There’s something so sweet and sincere about this clip of Elvis Costello performing “The Scarlet Tide” that it seems like a perfect valentine — despite the fact that it’s more of an anti-war song than a love song.
Advertisement
Written by Costello and T-Bone Burnett, and covered by Alison Krauss in the movie Cold Mountain, the ballad is penned from a war widow’s point of view as she tries to find hope in the face of sorrow. Costello recorded a ukulele version on his 2004 album, The Delivery Man, as a duet Emmylou Harris.
Check out the chords at this Elvis Costello fan site, which says the song is played on ukulele in the key of D.
If you learned something new here, will you leave us a tip? We're asking you to give just $2 (or whatever you can afford) to support this site.