Winter
October Hill Lyrics
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I forgot my mittens
Wipe my nose
Get my new boots on
I get a little warm in my heart
When I think of winter
I put my hand in my father's glove
I run off
Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice
"Your must learn to stand up for yourself
Cause I can't always be around"
He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Boys get discovered as winter melts
Flowers competing for the sun
Years go by and I'm here still waiting Withering where some snowman was
Mirror mirror where's the crystal palace
But I only can see myself
Skating around the truth who I am
But I know dad the ice is getting thin
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Hair is grey
And the fires are burning
So many dreams
On the shelf
You say I wanted you to be proud of me
I always wanted that myself
He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses have gone ahead
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change
My dear
The song "Winter" by October Hill tells the story of growing up and coming of age. The opening lines describe a child in winter, getting ready to go out and play in the snow. The child forgets their mittens but puts on new boots and feels a warmth in their heart when they think of winter. They remember putting on their father's glove, running off into the deep snow, and getting tripped by Sleeping Beauty. This is where the narrative shifts from a simple childhood experience to a more complicated one.
The child hears a voice, presumably their father's, telling them they must learn to stand up for themselves because he cannot always be around to help. The lyrics then repeat the haunting line, "when you gonna make up your mind, when you gonna love you as much as I do," as if the child is being forced to consider the reality of growing up and their own vulnerability. This repetition is a reminder that growing up is not just about experiencing new things but also about learning to love and care for oneself.
As the child grows up into adulthood, the lyrics acknowledge the passing of time. Boys get discovered as winter melts and flowers compete for the sun. The singer is left waiting, withering where a snowman once stood, wondering where their place in the world is. The singer asks themselves, "Mirror, mirror, where's the crystal palace?" but only sees themselves skating around the truth of who they are. The singer knows that they need to make up their mind and love themselves as their father does, otherwise things are going to change too fast for them to keep up.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift from being about the child and their father to the singer reflecting on their own life. They describe grey hair and fires burning, and how they've always wanted to make their father proud but never really knew how. The song ends with a repeat of the chorus, but the white horses, a symbol of time, have gone ahead, showing that the opportunity to love oneself and make up their mind may have passed.
Line by Line Meaning
Snow can wait
Winter is on its way, but I don't mind waiting for the snow to come.
I forgot my mittens
I'm not fully prepared for winter yet, but that's okay.
Wipe my nose
The cold air is making my nose run, but it's all part of the season.
Get my new boots on
It's time to embrace winter and get ready for the snow and ice.
I get a little warm in my heart
When I think of winter
Despite the cold, there's something special about winter that makes me feel happy and cozy inside.
I put my hand in my father's glove
I run off
Where the drifts get deeper
I think of my father when I'm out in the snow, using his old gloves to keep my hands warm as I play in the deep snow drifts.
Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice
'Your must learn to stand up for yourself
Cause I can't always be around'
My partner reminds me to be more independent and self-reliant, as they won't always be there to save me if I fall or need help.
He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
My partner urges me to love and accept myself, as time is fleeting and things are bound to change quickly.
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Even though it may feel like the world is sleeping and things are stagnant, my partner and I acknowledge that change is constant and we should appreciate each other while we can.
Boys get discovered as winter melts
Flowers competing for the sun
Years go by and I'm here still waiting Withering where some snowman was
As spring nears and the snow melts away, new life emerges and people start to show their true colors. I feel left behind, still waiting for something to happen in my life.
Mirror mirror where's the crystal palace
But I only can see myself
Skating around the truth who I am
But I know dad the ice is getting thin
I feel lost and unsure of who I am, but I know that I need to be honest with myself before the harsh realities of life catch up to me.
Hair is grey
And the fires are burning
So many dreams
On the shelf
You say I wanted you to be proud of me
I always wanted that myself
As I age, I have more regrets and missed opportunities. I wish my partner could be proud of me, but I still struggle to feel proud of myself.
All the white horses have gone ahead
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change
My dear
Like the horses that have raced ahead, time marches on and things will continue to evolve and change. But no matter what, I want my partner to stay close to me and face the future together.
Contributed by Nicholas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.