Cathy Wilson, Donovan Plant, Robert Baitinger, Ray Bertram collab
Just me. Just songs.
I was born with an undiagnosable brain dysfunction, having seizures, and with blue skin dur to oxygen deprivation. I would spend much of my youth on strong, mind-altering medication, I would ultimately end up being declared fully disabled on psychiatric grounds, and I've had to be committed to five different psychiatric facilities in three different states.
These days, the primary thrust of my overall creative efforts is the advocacy work that I seek to do for the mentally ill and the mentally disabled.
These are my songs.
Story behind the song
Cathy Wilson (Connecticut, U.S.A.) initially wrote the music and the lyrics for “On A Cold Chicago Day” as a solo project under the working title “Tomorrow Is A Waitin’ For Me.” When she shared it with Robert Baitinger (Germany), he quickly saw strong potential in the piece and suggested that she team up with me and that, if we could, maybe turn it into a duet. As Cathy and I were working and reworking the lyric towards Robert's specs, Robert was busily working on the production from his end, frequently amazing us with how he could seemingly whip up tracks overnight - though we both knew A LOT of work was going into it from his end, too. Then Donovan Plant (California, U.S.A.) was invited into the project to provide contrasting male vocals for Cathy’s vocals - and whatever instrumentation that he might also be able to supply toward lifting the production up even higher. Donovan was consequently able to create and provide some of the most engaging guitar/dobro and harmonica tracks for inclusion into the resulting end-production. And as Cathy and Donovan will confirm, Robert’s always great to work with: very patient, very easy to get along with, and always willing to do whatever he can to make a production work from his end.
Cathy initially shared her concept of the song with Robert in mid-November (2009), and just 5 months later, the demo that we're sharing with you here was completed. And, as Robert will tell you, the ultimate production of this song was a true 4-way team/collaborative effort in which everybody involved added their own significant portions, all working together and in collective harmony, to produce the song that you are listening to here. Donovan sang a completely different melody which was a lot of work on his side. Cathy suggested where the final touches that the production needed were necessary, so even the production was a joint effort. Robert says that he always finds it amazing how we can manage productions of this magnitude and complexity remotely from all over the world without ever actually seeing each other, sitting in the same room/studio, or even talking on the telephone.
Lyrics
On A Cold Chicago Day
Verse 1:
I’ve always been a loner, makin’ my own way
Enjoying all the freedom, of being where I want to be
And time is what I make it, all night and all day
The past is gone, today is here, and tomorrow is a-waitin’ for me
Chorus:
I’m free as a bird on the wind, I’ve got my wings I’ll fly
Up to the hills and down to the shores and through the spacious skies
And I never dreamed that meeting you would make me feel this way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day
Verse 2:
I met him in Chicago, a cold winter day
He was so strong and handsome, and his eyes were the brightest blue
Yes I knew in that moment, love had come my way
He stole my heart, held me close, with his love that felt a-oh so true
Chorus:
I’m free as a bird on the wind, I’ve got my wings I’ll fly
Up to the hills and down to the shores and through the spacious skies
And I never dreamed that meeting you would make me feel this way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day
Bridge:
The winter winds they blow, outside it’s so cold
Inside I’m warm, you’re mine to hold
Chicago streets, we won’t forget
Where our lonely hearts once met
Chorus:
I’m free as a bird on the wind, I’ve got my wings I’ll fly
Up to the hills and down to the shores and through the spacious skies
And I never dreamed that meeting you would make me feel this way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day
Ending:
I’d always been a loner yes love came my way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day
Yes I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day
Lyrics/Music: Wilson & Bertram/Wilson, Baitinger & Plant
Cathy Wilson: vocals
Donovan Plant: vocals, acoustic guitar, telecaster, harmonica, dobro
Robert Baitinger: drums, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, strings, e-guitar, e-piano, piano, tambourine, shaker
Production: Cathy Wilson, Robert Baitinger, Donovan Plant
“On A Cold Chicago Day” (c) 2010 Cathy Wilson, Robert Baitinger, W. Ray Bertram, Donovan Plant
