She self-released her first two albums, Lush and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business, while studying studio composition at Purchase College's Conservatory of Music. The albums were originally made as her senior project. Her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, was released in 2014 on the label Double Double Whammy.
Mitski signed with Dead Oceans in 2015 and released Puberty 2, Be the Cowboy and Laurel Hell , the last of which made the top ten in several countries. In 2022, The Guardian dubbed her the "best young songwriter" in the United States. That same year, she co-wrote "This Is a Life" for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, was released in 2023.
When Memories Snow
Mitski Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And cover up the driveway
I shovel all those memories
Clear the path to drive to the store
And when memories melt
I hear them in the drainpipe
Drippin' through the downspout
As I lie awake in the dark
And if I break
Could I go on break?
Be back in my room
Writin' speeches in my head
Listenin' to the thousand hands
That clap for me in the dark
In Mitski's song "When Memories Snow," the lyrics metaphorically depict the process of dealing with past memories and emotions. The line "When memories snow and cover up the driveway" suggests that memories can accumulate and hinder progress in moving forward. Just as snow needs to be shoveled to clear a path, the singer acknowledges the need to confront these memories in order to continue their daily routine.
The act of shoveling memories demonstrates a proactive approach to processing emotions. By intentionally engaging with these memories, the singer tries to clear the path to reach a store, symbolizing a desire for normalcy or a return to a sense of routine. However, when memories melt, the singer realizes that they cannot be completely discarded or forgotten. The line "I hear them in the drainpipe, drippin' through the downspout" signifies that memories continue to linger and affect the person's thoughts and emotions even when they try to push them aside.
The last stanza introduces a different perspective. The mention of breaking and going on break may refer to a moment of vulnerability or exhaustion. The singer questions if they can take a break from their emotional turmoil. In their room, they seek solace by writing speeches in their head, possibly a metaphor for finding comfort or a sense of control by crafting their internal dialogue. The line "listenin' to the thousand hands that clap for me in the dark" portrays a desire for validation and support, even in the midst of personal struggles.
Overall, these lyrics capture the complexity of grappling with past memories and the constant presence and effects they have on someone's psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
When memories snow
When nostalgic memories overwhelm and blanket my mind
And cover up the driveway
And obscure the path forward
I shovel all those memories
I consciously confront and process those memories
Clear the path to drive to the store
Clear the way to move forward and continue with everyday tasks
And when memories melt
And when those memories fade and dissipate
I hear them in the drainpipe
I still hear their echoes and remnants
Drippin' through the downspout
Trickling away, out of reach
As I lie awake in the dark
When I am unable to sleep and thoughts consume me
And if I break
And if I shatter emotionally
Could I go on break?
Can I take a pause from life's demands?
Be back in my room
Retreat to my personal space
Writin' speeches in my head
Formulating thoughts and arguments silently
Listenin' to the thousand hands
Absorbing the collective applause and support
That clap for me in the dark
That cheer and encourage me even in difficult times
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mitsuki Laycock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CJ-uc5lo
When memories snow,
and cover up the driveway,
I shovel all those memories,
clear the path to drive to the store.
And when memories melt,
I hear them in the drainpipe.
Dripping through the downspout
as I lie awake in the dark.
And if I break,
could I go on break?
Be back in my room,
writing speeches in my head,
listening to the thousand hands
that clap for me in the dark.
@erenbaran1756
Mitski is a monster for making it only 1:45 minutes long 😭
@jpedro8076
EXACLY, omg this song is one of the best i ever seen but its only 1:45, i have to play it again again and again to indulge me
@JMac-27
Check out the song she definitely ripped this from, you'll love it
https://youtu.be/ug2EcWkb26I?si=T19DA1ZNNQqO20FJ
@LuluAlbuthw
FRRR
@grass_6679
Fr omg...
@TheQuenchiestCake
Why must she make so many bangers be so short? It's like having a lovely but small cookie.
@ehand4135
this song is sounds like going at your breaking point but in a elegant way
@MeeperBeeper743
Exactly
@zairefranklin122
yes
@JMac-27
Check out the song she definitely ripped this from, you'll love it
https://youtu.be/ug2EcWkb26I?si=T19DA1ZNNQqO20FJ