Freezing
Philip Glass Lyrics


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If you had no name
If you had no history
If you had no books
If you had no family

If it were only you
Naked on the grass
Who would you be then?
This is what he asked

And I said, I wasn't really sure
But I would probably be cold





And now I'm freezing
Freezing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Philip Glass's song "Freezing" address a deep philosophical question: who are we without our personal histories and social constructs? The singer is asked to imagine a scenario in which they have no name, history, books, or family - essentially, they are stripped of all external markers of identity. In this imagined scenario, the singer is left with only their inner self, naked on the grass. The question that follows is a challenging one: who would you be then? The singer doesn't have an immediate answer - they aren't sure. But they acknowledge that they would probably be cold, physically exposed without the trappings of civilization.


The singer's response highlights the vulnerability and fragility of human identity. It suggests that our sense of self is created and reinforced through a complex interplay of external factors - the stories we tell about ourselves, the roles we assume in our families and communities, our knowledge and experiences. Without these factors, we might feel lost or unsure of who we are. The choice of the word "freezing" to describe this state of being emphasizes the discomfort and disorientation of such a scenario.


In a broader sense, the song might be seen as a meditation on the nature of personal identity and its relationship to larger social and historical contexts. It asks us to consider what might remain of us if we were stripped of our associations and labels - a question that has been explored by philosophers and artists throughout history.


Line by Line Meaning

If you had no name
If you were not given an identity at birth


If you had no history
If you were not familiar with the past or your ancestry


If you had no books
If you had no access to knowledge or literature


If you had no family
If you were alone without any blood relations


If it were only you
In a scenario where you were the only entity present


Naked on the grass
Without any clothes on the ground


Who would you be then?
Who would you perceive yourself as in such a situation?


And I said, I wasn't really sure
I expressed uncertainty about the answer


But I would probably be cold
The only certainty I have is a physical feeling of coldness


And now I'm freezing
At this moment, I am experiencing extreme cold


Freezing
Reinforcement of the physical sensation of coldness




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PHILIP GLASS, SUZANNE VEGA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

itxebe

Si no tuvieras nombre
Si no tuvieras historia
Si no tienes libros
Si no tuvieras familia
Si fueras solo tú
Desnudo en la hierba
¿Quién serías entonces?
Ésto es lo que preguntó
Y dije que no estaba muy seguro
Pero, probablemente,
estaría frío
Y ahora estoy helado
Helado



jsphotos

If you had no name
If you had no history
If you had no books
If you had no family
If it were only you
Naked on the grass
Who would you be then?
This is what he asked
And I said, I wasn't really sure
But I would probably be cold
And now I'm freezing
Freezing...



itxebe

Izenik ez bazenu
Istoriarik ez bazenu
Libururik ez baduzu
Seniderik ez bazina
Zu bakarrik bazina
Biluzik belar gainean
Nor izango zinateke orduan?
Hauxe galdetu zuen
Eta ez nengoela batere ziur esan nuen
Baina seguruenik hotza izango nintzen
Eta orain izozturik nago.
Izoztuta



All comments from YouTube:

Yourand

Damn. That moment when there's a long plateau of sound, and then sudden appearance of a faster motif breakes the calm... "and now I'm freezing". It gives me this very weird sensation of a doom, not fully understood, yet absolutely certain. Chills every time. Love it.

louisa baldwin

1st heard this about 30 years ago and same as good now as it did then Phillip Glass is an absolute master!!!!

José Lira Rosiles

Ojalá esto fuera lo que escuchan mis vecinos a todo volumen...hermoso.

Elio

a truly divine masterpiece, great job with the video!

Djahai

Chaque fois que je l'écoute, mon plaisir est inchangé. Cette musique est simplement accomplies !

Pavel Gromnic

As much as we appreciate these videos as entertainment, and I feel that this one in particular is very beautiful, we shouldn't neglect the point that these works, both the video and the gorgeous music are the offerings of human beings with a mysterious message, beneath the veneer of the immediate. How lucky we all are to be gifted this opportunity to consider the mystery.

Ryan

You have to look at this song as a poem set to music. The lyrics add so much.

Marce nuñez

Especial sensibilidad, tiene este tema. Acaricia los sentidos. Un diez.

Henry Meredith

I think it is brilliant and moving. It's a brilliant piece of music to play when you are feeling stressed.

Kirk Wells

still my favorite song by him so far. Have a hard time thinking my own thoughts when hearing this...

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