Ten Degrees And Getting Colder

J.D. Crowe

Written by Gordon Lightfoot

Key of G · Chords: I IV V VII

Verse 1

C
He was standing by the highway with a sign that just said mother
                                     D7          G7
When he heard a driver coming bout a half a mile away
C
So he held the sign up higher where no decent soul could miss it
                                     G7              C
It was ten degrees or colder down by bolder dam that day

Verse 2

He was raised up in Milwaukee though he never was that famous
                                   D7               G7
He was just a road musician to the taverns he would go
C
Singing songs about the rambling the loving girls and gambling
                                            G7              C
How the world fell on his shoulders back in Boulder I don't know

Verse 3

It was out in Arizona he heard the lady listening
                                        D7                 G7
To each word that he was saying to each line that he would write
C
So he sat down by her table and they talked about the weather
                                          G7               C
Ninety-eight point six and rising down by Boulder dam that night

Verse 4

                 F
And she told him she would take him
      G7          C
For a ride in the morning sun
                F
Back in Boulder he had told her
             G7              C
I don't know when I’ve had a better friend

Verse 5

Now he's traded off his Martin but his troubles are not over
                                   D7             G7
His feet are almost frozen and the sun is sinking low
C
Won't you listen to me brother if you ever loved your mother
                                   D7                     G7
Please pull off on the shoulder if you're going Milwaukee way
C                                           G7          C
It's ten degrees and getting colder down by Boulder dam today