the sun is sinkin' low
Won't you listen to me brother-If you ever loved your mother
Please pull off on the shoulder-If you're goin' Milwaukee way
It's ten degrees and getting colder-Down by Boulder dam today
10 Degrees and Getting Colder
Gordon Lightfoot's "10 Degrees and Getting Colder" stands as a poignant song in his extensive discography, capturing the melancholic atmosphere characteristic of his 1970s output. Featured on the 1971 album Summer Side of Life, the track exemplifies Lightfoot's mastery of narrative songwriting within the folk-rock genre. While often overshadowed by his massive hits like "Sundown" or "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," this recording highlights his ability to convey subtle emotional shifts through understated musical arrangements. The song reflects a period where Lightfoot was refining his signature storytelling style, blending personal observation with broader social commentary. It remains a testament to his enduring influence on Canadian music and his capacity to craft intimate, resonant works that have sustained relevance across decades of listening.