The Storm
Cheryl Wheeler Lyrics
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Muffled in the skies on the edges of the whole country
Blowing home heavy hearts again
In a moan, frozen on the wind
I never knew a sky so gray
On an icy day
As the wind blows down
On a sea coast town
Harboring the beast that the power of the wind controls
Howling in the streets with the voices of the ancient souls
Old and frail primeval mysteries
Come to wail of unknown histories
I never heard a stronger cry
From a mournful sky
Over frozen land
In the winter's hand
Out along the shore in a hurricane of ice and foam
Swaying in the roar I was standing on the dock alone
In the night
Where the forces came to play
And maybe I
Should have known to turn away
But I never felt so drawn and bound
To the great unknown
'Til it turned me around
And it sent me home
Cheryl Wheeler's song "The Storm" is a powerful and evocative depiction of the fury of nature and the emotions that it can evoke within us. The opening lines set the scene for a tumultuous event, with "trouble on the rise from the middle of a stormy sea" and an ominous presence "muffled in the skies on the edges of the whole country." This sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the listener is drawn into the world of the storm, feeling the weight of "heavy hearts" and the "moan, frozen on the wind." The lyrics paint a picture of a world turned upside down by the power of the storm, as the sky turns a "gray" that is seemingly without end.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the way in which the storm affects the people and the land itself. The wind is portrayed as a "beast" that is controlled by an unseen force, and the voices of those who came before can be heard "howling in the streets." The mysteries of the past are brought to the forefront, with "old and frail primeval mysteries" coming to "wail of unknown histories." The strength of the storm is relentless, and its impact is felt across the land, as the "stronger cry from a mournful sky" echoes over "frozen land."
The final verse finds the singer out on the edge of the storm, standing alone on a dock in the midst of a "hurricane of ice and foam." Despite the danger, the singer feels an irresistible draw to the storm, feeling "drawn and bound to the great unknown" that it represents. Ultimately, the storm turns the singer's world around and sends them "home," a changed person who has experienced the raw power of nature firsthand.
Line by Line Meaning
Trouble on the rise from the middle of a stormy sea
A crisis is arising amidst the tumultuous sea.
Muffled in the skies on the edges of the whole country
The storm is looming and expanding across the country.
Blowing home heavy hearts again
The storm is bringing back sorrowful memories.
In a moan, frozen on the wind
The cold wind is carrying a sad and plaintive sound.
I never knew a sky so gray
The sky is darker and more mournful than ever before.
On an icy day
The day is incredibly chilly.
As the wind blows down
The wind is blowing powerfully and destructively.
On a sea coast town
The strong winds are ravaging the coastal areas.
Harboring the beast that the power of the wind controls
The storm serves as a tool for the wind to display its strength.
Howling in the streets with the voices of the ancient souls
The sound of the storm reminds one of the voices of ancient spirits.
Old and frail primeval mysteries
The storm is uncovering ancient secrets and secrets of the past.
Come to wail of unknown histories
The storm exposes some of the facts of the past that have been unknown or overlooked.
I never heard a stronger cry
The storm is the loudest and most intense that the listener has ever heard.
From a mournful sky
The sky is sorrowful as the storm rages on.
Over frozen land
The storm is affecting the frozen and cold regions.
In the winter's hand
The storm is a result of the unforgiving winter season.
Out along the shore in a hurricane of ice and foam
The storm is whipping across the shore, forming a hurricane of ice and water.
Swaying in the roar I was standing on the dock alone
The listener is standing alone on the dock, swaying in the midst of the storm's roar.
In the night
The storm's ferocity is even more stark at night.
Where the forces came to play
The storm is a culmination of natural forces manifesting themselves.
And maybe I
Perhaps the listener.
Should have known to turn away
The listener should have avoided the storm altogether.
But I never felt so drawn and bound
The listener is inexplicably drawn to the storm despite its dangers.
To the great unknown
The storm represents the uncharted and unknown depths of nature.
Til it turned me around
The storm was so powerful that it caused the listener to spin in circles.
And it sent me home
The storm drove the listener back to the safety of their home.
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.