Colder Weather – English Lyrics

• By: Zac Brown Band
• Album: You Get What You Give

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the heartfelt story of Zac Brown Band's "Colder Weather," a poignant exploration of love, distance, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of dreams. Discover how personal experiences shaped this iconic country ballad, and learn about the songwriting process that brought its touching lyrics to life. Experience the raw emotion and universal themes that make this song a timeless classic.

[English]

She'd trade Colorado if he'd take her with him

Closes the door before the winter lets the cold in

And wonders if her love is strong enough to make him stay

She's answered by the tail lights, shinin' through the window pane

He said, "I wanna see you again

But I'm stuck in colder weather

Maybe tomorrow will be better

Can I call you then?"

She said, "You're a ramblin' man"

And you ain't ever gonna change

You got a gypsy soul to blame

And you were born for leavin'"

At a truck stop diner just outside of Lincoln

The night is black as the coffee he was drinkin'

And in waitress' eyes he sees the same ol' light is shinin'

He thinks of Colorado and the girl he left behind him

He said, "I wanna see you again

But I'm stuck in colder weather

Maybe tomorrow will be better

Can I call you then?"

She said, "You're a ramblin' man

And you ain't never gonna change

You got a gypsy soul to blame

And you were born for leavin'", born for leavin'

Well, it's a windin' road when you're in the lost and found

You're a lover, I'm a runner and we go 'round and 'round

And I love you but I leave ya, I don't want you but I need ya

You know it's you that calls me back here, baby

Oh, I wanna see you again

But I'm stuck in colder weather

Maybe tomorrow will be better

Can I call you then?

'Cause I'm a ramblin' man

(I ain't ever gonna change) I ain't ever gonna change

Gotta gypsy soul to blame

And I was born for leavin'

Born for leavin'

When I close my eyes, I see you

No matter where I am

I can smell your perfume through these whisperin' pines

I'm with your ghost again

It's a shame about the weather

But I know soon we'll be together

And I can't wait 'til then

I can't wait 'til then

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
trade /treɪd/ A2	verb - to exchange something for something else
winter /ˈwɪntər/ A1	noun - the coldest season of the year
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - of or at a low or relatively low temperature noun - a common viral infection causing catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
tail /teɪl/ A2	noun - the hindmost part of an animal
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible adjective - of little weight; not heavy
rambling /ˈræmblɪŋ/ B2	adjective - lengthy and confused or inconsequential verb - to wander without a specific destination
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to make or become different noun - the act or instance of making or becoming different
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal
born /bɔːrn/ A2	verb - brought into life
diner /ˈdaɪnər/ A2	noun - a small, usually inexpensive restaurant
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - of the darkest color; like coal or soot
coffee /ˈkɔːfi/ A1	noun - a hot drink made from the roasted and ground seeds (coffee beans) of a tropical shrub
waitress /ˈweɪtrɪs/ A2	noun - a woman who serves customers at their tables in a restaurant
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - a way or course for traveling from one place to another
lost /lɔːst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts
lover /ˈlʌvər/ A2	noun - a person who is in love with someone
runner /ˈrʌnər/ A2	noun - a person that runs.
ghost /ɡoʊst/ B1	noun - an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living
perfume /ˈpɜːrfjuːm/ B1	noun - a fragrant liquid typically made from essential oils extracted from flowers and spices, used to impart a pleasant smell to one's body or clothes.

Key Grammar Structures

• She'd trade Colorado if he'd take her with him

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 3 Mixed)

  ➔ Uses a mix of past perfect and conditional perfect. "She'd trade" (she would trade) implies a present/future result of a past unreal condition: if he *had taken* her with him (in the past), she *would trade* Colorado (now). This is a mixed conditional because the condition refers to the past ('if he'd taken her') and the result refers to the present ('she'd trade').

• And wonders if her love is strong enough to make him stay

  ➔ Indirect Question with "if"

  ➔ The phrase "if her love is strong enough to make him stay" is an indirect question embedded within the sentence. It's not a direct question like "Is her love strong enough...?" but a clause stating what she is wondering. "if" introduces the condition she is pondering.

• You got a gypsy soul to blame

  ➔ Use of "got" as a colloquial auxiliary verb

  ➔ "Got" is used here as a colloquial equivalent of "have" or "have got". It indicates possession or obligation. "You've got a gypsy soul" is more formal. "You got a gypsy soul" is a more relaxed, conversational phrasing.

• And you were born for leavin'

  ➔ Passive Voice with "born"

  ➔ "Were born" is a passive construction. It means that the act of being born was done *to* the subject (you), not *by* the subject. It indicates that the subject's destiny or purpose is inherently tied to leaving.

• It's a windin' road when you're in the lost and found

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of "is")

  ➔ The full sentence would be "It is a winding road..." but the "is" is omitted for a more colloquial and lyrical feel. Ellipsis is common in informal speech and song lyrics.

• I don't want you but I need ya

  ➔ Contrasting Conjunction "but"

  ➔ "But" connects two contrasting ideas: not wanting someone versus needing them. This creates a sense of internal conflict and emotional complexity.

• I can smell your perfume through these whisperin' pines

  ➔ Present Simple with sensory verb (smell) and gerund (whispering)

  ➔ "I can smell" uses the present simple with a sensory verb to describe a current, vivid sensation. "Whispering" acts as a gerund modifying "pines", describing them as making a whispering sound. This creates a sensory image.