by Alex Wilson
Album
Eighty-Nine
Year
2025
Genre
Country/Americana
Duration
3:52
Description
A heartwarming country ballad about finding love and building a life in the rural landscape of 'Eighty-Nine'. It tells the story of two souls connecting, creating a haven together, and the legacy of love they pass on to their daughter, all set against the backdrop of cornflower skies and a close-knit community. The song evokes feelings of nostalgia, hope, and enduring love.
Lyrics
Verse 1: Gravel sighed 'neath Ella's boots that day, Eighty-Nine, where the blacktop ends its sway. Jake leaned on that Ford, rust kissing the chrome, A shy, hopeful smile, finally calling this place home. Setting sun bleed across the rows of green, Reflected in that creek, a promise unseen. Hay and honeysuckle, thick on the breeze, And a wish on my lips, planted deep in those trees. Pre-Chorus: Fireflies blinked on, a slow, silent spark, Two lonely souls waiting in the summer dark. Chorus: Cornflower skies over Eighty-Nine, A canvas of forever in your eyes and mine. A borrowed guitar, a stolen guitar pick, A symphony of us, beating heart quick. We built a life from whispers on the wind, And Eighty-Nine’s the story without end. Verse 2: Bonfire crackled, embers danced and soared, Your calloused hand brushed mine, wanting something more. The world shrunk to flames, a shared, unspoken plea, To rewrite our futures, just you and just me. A silent agreement, etched in starlight bright, To chase away the shadows with love's honest light. We built a haven, strong against the storm, Keeping each other safe, keeping each other warm. Chorus: Cornflower skies over Eighty-Nine, A canvas of forever in your eyes and mine. A borrowed guitar, a stolen guitar pick, A symphony of us, beating heart quick. We built a life from whispers on the wind, And Eighty-Nine’s the story without end. Bridge: Now a little girl, with eyes the color of jade, Runs through those cornfields, a life that we made. Hers is the laughter echoing in the breeze, Her tiny hands reaching for the honey from the trees. She hums the melody, a song she's always known, A legacy of love, planted and fully grown. Chorus: Cornflower skies over Eighty-Nine, A canvas of forever in your eyes and mine. A borrowed guitar, a stolen guitar pick, A symphony of us, beating heart quick. We built a life from whispers on the wind, And Eighty-Nine’s the story without end. Yeah, Eighty-Nine’s the story without end. Outro: The story without end... Just love under cornflower skies...
Notes
Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar (fingerpicked verses, strummed choruses), steel guitar (subtle fills and solos), bass guitar (walking bass line in verses, more rhythmic in choruses), drums (brushes on snare in verses, light kit in choruses), fiddle (harmony lines and fills), and backing vocals (harmonies on choruses and bridge). Tempo: Moderate tempo, around 90 BPM. The song should have a gentle, swaying feel. Key: G Major Structure: Standard verse-chorus structure with a bridge. A guitar solo could be added after the second chorus or before the bridge. Performance Notes: The vocals should be warm and sincere. The steel guitar should add a touch of melancholy and nostalgia. The fiddle should provide a sense of joy and celebration. Pay attention to dynamics; build from soft verses to more powerful choruses. The bridge should be intimate and heartfelt. Possible additions: A mandolin could be added to the instrumentation to provide a brighter, more upbeat feel. The outro could be extended with a fade-out.