Scott Clay’s new single, The Compass and the Wheel, is a moving piece of storytelling set to music. Inspired by Hampton Sides’ nonfiction book In the Kingdom of Ice, the song explores the tragic journey of the USS Jeanette, captained by George DeLong, as it tried to find a North Pole passage from San Francisco to Europe. The ship became trapped in ice for two years, and Clay brings to life the letters DeLong wrote to his wife Emma in Brooklyn, capturing the loneliness, determination, and hope of that Arctic struggle.
Recorded at Nashville’s Farmland Studios, the single features top-notch session musicians. Guthrie Trapp’s guitar adds both warmth and tension, Steve Mackey’s bass gives the track a solid backbone, and Greg Morrow’s drums subtly drive the story forward without overpowering it. The instrumentation feels carefully layered, letting Clay’s vocals carry the emotional weight while the music paints the frozen, isolated world of the Jeanette.
What stands out about The Compass and the Wheel is how it turns a historical event into something personal and immediate. The lyrics are detailed but never feel heavy-handed, and the melody moves between quiet reflection and urgent momentum, echoing the harsh conditions the crew endured. It’s clear that Clay wanted listeners to feel DeLong’s fight for survival and his longing for home, and he succeeds without turning the story into a mere lecture.
The single is a rare mix of history and heartfelt songwriting. Scott Clay manages to make the past feel vivid while crafting a song that’s easy to connect with today. The Compass and the Wheel is the kind of track that sticks with you, both for its story and its musicality, and it shows Clay at his best as a songwriter and storyteller.
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