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: 

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.’