BLUE JEANS ~ Reid Jamieson (Indepenent Jan 16, 2026)
Written by Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Victoria Mill, Johnny Irion. Blue Jeans is a musical prescription for postpandemic depression—though really it started back in 2016 when democracy took a turn for the unthinkable worst. Been down so long, must have cried the blues right out of our collective jeans. A rare co-write for Canada’s Reid Jamieson & CVM, Blue Jeans was written with American friend Johnny Irion (US Elevator, Sarah Lee Guthrie). Lush vocals over a driving groove, with a soothing yet upbeat build. Music is medicine for the mind…safe, affordable, no side effects.
LISTEN: https://reidjamieson.hearnow.com/blue-jeans
Behind the song…
A rare co-write written with our American friend Johnny Irion (US Elevator, Sarah Lee Guthrie). It took us quite a while to finish and pull the trigger on a release…now seemed like the right moment to talk about mental health.
Blue Jeans a prescription for postpandemic depression and PTSD—though really it started back in 2016 when democracy took a turn for the unthinkable worst. Our hearts breaking as war threatens like never before. Add to that our own wee personal trials and tribulations this last decade…. It needs to be said – many of us have been down so long, must have cried the blues right out of our collective jeans…
While we screw up the courage to ask for help, and the strength to fight for support, we’ve been taking what threatens to finish us off and find ourselves somehow grateful for the inspiration.
We met Johnny Irion and his then wife Sarah Lee Guthrie, at the Vancouver Folk Festival back in 2013 (where the finale Seeger singalong with Sarah was one for the books!). After that we all played a double bill together at the CBC Studios where we Reid and Johnny got to talking about their shared love of 60s folk rock and all those fab harmonies, and how maybe we should try writing a song together. Some long time later Johnny sent us a little snippet of an idea, a wee bit of melody along with the line ‘Must have cried the blues right out of my jeans’ – and we were off and running. Reid fleshed out the tune, CVM ran with the lyrics, and Blue Jeans was born. Sure, Johnny is great-nephew to author John Steinbeck, and son-in-law to Arlo Guthrie. To us, he is an authentic song making machine of note in his own right, as a solo artist or with his band US Elevator, collaborating with legends like Pete Seeger, Jeff Bridges, Wilco, and appearing in Twin Peaks and who knows what else…dude get’s around! We are grateful for our wee collab, and who knows…maybe this is just a start of us comingling with others..who knows?! Go give Johnny a listen…he is delicious, and an antidepressant if ever there was one. https://www.johnnyirionmusic.com/
CREDITS: Written by Johnny Irion. Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Victoria Mill. Performed and recorded by Reid, produced by Reid & CVM. Mastered by Michael Holland.
BLUE JEANS
So long…
to just keep holding on
Even something strong
starts to fall apart
at the seams
All wrong…
and I’ve been down so long
Must have
cried the blues
right out of
my jeans
The pain I’m in – my oldest friend
Like a second skin – so worn in
Since I don’t know when – the shape I’m in
Yeah the truth is…
It might kill me to see it end
So long…
to sing the
same old sad song
Even something strong
starts to sound a little
off key
All gone…
yeah, I’ve been down
so low, so long
Must have
cried the blues
right out of
my jeans
The pain I’m in – my oldest friend
Like a second skin – so worn in
Since I don’t know when – the shape I’m in
Yeah, the truth is…
It might kill me to see it end
Beyond a little jaded
All gone like my faded blue jeans
Beyond a little jaded
All gone like my faded blue jeans
The pain I’m in – my oldest friend
Like a second skin – so worn in
Since I don’t know when – the shape I’m in
Yeah the truth is…
It might kill me to see it end
All gone…
Yeah, I’ve been down
so low so long
Must have
cried the blues
right out of
my jeans
Must have
cried the blues
right out of
my jeans…
DOWNLOAD BOX: https://app.box.com/s/9d8lc2csx5if1f7fonjt0e5nd7txztiw
DISCO: https://s.disco.ac/kkkshvcdvima
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PUBLISHING
Reid Jamieson 33%
Carolyn Victoria Mill 33%
Johnny Irion – Rte 8 Music ASCAP 17% 246509952
Gwen A Lurie ASCAP writer #6675199 17%
ISRC CAR402600001