Snow
Patricia Barber Lyrics


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Do you think of me like snow
Cool, slippery and white?
Do you think of me like jazz
As hip as black as night?

Do you think of me like linen
Summer sheets on which you sleep?
Do you think of me like ink
Skinny words you want to keep?

Do you think of me like fat
Irresistible as cream?
On your lips, on your hips
Like chocolate or like a dream

Ohh, to be the moon
A diamond you can't resist
The space between the stars
Do you think of me like this?

Do you think of me like crack
Illegally refined?
Sunglass for your eyes
Do you think that love is blind?

Do you think of me like salt?
Do you taste me in your tears?
Do you think of me like oil?
Filthy rich, my dear

I think of you like food
I think of you like wine
I shouldn't lick my fingers
I'm drinking all the time

I think of you like paint
Flesh tones and pink
I think of you like rhyme
So much it makes me think
I'm mad about you

Do you think of me like sand
Warm southern fire?
Take me with you in the dark
And secret in your mind

Do you think of me like snow
School starting in the fall?




Do you think of me in spring
Do you think of me at all?

Overall Meaning

The song "Snow" by Patricia Barber is full of intriguing metaphors that frame the questions she asks her lover about how he perceives her. Throughout the lyrics, Barber intertwines questions about her identity with the sensual experiences she can evoke, like white snow or dark jazz. She paints her love, perhaps obsessively, as something that her partner consumes, taste, and desire. Barber uses images of food, drink, colors, elements, substances, and even celestial bodies to evoke the complexity of her relationship and express how much she loves him. The way Barber depicts herself in these metaphors shows that she is struggling with the uncertainty of her partner's feelings and how he perceives her.


Moreover, the song portrays a somewhat unbalanced, obsessive relationship where one person seems to invest more emotion than the other. Throughout the lyrics, Barber contrasts the notion of purity and cleanliness (snow, linen, ink) with addictive, hedonistic desires (fat, chocolate, cream). The obsession and craving for love are also shown in the references to drugs, salt, and oil, where everything becomes filthy and addictive. By the chorus, Barber reaches a moment of vulnerability, where she wishes to be something that her partner can't forget, like the moon. By the end of the song, the repetition of the question, "Do you think of me at all?" suggests that her love may be unreciprocated or left unfulfilled.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you think of me like snow Cool, slippery and white?
Do you perceive me as cold, elusive, and flawless?


Do you think of me like jazz As hip as black as night?
Do you see me as cool, stylish, and captivating like jazz?


Do you think of me like linen Summer sheets on which you sleep?
Do you envision me as comfortable, pleasant and relaxing, like summer sheets?


Do you think of me like ink Skinny words you want to keep?
Do you consider me like a meaningful and indelible impression, a memory you want to cherish?


Do you think of me like fat Irresistible as cream? On your lips, on your hips Like chocolate or like a dream
Am I tempting, irresistible, and desirable to you, like your favorite treat or fantasy?


Ohh, to be the moon A diamond you can't resist The space between the stars Do you think of me like this?
Can I be the irresistible, captivating, and unattainable thing of your desire, like the moon or a diamond?


Do you think of me like crack Illegally refined? Sunglass for your eyes Do you think that love is blind?
Do you perceive me as addictive, exhilarating, and a distraction that blinds your judgment?


Do you think of me like salt? Do you taste me in your tears? Do you think of me like oil? Filthy rich, my dear
Am I something that you crave or need, like salt or oil, something that enriches your life?


I think of you like food I think of you like wine I shouldn't lick my fingers I'm drinking all the time
I see you as my nourishment and my addiction, something that satisfies my hunger and my thirst.


I think of you like paint Flesh tones and pink I think of you like rhyme So much it makes me think I'm mad about you
I see you as my inspiration, a color that brightens my life, and a melody that fills my heart. I'm crazy about you.


Do you think of me like sand Warm southern fire? Take me with you in the dark And secret in your mind
Do you perceive me as passionate, intense, and intimate, like a warm fire? Can you keep me as a secret and cherish me in your heart?


Do you think of me like snow School starting in the fall? Do you think of me in spring Do you think of me at all?
Am I just a fleeting memory, like school starting or the seasons changing? Do you think of me at all?




Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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