Ice

by @johnstaples

Liner Notes

This is another one of those skirmish zombies from a long ago FAWM! I always thought it had potential but until tonight that went unrealized. Since I was basically rewriting lyrics and music as well as adding a bridge tonight I decided to jump genres as well! I'm pretty sure I like it now but if not maybe I'll rework it again at a future FAWM! :D

#americana #rockandroll #rock

Lyrics

Ice February 28, 2025 https://johnstaplesmusic.com/FAWM2025/JohnStaples-Ice.mp3

floats in my tea drips from the eaves black on the road white glaciers flow it is ice cold cold ice cold as it can be but not as cold as you and me

hangs from the trees sinks boats in the sea cracks on the lake glacial earthquake it is ice cold cold ice cold as it can be but not as cold as you and me

I pray for a thaw as you withdraw I'm frozen here in ice for years

it's winter time 'cause you're not mine slide down the walk cold epilogue it is ice cold cold ice cold as it can be but not as cold no not as cold its not as cold as you and me

© 2025 John Staples JohnStaplesMusic.com

Comments

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I love the groove on this! Gave me some T.Rex flashback! And I do like the lyrical style of listing a litany of things and then relating it to the topic! And SO relatable! Nice work!

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@gb9

Nicely done, love how 'Cold, cold ice.' sounds. It's got a great feel to it. The chorus is awesome.

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yup I have a few that have had many revisions. love the driving beat!, I remember when this would have had lots of airplay! very listenable. top chorus.

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@mikeb

Nice guitar-rock change up from your usual styles! Excellent use of the ice metaphor for a relationship.

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@gindark

The verses are giving me a bluesy Rebel Rebel but I really like the shift to major going into the chorus. Then switching back to minor really makes a satisfying contrast again. Great singing, really dig how your voice makes quite sparse lyrics live and flex. Overall, great sound! Glad you revived it for us.

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I like the driving rock beat and guitar. I really like these lines: hangs from the trees sinks boats in the sea cracks on the lake glacial earthquake

Keep on rockin'

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Very cool song! The extended metaphor in the lyrics works really well (I particularly like the line "cold epilogue"). The guitar work and performance/production are fantastic. I really enjoyed it.

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@cathreu

Springsteen, is that you? Loving this rocking guitar riff and tone. Super catchy chorus, classic rock and roll vibes. Really enjoying this head nodder.

The "beeeeeeee" is a fantastic moment

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Brilliant guitar playing and I love all the imagery. Very well thought out lyrics and great to listen to. I really like it! (Response to your #tit4tat)

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@roxya

It takes dedication to stick to a metaphor like that, not always easy to not make it become boring and overdone. I think you have done a great job and in fact make me want to know what else ice can do. Also, didn't know we can call them zombies. I myself resurrected a few this FAWM. #tit4tat

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Lyrics are ace. Loving how you sing "Cold, Cold Ice". Guitars sound superb! Just an all-around well-written song. Great work this FAWM!! Thank you SO much for the kind comments with my music, John. #tit4tat

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I love this song's absolute commitment to its metaphor. Right from that first line "floats in my tea", you're thinking wow this is COLD** and I love how it builds up to the payoff at the end of the verse. That chunky, bluesy guitar riff works so well here. Cracking slice of rock!

**Although I realise now that I'm coming at this from a British point of view, and I only just remembered that iced tea is very much a thing in the US!!! Ah well. It's still damn cold though.

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Yeah, love the rock n roll guitar riff that drives the song along really well. I found myself humming along by the end. Great lyrics. They read well as a standalone poem. Strong work. #tit4tat

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Sweet guitars and just an absolutely classic vibe. This fits in on so many playlists (or mixtapes!). It strikes a very icy chord with me, as a midwest non-winter lover. But deeper story that so many can relate to. This flows beautifully with a simplicity that only adds to the strength of the song. I love the little guitar flourishes - something I wish I could do! Good one!

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Cool Rockin' Guitar Tone! Very good lyric and I really like "but not as cold as you and me" and the"I pray for a thaw" lines especially. Sounds like this could have come out of Sun Studios. #tit4tat

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Oh yeah!!! This is a rock song! The “not as cold as you and me” is perfect. Classic twist! Sounds like I could’ve been listening to this song for 40 years on a mix tape with Tom Petty and Springsteen.

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Perfect rock song feel with those guitars and the vocals. I love the twist you get with “not as cold as you and me.” Really effective.

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@caitlin

Ooh I love that "not as cold as you and me" refrain. Your ice is super cool and clever. Your vocals are amazing in this genre, I'm getting John Cougar Mellencamp vibes. #tit4tat

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I love the rock n roll you!! I love how your voice perfectly adapts to the rock genre. The instrumental track is perfect and your guitar work is spot-on professional. I am continually amazed...amazed I say, by your incredible lyrical skills!! The first two verses where you are describing different ice manifestations are some of the most clever, image inducing lines EVER!! I love this song... I think I've loved al your rock tunes... You are better at this genre than you give yourself credit for...

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This is so catchy! I really like where you go with the melody on that last line "not as cold as you and me". Great guitar, love your vocals! The imagery in your lyrics really illustrate this damaged relationship well. Well done! (I'm going to be humming this for awhile!)

[FAWM]