Winter Song
Nico [3] Lyrics
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Is freezing the stares on tyranny's wings.
The bitter is hard and the warmth of your skin
Is diseased with familiar caresses.
Withdrawing from splendor and royal decay
Among all the triumphs and jaded awards
The angry and blazing circus of sun
You cannot beget all the sins that you owe
To the people of paradise magic
Pretend to answer passion and form
With foreign rationalizations.
Primroses are the jewels that lurk
Among masks of pleasure that flicker with doubt
Embraces of fame that's simultaneously fear
To advance and demand to be recognized.
The river shall flow through hollow green faces
Of caricature's resentment etched out of the tongues.
Both reluctant princess asleep before birth
The classical sensitive failures.
The worshipping wicked cling to the dark of your heart
Lying there and wait with your angels
Moan and ravish from dawn to dusk
The avaricious young lovers.
The lyrics to Nico's "Winter Song" are quite dense and interpretive. It suggests various themes of cynicism, aging, and the harmful effects of power. The opening lines, "The snow on your eyelids that curtsy with age / Is freezing the stares on tyranny's wings" can be interpreted as a metaphor for society's aging tyrants who are losing their grip on control. The singer notes that despite their age, they are still capable of harm and oppression.
The song also touches on themes of desire and the struggle for recognition. The line, "Embraces of fame that's simultaneously fear / To advance and demand to be recognized." suggests that even the most famous and successful individuals still experience fear and doubt. The lyrics also suggest that one's pursuit of desire and recognition can come at great personal and societal cost.
Overall, "Winter Song" is a haunting and introspective song that is open to interpretation. It suggests themes of power, desire, and the effects of time on individuals and society.
Line by Line Meaning
The snow on your eyelids that curtsy with age
The snow on your eyelids looks like a curtsy, that is showing respect because of old age.
Is freezing the stares on tyranny's wings.
Tyranny's wings represent danger and control, and the freezing snow on the eyelids is stopping people from staring at it.
The bitter is hard and the warmth of your skin
The bitter things in life are tough, whilst the warmth of your skin is comfortable.
Is diseased with familiar caresses.
Even the familiar embraces can be harmful and damaging.
Withdrawing from splendor and royal decay
Choosing to pull away from luxury that is gradually breaking down.
Among all the triumphs and jaded awards
In the midst of all the accolades and prizes that have lost their value with time.
The angry and blazing circus of sun
The sun seems like a violent and scorching performance of light.
Blasphemes as the crown prince arises.
The crown prince's crowning is seen as disrespectful and contemptuous due to the sacrilegious nature of the sun.
You cannot beget all the sins that you owe
It's not possible to commit all the sins that are owed to the people of magic paradise.
To the people of paradise magic
Referring to the people that are exemplary and regarded as ‘angelic’.
Pretend to answer passion and form
It's fake to act in response to passion and expect that to be your true form.
With foreign rationalizations.
Using foreign justifications or excuses.
Primroses are the jewels that lurk
The beauty of primroses is hidden underneath their exterior.
Among masks of pleasure that flicker with doubt
There are pleasures that are fleeting and temporary, often disguised as something else and uncertain.
Embraces of fame that's simultaneously fear
Fame may come with its own share of fears and insecurities.
To advance and demand to be recognized.
To keep moving forward and not let yourself be ignored.
The river shall flow through hollow green faces
The river represents time that will continue to move on, despite the hollow nature of those who are putting on a show.
Of caricature's resentment etched out of the tongues.
Feeling resentment and anger that is often reflected in speech.
Both reluctant princess asleep before birth
Two people, feeling like royalty, with a strong desire to create something new but hesitant to start.
The classical sensitive failures.
Being seen as a failure can be especially difficult when you feel like you are ideal and sensitive.
The worshipping wicked cling to the dark of your heart
People seeking power and success will try to get close to those who are heartless and selfish.
Lying there and wait with your angels
The heartless wait alongside their ‘guardian angels’.
Moan and ravish from dawn to dusk
Acting like greedy and selfish people, loudly from morning until nighttime.
The avaricious young lovers.
Young people who are greedy and always want more.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind