Ring On The Sill
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She placed her ring on the sill,
Dishes piled high
She's on the front porch step
And the air smells like snow
She's thinking of the siege to come
And how she'll miss those weekends
In the park with the sun on her face
And her book by her side and that
Lingering taste that he left on her tongue

He lifts his glass from the table
It leaves a ring where it stood
He sees the light from the window
Caress her like he knows he should
He's remembering the first time he kissed her
And how he'd wake
And immediately he'd miss her,
Like a spell, with each breath,
He'd taste her breath like a haunting,
Irritating as hell

Do you remember when you'd pray
To never see the day
When someone would make you feel this way
'Cause you knew
They would cut right through you
And once inside, you were afraid they'd find
Nothing to hold on to

He puts her ring on her finger,
She brushes back his hair
He takes a sip from his glass,
She inhales the cold fall air
And they're thinking of the long road ahead
And the strength that they will need
Just to reach the end
And there in the silence they search for




The balance between this fear that they feel
And a love that has graced their lives

Overall Meaning

The Cowboy Junkies’ “Ring On The Sill” is a melancholic song that speaks to the realities of a budding relationship. The song is about a couple that is on the brink of a new and daunting journey together, and while they are excited, they are also afraid. The first verse sets the scene of what is to come with the dishes piled high and the air smelling of snow. The woman is thinking about the siege to come and how much she will miss the weekends in the park with her book and the lingering taste of her lover on her tongue.


The second verse, on the other hand, is about the man who is remembering his first kiss with her and how he’d miss her every time he woke up. The man takes in the way the light from the window caresses his lover's face and how it reminds him of how delicate their relationship is. The chorus speaks to the vulnerability of relationships and how they can cut right through you, leaving you with nothing to hold on to. The song concludes on an optimistic note that’s both bittersweet and hopeful as they search for balance between the fear they feel and the love that has graced their lives.


Line by Line Meaning

She placed her ring on the sill,
She left her engagement ring on the windowsill.


Dishes piled high
There's a stack of dirty dishes that need to be washed.


She's on the front porch step
She's sitting on the front porch.


And the air smells like snow
The scent of snow is in the air.


She's thinking of the siege to come
She's anticipating difficult times ahead.


And how she'll miss those weekends
She's going to miss spending weekends in the park.


In the park with the sun on her face
She used to spend time in the park with sunlight shining on her face.


And her book by her side and that
She would have her book by her side.


Lingering taste that he left on her tongue
She still remembers the taste of him.


He lifts his glass from the table
He takes his glass from the table.


It leaves a ring where it stood
It left a circular mark on the table.


He sees the light from the window
He notices the light coming through the window.


Caress her like he knows he should
It touches her like it's meant to.


He's remembering the first time he kissed her
He's reminiscing about their first kiss.


And how he'd wake
He remembers waking up to her beside him.


And immediately he'd miss her,
He would miss her right away.


Like a spell, with each breath,
As if under a spell, with every breath he takes,


He'd taste her breath like a haunting,
He could still taste her breath like a lingering presence,


Irritating as hell
It annoyed him to no end.


Do you remember when you'd pray
Do you recall the times when you used to pray?


To never see the day
Hoping to never experience such a day.


When someone would make you feel this way
A day when someone makes you feel this deeply.


'Cause you knew
Because you were aware


They would cut right through you
They would leave you emotionally exposed.


And once inside, you were afraid they'd find
And once they get past your defences, you're scared they won't find anything to hold onto.


Nothing to hold on to
Nothing to sustain their bond.


He puts her ring on her finger,
He slips her ring onto her finger.


She brushes back his hair
She moves his hair back, fondly


He takes a sip from his glass,
He sips from his glass.


She inhales the cold fall air
She takes in the cold autumnal air.


And they're thinking of the long road ahead
They consider the long journey ahead.


And the strength that they will need
They'll have to rely on their strength.


Just to reach the end
Just to make it to the finish line


And there in the silence they search for
Together in peace, they yearn for


The balance between this fear that they feel
A balance between their dreaded fears and their love


And a love that has graced their lives
The love that's been a blessing in their lives




Lyrics © PAZ JUNK MUSIC INC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Edward Timmins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Sharation Tomash

Beautiful song.. it was my dads favorite. He used to play for me. Now I’m singing it for his funeral next weekend. Reminds me of him every time that it’s played. Thank you 🫶

She placed her ring on the sill,
Dishes piled high
She's on the front porch step
And the air smells like snow
She's thinking of the siege to come
And how she'll miss those weekends
In the park with the sun on her face
And her book by her side and that
Lingering taste that he left on her tongue
He lifts his glass from the table
It leaves a ring where it stood
He sees the light from the window
Caress her like he knows he should
He's remembering the first time he kissed her
And how he'd wake
And immediately he'd miss her,
Like a spell, with each breath,
He'd taste her breath like a haunting,
Irritating as hell
Do you remember when you'd pray
To never see the day
When someone would make you feel this way
'Cause you knew
They would cut right through you
And once inside, you were afraid they'd find
Nothing to hold on to
He puts her ring on her finger,
She brushes back his hair
He takes a sip from his glass,
She inhales the cold fall air
And they're thinking of the long road ahead
And the strength that they will need
Just to reach the end
And there in the silence they search for
The balance between this fear that they feel
And a love that has graced their lives



All comments from YouTube:

Dean Gomez

She paints a beautifully poetic picture. You almost feel what they are feeling

Sharation Tomash

Beautiful song.. it was my dads favorite. He used to play for me. Now I’m singing it for his funeral next weekend. Reminds me of him every time that it’s played. Thank you 🫶

She placed her ring on the sill,
Dishes piled high
She's on the front porch step
And the air smells like snow
She's thinking of the siege to come
And how she'll miss those weekends
In the park with the sun on her face
And her book by her side and that
Lingering taste that he left on her tongue
He lifts his glass from the table
It leaves a ring where it stood
He sees the light from the window
Caress her like he knows he should
He's remembering the first time he kissed her
And how he'd wake
And immediately he'd miss her,
Like a spell, with each breath,
He'd taste her breath like a haunting,
Irritating as hell
Do you remember when you'd pray
To never see the day
When someone would make you feel this way
'Cause you knew
They would cut right through you
And once inside, you were afraid they'd find
Nothing to hold on to
He puts her ring on her finger,
She brushes back his hair
He takes a sip from his glass,
She inhales the cold fall air
And they're thinking of the long road ahead
And the strength that they will need
Just to reach the end
And there in the silence they search for
The balance between this fear that they feel
And a love that has graced their lives

Robert Brown

Sorry for your loss and God Bless. Your dad had a great taste in music and he's still listening.

Brenda H

The lyrics are simply magical in my head. Ugh, the imagery ❤️

Brian Andrews

This is the most beautiful song ever written

Robert Brown

Amazingly talented bunch of folks, haunting and beautiful.

Flávio Almeida

A música da minha vida!

Sharon Ramsey

Such a beautiful song, so real so very sad and so true.

James Reney

Margo is a stunner, oh, her Alto, ... Wow !

maryann bova

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