I’ve been blessed with the best of friends over the years. Sometimes the biggest inspiration for a song can come from the smallest and unlikeliest of moments. One particularly pathetic Valentine’s Day, a mutually lonely, good friend of mine sent me an inspirational Valentine’s Day card to bring us both good cheer. “10 Brookside Blues” became New Year’s Eve without someone to kiss at midnight. It’s Valentine’s Day without the valentine. It’s jealousy and her address. The music and lyric style is an homage to my blues influences. “10 Brookside” was simply the street address of a girl who was on my mind at the time (nothing really to do with the song), in the tradition of Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” neither of which are mentioned in his song.

10 Brookside Blues
Words and Music by Jeff Hartman

Valentine Day jus’ roll my way
Gift wrapped candy
Jus’ three words to say
I
With my letters of love
Her
With the flowers she was dreamin’ of

But I’ll say it again
I’m a lonely valentine again

Valentine Day lately leave me be
The luv she been givin’ should-a been from me
The luvers start kissin’ and tears roll away from my eyes like-a elder man’s years

After all that luv we grown
Now it’s Valentine Day alone

It seemed so true
Now my heart be blue
Never thought I would regret the day I says I luv you

Valentine Day
The big news today is the fresh cut roses he slew from my grave
I’m home with ‘da Valentine blues and the every reason I should-a been choosed

And I’ll say it again
I’m a lonely val-
After all that luv we grown
Now it’s Valentine-
But I’ll say it again
She left me the lonely valentine again