Song Lyric Sunday – 10 January 2021 – Mandolin Wind

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title of the song must start with M or A.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

First released on the (Sir) Rod Stewart 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story, Mandolin Wind is a mix of rock music and folk music.  It uses mostly acoustic instruments, with a particularly prominent mandolin part.

The video I’ve chosen is a recording of two very good friends who have known each other from way back and are very comfortable together. They first got together in January 1967 when The Jeff Beck Group was formed and went on to help set up The Faces in 1969. Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood are plainly great mates. They are happy to be together and they enjoy playing music together.

Rod Stewart  has stated that his goal in life is to play ‘Mandolin Wind’ and make it sound like the record. I think this, despite using the banjo in place of the mandolin for parts of the song, is a pretty good effort!

I hope you agree!

Mandolin Wind

Mandolin Wind

Rod Stewart

When the rain came, I thought you’d leave
‘Cause I knew how much you loved the sun
But you chose to stay, stay and keep me warm
Through the darkest nights, I’ve ever known
If the mandolin wind, couldn’t change a thing
Then I know I love ya
Oh the snow fell, without a break
Buffalo died, in the frozen fields you know
Through the coldest winter, in almost fourteen years
I couldn’t believe you kept your smile
Now I can rest assured, knowing that we’ve seen the worst
And I know I love ya
Oh I never was good, with romantic words
So the next few lines, come really hard
Don’t have much, but what I’ve got is yours
Except of course, my steel guitar
Ha, ’cause I know you don’t play
But I’ll teach you one day
Because I love ya

I recall the night, we knelt and prayed
Noticing, your face was thin and pale
I found it hard, to hide my tears
I felt ashamed, I felt I’d let you down
No mandolin wind, couldn’t change a thing
Couldn’t change a thing, no no
Ooh-hoo-hoo

Lada-dada, la-da, lada-dada
Lada-dada, da-n-dada

The coldest winter, in almost fourteen years
Could never, never change your mind, yeah
Ooh-hoo-ooh
And I love ya
Yes indeed, and I love ya
And I love ya
Lordy I love ya
Ooh-hoo
And I love ya
Lord, I love ya

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Rod Stewart

Mandolin Wind lyrics © Unichappell Music Inc., Stewart Rod

And so you can compare, here is the original recording.