Day 19: Hike & Cry (with Cheyenne Dane)

 

Day 19: Hike & Cry (with Cheyenne Dane)

Part of my song-a-day writing project for January 2024

Lyrics:

Got a backpack
Got some snacks
Water bladder
Hiking pants

Barefoot shoes
Tell the kids
I'll be home
Late afternoon

Let my feet
Take me places
Aspen groves
Stoned faces

Going on a hike & cry
Trying to find out the reason why
You're such a ding dong
For breaking my heart
You're such a ding dong
For breaking my heart

And if I disappear
Leave me gifts, my dear
At the cock rock, baby
Leave 'em at the cock rock, baby

Goin' round
Round Mountain
Goin' 'round
And around

Cliffhanger
On the edge
Looking for perspective
Clear my head

Reach the top
None to be found
All that's there
A piled rock mound

Surrounded by pines
Far as I can see
There's no resolution
On this hike for me

Going on a hike & cry
Trying to find out the reason why
You're such a ding dong
For breaking my heart
You're such a ding dong
For breaking my heart

And if I disappear
Leave me gifts, my dear
At the cock rock, baby
Leave 'em at the cock rock, baby

***

I love writing with Cheyenne because I never know where our song is going to end up. I don't think any of our co-writes sound like either of our individual styles. That's the best kind of co-write, IMO.

Cheyenne's been going through some stuff right now, and I asked her what she does to escape from it. She said that she likes to go to Round Mountain to hike. We listed all the stuff that she does to prepare for a hike and then what she was likely to find on the trails. When she's driving to the trailhead, she tends to listen to Bass or House music, so we thought it'd be fun to try to mimic that rhythmic feel.

Cheyenne had already written some poetry with the line "You're a ding dong for breaking my heart" so we incorporated that into the chorus. She had also once left a note up on the trail that said "If I disappear, leave me gifts on the cock rock" and I insisted that the line be in the song.

This came together rather quickly and smoothly. I think it's super fun and danceable!