Then the Letting Go
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics
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(Come follow me here and then we'll go)
Who played with me whenever it snowed
(To a fortress in the snow)
She lived nearby and I'd walk her home
(On these bushes berries grow)
Then I would go to my own house alone
(We will eat them seeds and all)
I went to our shared place and nobody came
(Hand in my hand, nose and nose)
And it was dark before I made my way home
(Shall we marry or shall we go)
And sat at my window and watched the snow come
When I had children I asked them to stay –
When the weather turned bad – indoors to play
I tried to make games and be a bold friend
Though strong was the call of the harsh winter wind
They ran out of doors and shouted and sang
(They won't find us from the road)
Their voices went soft as they ran further on
(Thicker branches tangled so)
Till only a trace of their singing did hang
(Flashlights fading, the fire low)
On my eyes and my whiskers where they didn't belong
Then my, someone from childhood came into the room
And lay her wet head on my withering feet
Her tears wet my lap and she fell asleep soon
Saying nothing to me just going to sleep
O how my head burned as I sat unprepared
(Come marry me here and then we'll go)
I was rendered blind and of the world unaware
(To the places in the snow)
In the quiet of the day, well, I laid her low
(You a fire, me aglow)
And used her skin as my skin to go out in the snow
The song "Then the Letting Go" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is a poignant and introspective song that reflects on the passage of time, the weight of memories, and the inevitable letting go of the things we hold dear. The song starts off by reflecting on a childhood memory of playing in the snow with a neighbor who was perhaps a childhood crush. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this childhood memory is intertwined with the present, and the singer realizes that he must let go of the past to move forward.
The snow in the song is both a symbol of nostalgia and a metaphor for the passing of time. The childhood memory of playing in the snow is something that the singer looks back on with fondness, but as he grows older, he realizes that he can never go back to those carefree days. When he has children of his own, he tries to create similar memories for them, but the harsh winter winds and the lure of the outdoors keep pulling them away from him. In the end, the singer is left alone with his memories, and he contemplates using the skin of his childhood friend to keep warm as he ventures out into the snow.
Overall, "Then the Letting Go" is a haunting and beautiful song that captures the bittersweet nature of memory and the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
There was someone a long time ago
In the past, there was a person who used to spend time with me
(Come follow me here and then we'll go)
Let's go somewhere together
Who played with me whenever it snowed
This person played with me during snowy times
(To a fortress in the snow)
We went to a snow fortress
She lived nearby and I'd walk her home
She was a local and I would accompany her home
(On these bushes berries grow)
There are bushes nearby where berries grow
Then I would go to my own house alone
Afterwards, I would return home alone
Then one december bad weather came on
One December, there was inclement weather
(We will eat them seeds and all)
We will eat the seeds and anything else edible
I went to our shared place and nobody came
I went to our usual meeting spot and my companion did not arrive
(Hand in my hand, nose and nose)
We held hands and touched noses
And it was dark before I made my way home
I was guided by darkness when I made my way back home
(Shall we marry or shall we go)
We have a choice to either marry or leave each other
And sat at my window and watched the snow come
I sat by my window and observed the snowfall
When I had children I asked them to stay –
When I had children, I requested that they remain inside during bad weather
When the weather turned bad – indoors to play
When there was poor weather, they were to engage in indoor activities
I tried to make games and be a bold friend
I endeavored to entertain them and be a supportive companion
Though strong was the call of the harsh winter wind
Despite this, the cold winter wind was tempting
They ran out of doors and shouted and sang
They exited through the doorway and shouted and sang
(They won't find us from the road)
We are safely hidden from view of passersby on the road
Their voices went soft as they ran further on
Their voices became more subdued as they moved further away
(Thicker branches tangled so)
There were thicker branches that were intertwined
Till only a trace of their singing did hang
Eventually, only a small remnant of their singing could be heard
(Flashlights fading, the fire low)
The flashlights were losing power and the fire was dimming
On my eyes and my whiskers where they didn't belong
The remnants of their music were stuck around my eyes and whiskers
Then my, someone from childhood came into the room
Then someone from my childhood entered the room
And lay her wet head on my withering feet
She placed her wet head on my deteriorating feet
Her tears wet my lap and she fell asleep soon
Her tears moistened my lap and she quickly drifted to sleep
Saying nothing to me just going to sleep
She did not speak and simply fell asleep
O how my head burned as I sat unprepared
My head ached as I sat unprepared
(Come marry me here and then we'll go)
Marry me now before we depart
(To the places in the snow)
Let's go to the snowy places
In the quiet of the day, well, I laid her low
Silently, I lowered her to the ground
(You a fire, me aglow)
You are a flame and I am illuminated
And used her skin as my skin to go out in the snow
I utilized her skin as my own to venture out into the snow
Contributed by Annabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.