In the 30+ years of his career, BG has written and released over 500 songs, including 2 English-language albums: Radio Silence (1998) and Radio London (1990).
The Wind
Boris Grebenshikov Lyrics
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The Wind from the northern sea
A wave on the sand so clear
Whoever got me that far must be laughing
Alright, I can laugh as well
So sweet is your touch
May I never go free
To return unbound
And I hear the sound
Behind my shoulder
Like the shape of the swan, gliding
And when the trees are bare
There will be nowhere to return to
But we stay, believing
Your eyes are colored like wind
Bringing incredible news
I don't know if I'm ready,
Does it matter?
Whoever cut me that deep
I love you
And here I stand, transfixed
Listening to the sound of the wind
In Boris Grebenshikov's song The Wind, the lyrics are full of vivid imagery and metaphors. The first stanza begins with a comparison between the color of someone's eyes and the northern wind. The wind is often associated with change, and in this case, the wind signifies something that is unpredictable and unstoppable. It's also compared to a clear wave on the sand, which adds to the idea of something that's beautiful yet uncontrollable. The last line acknowledges that whoever brought the singer to this point in their journey is probably laughing, but they too can laugh.
The second stanza shifts to a more intimate tone as the singer talks about their lover's touch. It's sweet and comforting, but they also feel trapped or possibly suffocated by it. They acknowledge that they need to break away to return unbound, which may mean they need time for themselves. There's a reference to a sound that's heard behind the singer's shoulder, which is compared to the shape of a swan gliding. This line likely signifies a sense of freedom or grace, which the singer is trying to attain.
The final stanza introduces the idea that there may be no return once the trees are bare, but the singer and their lover continue to believe in something, even if it's unclear what that is. The last line circles back to the eyes of the person the singer loves, acknowledging that they're still listening to the sound of the wind that they've been chasing.
Overall, the song appears to be about the pursuit of something elusive and the struggle to find freedom within a close relationship. The wind is a symbol of change and the unknown, the swan represents grace and beauty, and the tree represents cycles and the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Your eyes are colored like wind
Your eyes are full of the same unbridled force and unpredictability as the wind
The Wind from the northern sea
The wind that comes from the north sea, known for its strength and coldness
A wave on the sand so clear
A wave of emotion that is transparent and easy to understand, like a clear sandbank
Whoever got me that far must be laughing
The person who has led me to this point must be amused by the situation
Alright, I can laugh as well
I can laugh too, despite not fully understanding the situation
So sweet is your touch
Your touch is tender and enjoyable
May I never go free
I hope to always be under your influence
But I'm breaking away
Despite enjoying your company, I need to leave and explore for myself
To return unbound
I will come back without any restrictions or ties
And I hear the sound
I hear the wind's audible presence
Behind my shoulder
The sound is coming from behind me
Like the shape of the swan, gliding
The sound creates an image in my mind of a graceful swan gliding across the water
And when the trees are bare
When everything seems hopeless and barren
There will be nowhere to return to
There will be no clear path back to where we started
But we stay, believing
Despite this, we stay and have faith that things will get better
Bringing incredible news
The wind is carrying amazing and unbelievable information
I don't know if I'm ready,
I'm not sure if I can handle what's coming
Does it matter?
But does it really matter if I'm ready or not?
Whoever cut me that deep
The person who hurt me so deeply
I love you
Despite the pain, I still love you
And here I stand, transfixed
I am standing still, unable to move from this state of emotion
Listening to the sound of the wind
I am focusing on the sound of the wind, as if it holds the key to my emotions
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.