I've used the expression "the song wrote itself in almost the length of time it takes to sing it..." to describe the writing process of certain songs. Trade Winds most-definitely falls into this category.
In 2010 in a very short span of time we lost our 14 yo Golden Retriever (see the tune "My Friend"), my close friend and ex-sound engineer Ben Moskey and shortly thereafter my mom. It was a difficult period. At the time I had been reading about trade winds and imagined myself jumping on a ship to...well...anywhere... to kind of break the cycle we were in.
To this day Trade Winds is among my favorites. Although it was inspired by a difficult period, the process of writing it really did help me through. To this day when we perform the song the feelings I have are more more joyous than anything else. I'm reminded not only of the loved ones who are gone but also how the song itself helped me through that period...
Lyrics
Trade Winds
Too many things are changing fast
Just like the trade winds
The old dog’s gone and so is Ma
And it’s hard to lose a friend
It seems my lucky dice are frozen
Trapped inside mid-air
There’s a faint fine line
Between outlook and despair
I’m not sure just how you do it
But sweet music saves my mind
It can keep you cool in the summer sun
And warm in winter time
But like so many other things
We forget to know
And once you think you lost it...
Chorus:
Trade winds blow below the hemisphere
And deal’s going down right now my dear
I can’t count the times I’ve been down
Can you feel the trade winds coming ‘round?
Too many things are spinning out
Spinning out of control
Seems we always buy in bunches babe
Then have to pay for what we owe
When trade winds blow
Ships leave to make their trades
While the rest of us are waking up
With the choices we made
Chorus:
Trade winds blow below the hemisphere
And deal’s going down right now my dear...
I can’t count the times I’ve been down
Can you feel the trade winds coming ‘round?