November Blue by Diane Barbarash

written and produced by Diane Barbarash
cello by Michael Averill

Although still dark out, dawn had begun to paint glimpses of light blues and purples, and a few stars still held onto their everlasting rays. Christmas lights twinkled sweetly from the distant trees, and a light snowfall was falling steady, enough so that Berni’s big paws made tracks as she ran to and fro to catch her ball. It was a stunningly quiet winter morning in the park.

And then I heard something. It was from The Inside.

I remember the words came first, followed by a melody; a song being composed by a voice not completely mine. Some of the lines had subtle references to Joni Mitchel which for me felt wonderous and haunting, and listening to it all in my head was like a playful dance. I once dreamt an entire song and remembered it all perfectly when I awoke. There are no warnings for these things, but you do have to decide to catch them ever so carefully, like fragile birds you could kill if you squeezed too hard.

I nudged Berni home at a quickened pace, fearful the song would dissolve as mysteriously as it had come. The snow was coming down even harder now, and streetlights gazed at us like bandits darting under draping branches, passing bushes that were likely veiling hiding racoons and skunks. But like a promise I didn’t even know I asked for, every word every line and every note was intact as I burst into the apartment and threw myself at my guitar and my journal.

Any song I write I consider a child of mine, but this one was special. She weaved herself with delicate golden threads, evidence of the stardust that had fallen down on me just moments earlier. I confess I held onto November Blue for several years before finally recording it and now releasing it to you. She is no longer mine, but I suspect by the way she came, she never was.

Thank you to the ones who inspire me daily to be true to myself when I write... Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Steve Earle, Sigur Ros, Kathleen Edwards, Kacey Musgraves, Julie Miller, Rhianna, Future, Bon Iver, Yellawolf, Lights and to songwriters everywhere