The Cooling | Reina del Cid

"The Cooling" recorded live at our favorite record store, Hymies Vintage Records in Minneapolis

Thanks so much to string players Kate, Laura, Charles, and Blake for bringing this song to new heights with their beautiful artistry!

Directed by the extraordinarily talented Dan Huiting.

Thanks to Dave at Hymies for lending us your awesome space for the evening, and to Brad Matala for the onsite audio recording.

This song will be on our upcoming record, coming out this May. We're also submitting this to NPR's Tiny Desk contest, so wish us luck!

Players featured:
Toni Lindgren - guitar
Zach Schmidt - drums
Kate Jarvis - violin
Laura De St Croix - violin
Charles Asch - cello
Blake Bonde - upright bass
Reina del Cid - vocals

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Physical mailing address (send us mail!):

Reina del Cid
PO Box 251705
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Lyrics to "The Cooling":

The first thing to go
it might surprise you to know
it's not the blood from the muscle
or the strength from the bone

Between you and me
it's the simplest thing
it's the warmth of the body
when the soul is at home

It's the heat
and you struggle to keep it inside
but it seems
it's stealing away in the night

-
When you first realized
that your body had died
you went to the tunnel
to wait there alone

And you stood there for days
but the light never came
so you took your poor body
and you walked it back home

Now you're popping some pills
oh to fight back the chill
and you're picking some flowers
to help with the stench

But no manner of blush
will be quite enough
to cover the pallor
that spreads 'cross your skin

and they said
that hell would be fire and smoke
but in the end
it's this cooling that scares you the most

-
There's a pretty young thing
with a pretty gold ring
and she talks to you every night
'cause she don't know you're dead

And you can't figure how
when you're walking through town
no one's noticed the knife
sticking out of your head

Now you're living in fear
that sometime this year
they will finally notice
that you're heart doesn't beat

And they'll dig you a grave
and they'll put you away
but you still won't be ready
you'll grow back like a weed

Like a weed
and you wonder what you're waiting for
'cause it seems
there's no honor in death anymore

[girthydoinks]

some say that our generation's music is unbearable but if you search for it you can find great music and this demonstrates that so well, love it

[wytrabbyt]

Perhaps the most significant young singer songwriter around at the moment !

[jonasgrumby]

"They said that Hell would be fire and smoke but in the end it's the cooling that scares you the most." Flawless.

I had been revisiting this song a couple times a year but time does what it does and I let a few years go by without doing so. So glad I came back to it.. it's like a vitamin or mineral that I don't realize I'm deficient in until I hear it again. I cherish songs like that. Thanks, Reina.. I'll be back again.

[arealamericanamerican]

Reina's lyrics are pure poetic genius

[RockinRandall]

I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 12, I’m now 65. These young folks have pure talent! I just ❤listening to your music. It brings me back. Thanks. 😊

[Filipgroesbaek]

Dark, macabre, strangely beautiful. Poetic in the best sense. Lyrics like steel daggers. Orchestration & harmony that grabs you & won't let go. I'm amazed that Reina, Toni, & these other wonderful musicians aren't better known. Why doesn't 60 Minutes have a segment on artists like these?

[gillygil]

They don't disappoint. The live shows are faithful to the music. Voice, instrumentals, production. These kids are the real deal.

[leoso]

Its so hard to describe what this song means to me. It reminds me of my drug and alcohol addiction and trying to be clean with the shakes and withdrawl. Or my pappy ( and now my dad) when he got old and was always cold...or just myself just trying to fit in

[Lifeperfected]

When Reina brings out the classical strings --- stand by to be amazed!

[Hare_deLune]

Oh my goodness, I'm glad I found this!
Do a little digging in Reina's channel and you will find buried treasure, like this little gem!

[spntr]

You bring back the innocent beautiful days of American music !!

[lovappy]

They are bringing American culture back to the forefront. God Bless these young humble superstars

[steveodonald]

I sent this to a friend the other day, and he instantly said that it describes how he feels about his depression.
It's a strong song with meaning, but it is Elle's style to perform in metaphor.... We may well never know what the song is about.

[CCervido]

I hardly ever heard such a profound and at the same time light-hearted song about death. Magnificent!

[Unixilandia]

This is my favorite Reina Del Cid original And that string Wow! Don't ask me how she does it, but Reina, Toni, & company keep topping ❤️

[johncardell]

When you see & hear young men & women singing & playing with such compassion, it gives you hope in a crazy time like today's world. Keep making it a better place to be. The whole world needs & loves your music & devotion to the art. LOL.🤗🇺🇸🎶🎵🇺🇸

[buckfastbees]

Absolutely lovely, playing with a rhythm, pauses and quietness. The oldish style fits the music. A gem.

[cannadan]

I asked my wife to have this song played at my funeral....
thank you for such a nice song....

[wrdlmbrt]

Wow, what a beautiful well written song that tells a story! Beautiful voice, perfect arrangement and a beautiful young lady! In fact ... everyone in the video looked fantastic and did an awesome job! This one is definitely going on my Favorites list and downloaded! 👍👍🤠

[raycrouch]

Just stumbled upon y'all! I'm 74 and in my last season here, and I have been completely enthralled by your honesty and depth!
I thank Jesus for y'all and your generation and you'll be in my prayers.Not only for His Blessings throughout your lives, but that each of you somehow will find the rest and comfort found only in the blood!
As for your anxieties Rachelle (and Toni), we all have them but if we believe His Truth and read Second Timothy 1:7 the peace that surpasses all understanding gives us strength and courage to face whatever confronts us!
I love you already and I don't even know
God bless you all!! 👋