Promise
Ben Howard Feat. Monica Heldal Lyrics


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Oh, meet me there, bundles of flowers
We wait through the hours of cold
Winter shall howl at the walls
Tearing down doors of time
Shelter as we go

And promise me this
You'll wait for me only
Scared of the lonely arms
The surface, far below these burns

And maybe, just maybe I'll come home

Who am I, darling to you?
Who am I?
Going to tell you stories of mine
Who am I?

Who am I, darling for you?
Who am I?
To be a burden in time, lonely
Who am I, to you?

And who am I, darling for you?
Who am I?
To be a burden
Who am I, darling to you?
Who am I?





I come alone here
I come alone here

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Promise" by Ben Howard are a reflection on the complexity of love and relationships, and the uncertainty that comes with them. In the song, the singer is asking his beloved to meet him where they can find shelter from the cold and the howling winter winds that threaten to tear down the doors of time. The metaphorical language suggests that the couple is facing challenges that can only be overcome by being together.


The chorus repeats the central theme of the song, with the singer asking his loved one to promise to wait for him only, and not to be scared of the loneliness that may come with it. He acknowledges that there may be pain along the way, symbolized by the burns below the surface, but that he may come home eventually.


The second half of the song is a series of introspective questions that the singer poses to himself and to his beloved, asking who he is to her and who she is to him. He wonders if he is a burden to her, or if he has stories worth telling. The repetition of these questions emphasizes the uncertainty and vulnerability that come with being in love.


Overall, the lyrics suggest a desire for a deep, enduring love that can weather the struggles of life, but also highlight the fragility of such relationships, and the doubts that can arise along the way.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, meet me there, bundles of flowers
Let's meet at a beautiful place decorated with flowers.


We wait through the hours of cold
We'll wait together through the difficult times.


Winter shall howl at the walls
The harsh winter will make things difficult for us.


Tearing down doors of time
Time will pass, and things will change.


Shelter as we go
Let's support each other through whatever might happen.


And promise me this
Make me a promise.


You'll wait for me only
Don't give up on me and wait for me to return.


Scared of the lonely arms
I'm afraid of being alone.


The surface, far below these burns
I'm hiding my pain beneath a calm exterior.


And maybe, just maybe I'll come home
There's a chance I might come back, but nothing is certain.


Who am I, darling to you?
How do you see me?


Going to tell you stories of mine
I want to share my life with you.


To be a burden in time, lonely
I don't want to be a burden on you or be lonely myself.


Who am I, to you?
What do I mean to you?


To be a burden
I don't want to be a problem or an obstacle.


I come alone here
I'm here on my own.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin John Howard

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@ManofUlster

Nobody creates atmosphere like Ben Howard. The Burgh Island EP has such a distinct tone and mood, especially this track. There’s something transcendent about it.

@djae6083

What an amazing choice of wording. "There's something transcendent..." Exactly. 100%. He is of a being that we don't even know, let alone understand of

@yancrazy

Ben is amazing no doubt but Bon iver is on a par. Would love for them to tour together

@carolineramier3741

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤞🙏

@ngocduc4483

@@yancrazy Justin is no way near Ben’s level to me

@ceciliakanaan7634

No words can express the way I feel when I'm listening to ben's songs.

@MrElsaphan

It’s a transcendence

@kendjana

I know right!

@conda35

True, never get tired of him. Hope he gets to Australia again one day ! 😊

@tomwolfe7782

As an agnostic atheist, musicians like Howard are the closest thing I have to spiritual leaders whose music is like church to my mind.

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