Singers at the Youth Traditional Song conference. Photo by Lorelei Erisis.
Photo by Lorelei Erisis
Country Dance & Song Society > Publications > Listen > Song of the Month

Song of the Month

Join us each month in song!

Since 2016—our designated Year of Song—CDSS has featured a traditional song each month. Lorraine Hammond spearheaded this effort, and it was such a popular feature that Judy Cook volunteered to continue the tradition in 2017 and beyond. 

Note: Many of these old songs should be looked at as “fairy tales for adults” in that they often address very strong, and sometimes scary, subject matter. They allow us to deal with difficult situations and emotions with the distance afforded by putting it in a song. They are cautionary tales, and had their use as such.

This month’s song:

  • Cabin in the woods under heavy snow September 2025: Winter Grace
    Submitted by Ken Willson

    “Winter Grace”—a Jean Ritchie song with starkly beautiful winter images. Learned from a friend, altered to work with a lever harp and our own ‘brand’ of arranging, which weaves our vocals around the melody.

    Listen to Dublin Gultch and Willson & McKee’s version: 

    Sheet music for "Winter Grace"
    Download the sheet music for “Winter Grace.”

    Lyrics

    This is the time so well we love
    The time of all the year

    When winter calls, with chilling breath

    For fireside and good cheer

    A time for man and beast to stand

    And feel the seasons turn

    To watch the stars for secret signs

    And God’s true lessons learn


    For the time when the corn is all into the barn

    The old cow’s breath’s a frosty white

    And the moon along the fallow field

    Doth silver shine


    And when cold morning’s radiant star

    Shines over hill and plain;

    We know anew another day

    Is born to us again


    And man and beast and bird in tree

    Each one in his own placе;

    We bow our hearts and thank our God

    For winter rest and grace

    For the time when the corn is all into the barn

    The old cow’s breath’s a frosty white

    And the moon along the fallow field

    Doth silver shine

    Ken Willson writes: Willson & McKee met in a folk club in Arizona. Moved to western Montana. Now based in Southern Colorado. 34 years of making music together, on the road for 30 of those (still doing it—avoiding the settled life). 14 albums later, Willson & McKee are a ‘mutt mix’ of trad (learning from tradition bearers in Ireland and Scotland), American folk, and award-winning originals. Odd instruments and ‘marital harmonies’ (yes that’s a thing), create what we call ‘Rocky Mountain Celtic.’

Past Songs