The Winds That Blow
Duncan Sheik Lyrics

All the shadows blue
The shadows have been cast in a blue hue, possibly indicating sadness or melancholy.

In the winter moon
The shadows and blue hue are being observed during a winter night illuminated by the moon.

Stars within the darkness.
The stars are visible even amongst the dark shadows and blue hue.

They remember you
The stars, shadows, and blue hue are reminiscent of someone important.

And they sorrow too
The stars, shadows, and blue hue seem to carry an air of sadness or mourning.

With all the winds that blow.
The winds seem to be a recurring motif associated with the sorrow and memories present in the scene.

Every book you'd read
The singer is addressing someone specific and references their past habits of reading.

In my evening breeze
The artist is observing the person he is addressing reading in a breeze during the evening.

Stars shown in the darkness.
Despite the darkness of the evening, the stars are visible and can be seen shining through the breeze.

Still it waits to see
The present observer is waiting to see if the person he is speaking to will continue their reading habits.

Will you turn in sleeves
The singer is inquiring if the person he is addressing will continue to turn the pages of the books he reads.

With all the winds that blow
The winds are still present and seem to have some sort of significance towards the scene and the artist's memories.

See the window too,
The singer is now observing a window as well as the person he is speaking to.

That once you looked through,
The window being observed is one that the person the singer is addressing has looked through before.

Out on the stars, the darkness.
The window overlooked the stars and darkness that are being observed and remembered by the singer.

It remembers you in this empty room,
The window, person being addressed, and the artist now seem to be remembered by the empty room they are in.

With all the winds so cold.
The winds, now described as cold, seem to have an even stronger effect on the emotions present in the scene.

And that phantom moon
The singer is now describing a phantom, or imaginary, moon.

Is a window too,
The imaginary moon is now described as a metaphorical window.

Stars look through the darkness,
The phantom moon is now associated with stars looking down through the darkness.

To some summer moon
The stars are now being observed shining down onto a summer night.

Where our ghosts still move
The stars are now associated with ghosts, possibly referring to memories of the past or deceased individuals.

Among the winds that blow.
The winds are once again present, linking them to the emotions and memories present.

Were my soul and my silence,
The artist is now referencing himself and what seems to be qualities of his own character.

Were my hope, my lightness.
The singer is further describing his own positive qualities.

Were the sword at my side
The singer is now referencing a sword at his side, possibly representing some sort of power or ability he holds.

Through all the winds that blow.
Once again, the winds are associated with the strong emotions and personal qualities present in the singer.

Now the children play
The artist is now observing children playing.

Through these shorter days
The children are playing during the daylight hours of shorter winter days.

'Til stars show through the darkness.
The children will continue to play until the stars become visible in the darkening sky.

Now the young men stray, nobody waves
The singer is now observing young men wandering about without anyone to greet them.

Among the winds that blow.
Once again, the winds are associated with the emotions and memories present in the scene and the artist's past.

All the winds will blow.
The song concludes with the repetition of this line, emphasizing the importance of the winds and their impact on the artist's emotions and memories.