The originator of the Wall of Sound production technique, Spector was a pioneer of the 1960s girl group sound (The Ronettes and The Crystals a.o.) and produced over twenty-five Top 40 hits between 1960 and 1965 alone. After this initial success, Spector later worked with artists including Ike and Tina Turner, John Lennon, George Harrison, and the Ramones with similar acclaim.
He produced the Beatles' Academy Award-winning album Let It Be, and the Grammy Award-winning Concert for Bangladesh by former Beatle George Harrison. In 1989, Spector was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. The 1965 song You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', produced and co-written by Spector for The Righteous Brothers, is listed by BMI as the song with the most U.S. airplay in the 20th century.
Dubbed the "First Tycoon of Teen", Spector's records helped engender the role of the studio as an instrument, the integration of pop art aesthetics into music (art pop), and the art rock genre. His multi-artist compilation album "A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records" (1963) is widely considered to be the finest Christmas record of all time. Spector's honors include the 1973 Grammy Award for Album of the Year for co-producing Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh (1971), a 1989 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a 1997 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Spector number 63 on their list of the greatest artists in history.
The 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson in his Alhambra, California home led to his being charged with murder in the second degree. After a 2007 mistrial, he was convicted in 2009 and given a prison sentence of 19 years to life. Spector died in prison due to complications of the COVID-19 virus.
Marshmallow World
Phil Spector Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the snow comes to cover the ground.
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day,
I wait for it all year round!
Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly,
In the arms of the evergreen trees;
And the sun is red like a pumpkin's head,
The world is your snowball, see how it grows,
That's how it goes, whenever it snows.
The world is your snowball just for a song,
Get out and roll it along!
It's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts
Take a walk with your favorite girl
It's a sugar date, what if spring is late
In winter it's a marshmallow world
The world is your snowball, see how it grows,
That's how it goes, whenever it snows.
The world is your snowball just for a song,
Get out and roll it along!
It's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts,
Take a walk with your favorite girl.
It's a sugar date, so what if spring is late,
In winter it's a marshmallow world!
In winter it's a marshmallow world!
In winter it's a marshmallow world!
The lyrics to Phil Spector's "Marshmallow World" are an upbeat and joyful celebration of the winter season. The opening line, "It's a marshmallow world in the winter," suggests a sense of childlike wonder and imagination. The snow covering the ground is described as a time for play and whipped cream, which creates a whimsical and carefree atmosphere. The use of playful and light imagery further emphasizes this feeling, such as the description of the marshmallow clouds and the sun being red like a pumpkin's head.
The chorus, "The world is your snowball, see how it grows, that's how it goes, whenever it snows," encourages the listener to embrace the winter and make the most of it. It's a reminder that the winter can be a time of joy and wonder, rather than something to simply endure. The song concludes by suggesting that the sweetness of the world is made for sweethearts, and even if spring is late, the winter is still a "marshmallow world."
Overall, "Marshmallow World" is a playful and upbeat song that encourages the listener to embrace the joy of winter and all the sweetness it has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a marshmallow world in the winter,
Winter is a season where everything looks soft and sweet, like a marshmallow.
When the snow comes to cover the ground.
Snow covers the ground in winter, making it look like it's coated with fluffy sugar.
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day,
Winter is a time for fun and games, with everything tasting as fun and lighthearted as whipped cream.
I wait for it all year round!
The artist loves winter and can hardly wait for it to come every year.
Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly,
The clouds in the winter sky look soft and friendly, like marshmallows.
In the arms of the evergreen trees;
The trees provide a cozy, comforting environment for the marshmallow-like clouds to rest in.
And the sun is red like a pumpkin's head,
The winter sun can take on a warm, reddish glow, like that of a pumpkin's head.
It's shining so your nose won't freeze!
Despite the winter chill, the sun is shining bright and warm enough to keep your nose from freezing.
The world is your snowball, see how it grows,
In winter, everything seems to come together, like a snowball rolling down a hill, getting bigger and bigger.
That's how it goes, whenever it snows.
Whenever it snows, the world becomes something magical, as everything gets coated in a layer of sparkling, powdery snow.
The world is your snowball just for a song,
The singer is saying that even if you don't have much, you can still find joy and wonder in the winter, just by singing and playing in the snow.
Get out and roll it along!
The artist is encouraging listeners to take advantage of the magic of winter and enjoy the snow while it lasts.
It's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts
Winter is a season of love, with everything feeling warm and sweet, like a dessert made for two.
Take a walk with your favorite girl
The singer is inviting listeners to take a walk with their loved ones and enjoy the beauty of winter together.
It's a sugar date, what if spring is late
Even if spring takes its time coming, the joy and sweetness of winter, like a date full of sugary treats, is worth the wait.
In winter it's a marshmallow world
Winter turns the world into a soft, sweet, marshmallow-like dreamland.
In winter it's a marshmallow world!
The artist repeats the sentiment that winter is a magical, marshmallow-like world of wonder and joy.
In winter it's a marshmallow world!
Once more, the singer reiterates that winter is an enchanting season of sweetness and delight.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARL SIGMAN, PETER DE ROSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Horazy
56 years ago in the summer of 1963 this recording was the beginning of one of the most holiday tunes of all time. It will continue to be long after we who are here are gone. What is interesting is there are many who have yet to be born will here this and the entire album for the first time. Music seems to have a greater power and shelf life than any of us could ever do or that we can create beyond our own expectations.