Vancouver alt-country artist’s second single of 2025 coincides with Canadian tour dates in December
Following the gritty, groove-heavy release of his previous 2025 single “Fool’s Gold,” Elliot C Way returns today with “Margaret,” a slow-burning, soul-stirring ballad that trades the fire of outlaw country for the gentle ache of timeless storytelling. Originally written during Elliot’s time as a member of The Wild North, “Margaret” now resurfaces with a fresh, country feel and a depth and weight that only Way could have reimagined, shaped by his evolution as a songwriter and storyteller.
While “Fool’s Gold” hits hard with swagger and a theme of survival, “Margaret”—written about his grandparents, Margaret and Nelson Beattie—leans into the vulnerable, the nostalgic, and the beautifully human. It tells the true story of their decades-long love, and their shared life in rural Ontario that was filled with hard-won moments of resilience and devotion. At its heart, the song is a tribute to his grandmother and her quiet battle with MS, a disease that slowly changed the shape of their lives but never broke their bond. It’s also a testament to his Grampap, as told from his perspective, and his unwavering love as he stood by her side through the difficult years.
Whenever Elliot visited them on their Uxbridge, Ontario hay farm, he got to witness the kind of rural, hardworking life that made a profound impact on him at a young age—hot, muggy summers with fireflies and iced tea, and unforgettable Christmas gatherings that included hockey games on frozen ponds and snowmobile rides in the deep cold. As Elliot describes, “My grandpa was the patriarch of the family and a man larger than life. He was a humble farmer, a handyman, and the kind of father and husband any man would hope to be. I saw first-hand the power of his love for my grandmother in the care he gave her until the very end.”
With its soft swing, haunting melody, and Way’s unmistakable voice, “Margaret” feels like a song from a lost time, the kind of old-fashioned love story that doesn’t often get written or lived out in today’s world. It’s a master class in restraint and emotional clarity, delivered with the raw honesty and depth that fans have come to expect from Way’s solo work. It’s also the song that always brings someone to tears in the crowd during his live sets, reminding people of the shared human experience of losing loved ones.
Produced once again by longtime collaborator and former Wild North band mate Erik P.H. Nielsen, “Margaret” was recorded in the historic Studio 2 beneath CBC Vancouver, where “Fool’s Gold” was also recorded, and is likewise released via North Country Collective, the fiercely independent label Way co-founded with Bob Sumner and Nick Lawton. “Margaret” continues to illustrate the beginning of a powerful new chapter in Way’s career as a singer/songwriter.
Elliot is donating a percentage of profits from “Margaret” to MS Canada to honour his grandmother and will also be playing a show in Uxbridge as part of his December 2025 Canadian tour. Whether taken as a standalone ballad or a poetic B-side to “Fool’s Gold,” “Margaret” proves that Elliot C Way isn’t just writing songs, he’s building a legacy of modern country rooted in grit, grace, and truth.
Upcoming Shows:
Nov 26 (Wed) :: Vancouver BC :: WISE Hall
Dec 4 (Thurs) :: Calgary AB :: The Blues Can
Dec 11 (Thurs) :: Toronto ON :: Horseshoe Tavern (w/ Nicolette & The Nobodies)
Dec 12 (Fri) :: Uxbridge ON :: Music Hall (w/ Nicolette & The Nobodies)
Dec 13 (Sat) :: Montreal QC :: L’Escogriffe Bar (w/ Ben Vallee)
Dec 19 (Fri) :: Vancouver BC :: Green Auto (Roll For Warmth fundraiser)