Stewart grew up in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth, Dorset. According to Songfacts, in days of youthful folly Stewart played in a beat group with later BBC DJ Tony Blackburn before moving to the capital to seek fortune and fame.
Having bought his first guitar from future Police guitarist Andy Summers, Stewart traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic guitar when he was offered a weekly slot at Bunjies Coffee House in London's Soho in 1965. From there, he went on to compete at the Les Cousins folk club on Greek Street, where he played alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper and Ralph McTell
Although he had his share of the breaks, including a tenure at Bunjees coffee house and a record deal with CBS, life wasn't always easy for the young troubadour; his first serious love affair ended in disaster, and he experienced all the usual insecurities of the stranger in the big city trying to find his way.
In January 1970, Melody Maker named his second release Love Chronicles its Folk Album Of The Year, but in spite of his obviously carving out quite a name for himself, it was not until Year Of The Cat - the single and even more so the monster album - that he really shot to fame.
He emigrated to the United States as his career took off in the mid 1970s, and still lives in California. While studio albums are now few and far between, he still tours extensively in the United States, and, most years, in Europe. Recordings of concerts are often made available through his fan clubs.
Antarctica
Al Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The frost upon your face
I was haunted by your beauty
And it drew me to this place
I felt the chill of mystery
With one foot on your shore
And then and there resolved to go
Maybe I was snow blind
But it seemed the wind spoke true
And I believed its stories then
As dreamers sometimes do
In Antarctica
In Antarctica
Who knows what the powers may be
That cause a man to go
Mindless of the dangers
Out across the virgin snow
Seduced by this ambition
I easily forget
The hopeless quest of Shackleton
The dreamlike death of Scott
In Antarctica
In Antarctica
Maybe I was snow blind
But it seemed the wind spoke true
And I believed its stories then
As dreamers sometimes do
In Antarctica
In Antarctica
Maybe I was snow blind
Perhaps it sapped my will
But something of my innocence
Is wandering there still
In Antarctica
In Antarctica
In Antarctica
In Antarctica
The song "Antarctica" by Al Stewart is a contemplative piece about the allure of the frozen continent and the intrepid explorers who sought to conquer it. The lyrics express the haunting beauty of Antarctica and how it draws people to it, even those who have never seen it before. The singer acknowledges the dangers of traversing the virgin snow, but is mesmerized by the possibilities of discovering something new and uncharted.
The line "Maybe I was snow blind, but it seemed the wind spoke true" suggests that the singer was swept away by the myth and legend surrounding Antarctica. He acknowledges the failures and tragedies of past explorers like Shackleton and Scott, but remains undeterred by the risks. The phrase "something of my innocence" implies that the journey to Antarctica has left an indelible impression on the singer, forever changing him.
Line by Line Meaning
Long before I ever saw
I had been enchanted by the beauty of the location without ever setting my eyes on it.
The frost upon your face
Refers to the icy terrain of Antarctica, which gives a feeling of haunting beauty.
I was haunted by your beauty
The allure of Antarctica loomed large in my imagination and beckoned me to visit.
And it drew me to this place
The overwhelming feeling of attraction and fascination brought me to the uncharted territory of Antarctica.
I felt the chill of mystery
The aura of the unknown and unexplored had a thrilling effect on me.
With one foot on your shore
Alludes to the first landing of an explorer in a new place.
And then and there resolved to go
I made a firm decision to embark on an ambitious journey to a place where nobody had ever been before.
Where no man had before
The desire to explore the uncharted land of Antarctica where no human beings had ever gone before.
Maybe I was snow blind
Perhaps I was overly fascinated by the icy wonderland of Antarctica and went ahead with my quest despite its inherent risks.
But it seemed the wind spoke true
The unpredictable and harsh conditions of Antarctica convinced me that this place was both mysterious and true to its reputation.
And I believed its stories then
I became a believer in the legends and folklore surrounding Antarctica, which tempted me to explore more and more.
As dreamers sometimes do
The journey to Antarctica was reminiscent of a dreamlike scenario that many people imagine but only a few have the courage to pursue.
Who knows what the powers may be
The power and call of the uncharted territory of Antarctica have always been inscrutable and mysterious.
That cause a man to go
What drives a human being to take on a daunting challenge with such fervor and determination.
Mindless of the dangers
Ignoring the potential risks and dangers of exploring Antarctica as the chance to encounter the unknown and the awe-inspiring terrain overrides all possible apprehensions.
Out across the virgin snow
The virgin landscape of Antarctica remains unmarred by human activities, and the unique scenery it promises remains an irresistible temptation to explorers.
Seduced by this ambition
The allure of exploring the uncharted territory of Antarctica is so powerful that it can keep an explorer from thinking straight, making them forget about the dangers that are inherent in such an adventure.
I easily forget
Explorers tend to get carried away by the thrill of the journey and often forget the tremendous challenges and dangers they might face.
The hopeless quest of Shackleton
A reference to the doomed expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton to cross Antarctica in 1915, which ended in a desperate survival scenario.
The dreamlike death of Scott
Refers to the tragic death of Robert Falcon Scott and his party during their attempt to reach the South Pole for the first time at the beginning of the 20th century.
Perhaps it sapped my will
The challenges that came with exploring Antarctica may have weakened my determination to some extent.
But something of my innocence
Even with the realization of how dangerous it was to explore this vast and unexplored land, a part of me remained curious and innocent, yearning for new adventures.
Is wandering there still
The fascination and intrigue surrounding Antarctica continue to be present in my mind, and the pull of the unknown is still an irresistible force that compels me to keep exploring this otherworldly destination.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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Rosemarie Scott-Griffiths
One of my all-time favorites. Fabulous lyrics by Al, as always.
Rob Waxman
Saw him Saturday night in San Francisco, with The Empty Pockets. Wonderful to see him with a full band backing him. He played this song, the full Year of The Cat album, Terminal Eyes, and others. What a gem he is!
Chris Nemec
Having seen Al live in the 1980's and 1990's, I love the story he told to introduce the song. It went something like this:
One day I was at my home and then there was a knock at the door. I opened up the door and found a tall figure with a large hat that had a feather sticking out of it. I asked him who he was and he said he was a metaphor. I said "you're very tall for a metaphor" and he replied "Well, I'm an extended metaphor." He then asked me if I could give him a home. He said life without a home is like wandering the antarctic looking for love. So I decided to put him in a song that compared the failed explorations of the antarctic to finding love.
modusvivendi2
Although, come to think of it, maybe it was a dead metaphor.
modusvivendi2
Forgive me for doubting Al, but I am of the view that this story may not be one hundred percent true.
I know this because "life without a home is like wandering the antarctic looking for love" is a simile, not a metaphor. So no metaphor would be caught dead saying such a thing.
not likely
Well
Metaphors be with you...
Howie Long
teranz0 funny!
Marcus Mattau
I agree. Growing up he was actually shy.
George Isaac 9European
I hope Al makes an album soon with all his fabulous guitarists- Tim Renwick, Peter White, Laurence Juber and Dave Nachmanoff. That will be a veritable treat.
George Isaac
The problem with him is he's got too many masterpieces, two many songs of highest quality that many fail to latch on. His flaw is excellence.