back country connection
winter country
Story behind the song
Back in the old Songwriter101 forum, there was a discussion about whether every songwriter can write in any genre. I had never touched country music before, but I quietly claimed that I could write a country song on the spot.
It was winter, I was stuck at home with a bad cold, and I ended up writing a lyric about longing for a tropical island in the middle of the snow. I recorded a quick home demo and sent it to Robert Baitinger and Ray Bertram. Robert laughed and said, That sounds like Kokomo", but Ray immediately started rewriting the lyrics. In the end we brought in Vince Denimarck to sing the demo.
Now, with new technology, this old demo has been remixed and given new life.
Lyrics
[Verse 1] Come winter when the weather gets cold And the ground gets all white with snow I dream of a tropical sun Some laid back summer fun [Chorus] On a warm beach at the edge of the sea Lying in the shade of a coconut tree A blanket on the sand An ice cold beer in my hand [Chorus] A midwinter's dream Of a tropical Hawaiian scene A place where it never gets cold At least that's what I'm told Far away from any snow or ice An island's paradise Always so warm and green this is A midwinter's dream [Verse 2] I see her standing in the sand An island girl so dark and tan She smiles in the prettiest way And hands me a flower lei Her eyes sparkle as I take her hand We start dancing to a steel drum band I find a shell for her by the sea She shares a kiss with me [Chorus] A midwinter's dream Of a tropical Hawaiian scene A place where it never gets cold At least that's what I'm told Far away from any snow or ice An island's paradise Always so warm and green this is A midwinter's dream [bridge] The wind blows and blows I'm tired of all this snow But when I close my eyes I see My island girl's waiting for me Chorus A midwinter's dream Of a tropical Hawaiian scene A place where it never gets cold At least that's what I'm told Far away from any snow or ice An island's paradise Always so warm and green this is A midwinter's dream