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Hoarfrost
Sonic Youth Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I put my feet deep in the tracks that you made
Walked behind you off into the wood
We'll know where when we get there' you said
And we both knew we would
High above like a spider
The colors turning brown
Freeways passing by us
I took yr hand and we knelt down
Wheels paddle wheels paddle movement as we go
Trees passing trees passing signs along the road
A view through the trees to a couple in the snow
A view through the trees to a couple standing in
The snow
Suddenly the trees were flashing by us
Clouds reflecting fast across your eyes
We turned into a frozen meadow
The wind the only sound
We'll know where when we get there' you said
We'll know where when we get there' you said

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Hoarfrost" by Sonic Youth portray a sense of adventure, exploration, and companionship. The opening verses depict the singer following a trail left by his/her companion, walking together into a forest. The line "We'll know where when we get there" assures that they are navigating the path together with a sense of trust and authenticity. As they move deeper into the woods, they witness the changing colors of nature with the fall season already setting in. The highways of civilization are paralleled with their journey, highlighting the contrast and escape they longed for in their natural surroundings.


The lyrics also channel a visual montage of landscapes and sceneries that the two encounter on their trek. The couple stops to admire the snow-covered trees and a couple holding hands in the distance. However, the song takes a sudden turn when the trees around them start flashing by. They then find themselves at a meadow, surrounded by snow and the sound of the wind, deepening the feeling of isolation and serenity. The last line of the song "We'll know where when we get there," repeats the opening statement, emphasizing that the journey was not about the destination, but the experience of discovering and exploring together.


Overall, Sonic Youth's "Hoarfrost" paints a picture of two people wandering in the woods, observing their surroundings, and living in the moment, enjoying each other's company.


Line by Line Meaning

I put my feet deep in the tracks that you made
I followed your lead without question and with full commitment.


Walked behind you off into the wood
I trusted you to lead us into the unknown in search of adventure and discovery.


We'll know where when we get there' you said
You assured me that although we didn't have a specific destination in mind, we would recognize it when we arrived.


And we both knew we would
We had confidence in each other and our ability to navigate and find what we were looking for.


High above like a spider
The vantage point from which we observed our surroundings was like that of a spider surveying its web.


The colors turning brown
The changing seasons and weather provided a beautiful and evolving backdrop to our journey.


Freeways passing by us
The fast-paced, modern world carried on without us as we immersed ourselves in nature and each other's company.


I took yr hand and we knelt down
I felt a deep connection to you and, in that moment, we shared a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty surrounding us.


Wheels paddle wheels paddle movement as we go
The rhythm of our journey was like that of a paddle moving through water, propelling us forward with purpose and momentum.


Trees passing trees passing signs along the road
We were surrounded by natural beauty and reminders of human civilization, a balance that made the experience all the more meaningful.


A view through the trees to a couple in the snow
We glimpsed another couple sharing a similar experience and felt a sense of camaraderie and shared appreciation for the beauty around us.


A view through the trees to a couple standing in the snow
We continued to observe and reflect on our surroundings, finding an almost spiritual connection to the natural world.


Suddenly the trees were flashing by us
The pace and momentum of our journey increased, and we were thrilled by the speed and sense of adventure.


Clouds reflecting fast across your eyes
The world around us seemed to be moving faster than ever, yet we felt grounded and connected in each other's company.


We turned into a frozen meadow
We arrived at a picturesque and frozen clearing, feeling a sense of accomplishment and appreciation for what we had experienced together thus far.


The wind the only sound
We were surrounded by a peaceful and quiet stillness, broken only by the gentle sound of the wind moving through the trees.


We'll know where when we get there' you said
You reiterated our shared confidence in each other and our journey, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation for what lay ahead.


We'll know where when we get there' you said
Again, you emphasized our shared sense of purpose and confidence, feeling a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in the journey thus far.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KIM GORDON, LEE M. RANALDO, STEVEN JAY SHELLEY, THURSTON JOSEPH MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@theiiird5863

Lyrics

I put my feet deep in the tracks that you made
Walked behind you off into the wood
We'll know where when we get there' you said
And we both knew we would
High above like a spider
The colors turning brown
Freeways passing by us
I took yr hand and we knelt down
Wheels paddle wheels paddle movement as we go
Trees passing trees passing signs along the road
A view through the trees to a couple in the snow
A view through the trees to a couple standing in
The snow
Suddenly the trees were flashing by us
Clouds reflecting fast across your eyes
We turned into a frozen meadow
The wind the only sound
We'll know where when we get there' you said
We'll know where when we get there' you said



@unwound2204

❤️
I put my feet deep in the tracks that you made
Walked behind you off into the wood
We'll know where when we get there' you said
And we both knew we would
High above like a spider
The colors turning brown
Freeways passing by us
I took yr hand and we knelt down
Wheels paddle wheels paddle movement as we go
Trees passing trees passing signs along the road
A view through the trees to a couple in the snow
A view through the trees to a couple standing in
The snow
Suddenly the trees were flashing by us
Clouds reflecting fast across your eyes
We turned into a frozen meadow
The wind the only sound
We'll know where when we get there' you said
We'll know where when we get there' you said



All comments from YouTube:

@NadaCero

This song was one of the songs that got me through the worst depression of my life. Thank you Sonic Youth and Mr Lee Ronaldo.

@neilcook4686

Obvious reply, but all the best to you and glad that this helped. Nobody's depression is the same (sorry, people who say, "Oh, I've been there, I understand" - you understand your own, not mine) and people deal with it differently (music, Skyrim etc) Hope you are well :)

@ChristopherGray00

@@neilcook4686 there are different causes with different set of symptoms but depression does have a general profile, it's not always different person to person, a lot of people can share very similar experiences with depression.

most people diagnosed with MDD have anhedonia, low motivation, and a sense of futility or they feel like they are a failure, those are the most prevalent symptoms.

@TimTrOn3000

Fuck yeah. Glad you made it through brother.

@nikkitronic80

This is my winter snow day song. Ever since I was a teenager when this album came out, and I saw SY at the Moor Theater in Seattle, they played this..I like to put this on in my headphones and go for a walk in the snow. No matter where I am, I listen to this and it makes me cold. Crisp air, grey skies, snow, Sonic Youth. I love winter. ❄️

@feelcarlos

You saw then live that's great I wish I could but unfortunately I discovered sonic youth after they broke up

@martinbramah2224

Does seem like a good time & place to partake in this song. Gotta love Lee's (underutilized!) voice here.
If you are ever looking for other good tunes to play for winter walks, I would recommend Bardo Pond's half-hour drone of muffled beauty, "Amen 29:15"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A-F6ZNUlZY

@PhilInsane

The whole album in my go to Autumn / Winter album!

@playbassar

Lee Ranaldo is my favourite sonic youther

@nickjbland

he's also my favorite 9/11 truther

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