White Angel
Birch Book Lyrics


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Traveler's tears, wounded memories
Hands full of days, these were the ways
You looked for home
Pale paths change, marking out the way
Into the grace of day

Traveler's tears, wounded memories
One hand full of days
One hand on the cold hard ground
It's as they say:
It's coldest before the dawn
As the cold hard ground
Would signify

White Angel, White Angel, give me light
I have passed such a long time
In the cold dark night

My bruised and burning eyes
Await their dream of morning
Put your hand to the plow
Dry your traveler's tears
Lick your wounds
Dress your memories
In woodbettany
It's as you'd own:
It's coldest before the dawn
And in your bones
You know the way back home

My bruised and burning eyes




Await their dream
Of morning

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Birch Book's "White Angel" present a traveler's journey, marked by tears and wounded memories, in search of home. The opening lines suggest that the traveler is burdened by the weight of past experiences, with hands full of days that serve as a reminder of the journey thus far. The traveler is looking for a place to call home, a destination that gives meaning to the path that they have been walking.


The lyrics then shift to an invocation of a White Angel, who is called upon to give the traveler light. The White Angel appears to be a divine figure that can provide guidance and hope in the darkness of the night. The traveler's eyes are described as bruised and burning, conveying the struggles that they have faced in their journey so far. However, there is a dream of morning that awaits, a new dawn that signals the beginning of a new chapter. The traveler is encouraged to put their hand to the plow, dry their tears, and dress their memories in woodbettany, a medicinal herb that symbolizes healing and renewal.


The chorus repeats the plea for the White Angel to give light, emphasizing the importance of hope and guidance in the journey towards finding a home. The closing lines assure the traveler that they know the way back home, suggesting that the journey has not been in vain and that the traveler has gained the necessary insight and experience to find their way to where they belong.


Line by Line Meaning

Traveler's tears, wounded memories
Reflecting on the past hardships and emotional pain experienced while traveling


Hands full of days, these were the ways
Recollecting the days passed by and the paths taken


You looked for home
Searching for a place to call home amidst the journeys


Pale paths change, marking out the way
The paths taken change over time, guiding towards brighter days


Into the grace of day
Going towards the better, more positive parts of life


One hand full of days
One has experienced many days


One hand on the cold hard ground
One is grounded and present in the current moment


It's as they say:
Referring to a common saying/phrase


It's coldest before the dawn
Things may seem bleak before they improve


As the cold hard ground
Using the cold and hard ground as a symbol for difficult times


White Angel, White Angel, give me light
Asking for guidance and direction from a divine being


I have passed such a long time
A lengthy journey has been taken


In the cold dark night
During times of emotional darkness and uncertainty


My bruised and burning eyes
Eyes that have experienced pain and strain


Await their dream of morning
Hoping for a brighter future and positive outcomes


Put your hand to the plow
Encouragement to keep working and moving forward


Dry your traveler's tears
Find strength and resilience to deal with hardships


Lick your wounds
Find the courage to heal from past wounds and pain


Dress your memories
Take control of past experiences and memories


In woodbettany
Using the natural world as a means of grounding and finding peace


It's as you'd own:
Referring to a personal truth or belief


And in your bones
Deeply ingrained and felt within one's self


You know the way back home
Finding peace and comfort in a familiar place




Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@morningstar9787

Traveler's tears wounded memories
Hand's full of days, these were the ways
You looked for home
Pale paths change marking out the way
Into the grace of day

Traveler's tears, wounded memories
One hand full of days
One hand on the cold hard ground
It's as they say:
It's coldest before the dawn
As the cold hard ground
Would signify

White Angel, White Angel, give me light
I have passed such a long time
In the cold dark night
My bruised and burning eyes
Await their dream of morning

Put your hand to the plow
Dry your traveler's tears
Lick your wounds
Dress your memories
In wood betony
It's as you'd own:
It's coldest before the dawn
And in your bones
You know the way back home



@pennyrogers570

Traveler's tears, wounded memories
Hands full of days, these were the ways
You looked for home
Pale paths change, marking out the way
Into the grace of day

Traveler's tears, wounded memories
One hand full of days
One hand on the cold hard ground
It's as they say:
It's coldest before the dawn
As the cold hard ground
Would signify

White Angel, White Angel, give me light
I have passed such a long time
In the cold dark night

My bruised and burning eyes
Await their dream of morning
Put your hand to the plow
Dry your traveler's tears
Lick your wounds
Dress your memories
In woodbettany
It's as you'd own:
It's coldest before the dawn
And in your bones
You know the way back home

My bruised and burning eyes
Await their dream
Of morning



All comments from YouTube:

@morningstar9787

Traveler's tears wounded memories
Hand's full of days, these were the ways
You looked for home
Pale paths change marking out the way
Into the grace of day

Traveler's tears, wounded memories
One hand full of days
One hand on the cold hard ground
It's as they say:
It's coldest before the dawn
As the cold hard ground
Would signify

White Angel, White Angel, give me light
I have passed such a long time
In the cold dark night
My bruised and burning eyes
Await their dream of morning

Put your hand to the plow
Dry your traveler's tears
Lick your wounds
Dress your memories
In wood betony
It's as you'd own:
It's coldest before the dawn
And in your bones
You know the way back home

@umitkaya8608

Spas Merci

@CoIdRaInN

White Angel, White Angel... : (

@hellknightmordred7655

now this is real folk. bringing us back to the earth.

@sleepydreamdealer

My new so favorite band! I listen them tonight while the night outside is so silent.

@milliesunflower1864

I love your name and the icon pic ! 🌲☕

@chrisbolland5634

So some reason this song FEELS to me, like one of those hot, close evenings in summer when i was a kid and would have a headache, or a stomach ache. The pain made focusing hard, and the darkness seems to press in close, and the shadows seem thick and fleshly, like tall spindly forms walking in and out of the silver moonlight.
It's like... there's this false sense of calm by the sweetness of the voice, but somehow everything else is dark, deep and unknowably threatening.


I LOVE the song, but even so it carries that feeling for me, I don't know why.

@celiamelrose1096

Absolutely gorgeous

@darkglass9184

Beautiful voice, beautiful man. Simply amazing. 🍃

@francescorenzi2727

Wonderful. Exceptional. Soothing. I'm amazed.

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