Mandolin Wind

Mandolin Wind is a track on Rod Stewart's third solo album Every Picture Tells a Story, released in the middle of 1971. It was the only track on Every Picture Tells a Story that Stewart composed by himself (the album's title track was co-written with Ronnie Wood). The song tells the story from the point of view of an aging farmer husband - as a tribute to his loyal wife who stays by his side during a horrendous winter on the farm. Ray Jackson of the British folk/rock group Lindisfarne played the mandolin on this track. Stewart forgot Jackson's name and referred to him as "the mandolin player in Lindisfarne" on the album sleeve credits.

[Verse 1] 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 [Verse 2] 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 a smile Now I can rest assured knowing that we seen the worst And I know I love ya [Verse 3] 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 [Instrumental Break] [Verse 4] 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, ooh, ooh La-da-da, la-la-da-da-da-da La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da [Outro] The coldest winter in almost fourteen years Could never, never change your mind, yeah ooh And I love ya Yes indeed, and I love ya And I love ya Lordy I love ya, woohoo And I love ya Lord, I love ya