I. David Wilcox i… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists named David Wilcox.
I. David Wilcox is a Canadian rock and blues musician.
II. David Wilcox is an American folk musician and singer-songwriter guitarist.
I. More than three decades into his career, singer/songwriter David Wilcox continues to push himself, just as he always has. Wilcox, by so many measures, is a quintessential folk singer, telling stories full of heart, humor, and hope, substance, searching, and style. His innate sense of adventure and authenticity is why critics and colleagues, alike, have always praised not just his artistry, but his humanity, as well.
That's not by accident; it's very much by design. It's the result of a man giving himself over in gratitude and service to something bigger than himself. “I'm grateful to music,” he says. “I have a life that feels deeply good, but when I started playing music, nothing in my life felt that good. I started to write songs because I wanted to find a way to make my life feel as good as I felt when I heard a great song. I don't think I'd be alive now if it had not been for music.”
An early '80s move to Warren Wilson College in North Carolina set his wheels in motion, as he started playing guitar and writing songs, processing his own inner workings and accessing his own inner wisdom. In 1987, within a couple of years of graduating, Wilcox had released his first independent album, The Nightshift Watchman. A year later, he won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Award and, in 1989, he signed with A&M Records, selling more than 100,000 copies of his A&M debut, How Did You Find Me Here.
In the 30 years and more than 20 records since — whether with a major label, an indie company, or his own imprint — Wilcox has continued to hone his craft, pairing thoughtful insights with his warm baritone, open tunings, and deft technique. He's also kept up a brisk and thorough tour itinerary, performing 80 to 100 shows a year throughout the U.S., and regularly deploying his talents by improvising a “Musical Medicine” song for an audience member in need. In recent years he’s taken that process a step further, carefully writing and recording dozens of his “Custom Songs” for long-time fans who seek his help in commemorating and explaining the key milestones in their lives.
Lest anyone think that he's lost his touch, Wilcox pulled no punches on his most recent release, 2018's The View From the Edge. Not only does the song cycle find him delving into mental health, family legacies, spiritual contemplations, and topical concerns, the song “We Make the Way By Walking" also won him the Grand Prize in the 2018 USA Songwriting Contest.
"I think the coolest thing about this kind of music is that, if you listen to a night's worth of music, you should know that person,” he explains. “If you're hearing a performer sing all these songs, you should know not only where he gets his joy and what he loves, but you should know what pisses him off and what frightens him and what runs him off the rails, what takes him apart and what puts him back together.”
To attain that level of revelatory honesty, Wilcox follows a song to its deepest truth, even when it haunts him, a practice which demands the strength of vulnerability that he has sought since his teen years. That honesty is why Rolling Stone has written that his “ongoing musical journey is compelling and richly deserving of a listen.” It's also why Blue Ridge Public Radio has noted that, “The connection people feel with David’s music is also the connection they feel with each other.”
But Wilcox's unique brand of storytelling doesn't come easily. And it doesn't come quickly. “I could always think of a lot of possible ways the song could go, but the trick was recognizing truth amidst all the cleverness,” he confesses. “The more time I took, the more my deep heart could speak to me through the process of songwriting. I could gradually craft a song that felt like it was coming from the place I was going. If you decide to trust heart over cleverness, you not only get a song that moves you, you get a song that moves you toward being who you want to be. The time you spend immersed in the emotion of a song changes you. The song shows you the world through a particular point of view. Once you have seen the world that way, you can't un-see it.”
Website: David Wilcox
II. The American David Wilcox was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His work features lyrical insight, asmooth baritone voice, virtuosic guitar chops, and creative open tunings. He released an independent album in 1987, won the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk award in 1988, and by 1989 he had signed with A&M Records. His first release on the label, ‘How Did You Find Me Here’, sold over 100,000 copies its first year. 17 albums later his songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. lang and many others.
Cold
David Wilcox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at the word, spell it, see-old
See-old, you're pulled over by the reaper for a warning
He says,"I clocked you thinking 80
You know you're not that old
You've been worried about the darkness in the morning"
Flips open his ticket pad, appreciates your breathing
I'm gonna write you up a headache for those thoughts
Now why you been so worried, man? What have you been reading?
And why do you have to tally all you've lost?
I'ma write you up a head cold, it comes on like bad weather
So maybe you'll appreciate the warming
See, it gives a new perspective, soon you'll be feeling better
I'll let you off this time with a warning
He says, "But take it easy, alright, people live around here"
You won't see him in time
What I'm trying to say is, you'll miss him
In David Wilcox's song "Cold," the lyrics are a poetic reflection on the origins of illness and the fragility of life. Wilcox muses about the reasons why we might get a cold, and through a conversation with the metaphorical reaper, he suggests that it might be related to our fears and anxieties. In line with the theme of the song, the word 'cold' is broken down into 'see-old', implying that the reaper has come to warn the person about their old perceptions and negative mental patterns. The reaper then proceeds to question the person's fears and suggests that they need to let go of their worries and appreciate life more. The reaper then issues a 'warning' for their behaviour, and suggests that they take it easy and be mindful of themselves and the people around them.
The song is full of powerful imagery and metaphorical elements that allow the listener to connect with the ideas presented. The reaper, in this case, represents the inevitability of death, and the warning he issues is a reminder of how quickly life can slip away. The reaper's advice to the person is also relevant to many people who might find themselves struggling with their fears and anxieties. The warning symbolizes a need to pay attention to our health, both physical and mental, in order to appreciate the precious gift of life.
The song "Cold" is a reflection on the human condition, and the idea that death and illness are inescapable. The lyrics suggest that the way we live our lives, and the choices we make, can have a significant impact on our health and well-being. The song invites listeners to reflect on their own fears and anxieties, and to recognize that it is possible to find new perspectives and appreciate the beauty of life.
Line by Line Meaning
You ever wonder why you get a cold
Have you ever questioned the reason behind your cold?
Look at the word, spell it, see-old
Observe the word closely, spell it, and realize it means 'see-old'
See-old, you're pulled over by the reaper for a warning
The meaning behind the word 'cold' is that you're being given a warning by the reaper
He says,'I clocked you thinking 80
The reaper tells you he caught you speeding at a dangerous rate
You know you're not that old
You're still young enough to change your ways
You've been worried about the darkness in the morning
You've been focused on the imperfections of the world around you
"Well, I'll give you something to worry about", he says
The reaper tells you he'll provide a reason for concern
Flips open his ticket pad, appreciates your breathing
The reaper writes you a warning, but shows gratitude that you're still alive
I'm gonna write you up a headache for those thoughts
The reaper is giving you a headache for worrying so much
Now why you been so worried, man? What have you been reading?
The reaper questions why you're burdened and what led you to feel that way
And why do you have to tally all you've lost?
The reaper is curious as to why you're counting every negative occurrence that's happened in your life
I'ma write you up a head cold, it comes on like bad weather
The reaper is giving you a head cold as a consequence, it'll make you feel terrible
So maybe you'll appreciate the warming
The reaper is hoping you'll be grateful and more accepting of the good things in life
See, it gives a new perspective, soon you'll be feeling better
Suffering through the head cold will allow you to view things differently, and in time you'll heal
I'll let you off this time with a warning
Despite giving consequences, he also gives a second chance
He says, "But take it easy, alright, people live around here"
The reaper reminds you that it's important to be cautious and aware as others also live alongside you
You won't see him in time
In general, people tend to overlook and disregard warning signs in life
What I'm trying to say is, you'll miss him
Warning signs must not be taken lightly, or else you'll regret not taking action when you had the chance
Lyrics © SOROKA MUSIC LTD.
Written by: DAVID WILCOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind