He regularly does solo work, and returns again and again to bands he has formed like The Soft Boys and The Egyptians. Hitchcock is an avid and able collaborator with people like director Jonathan Demme, actor Alan Rickman, country/folk duo (and longtime Hitchcock fans) Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Venus 3, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Young Fresh Fellows' frontman Scott McCaughey, Andy Partridge of XTC, Nick Lowe, former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Jon Brion, and Grant-Lee Phillips, as well as Ministry's Bill Rieflin.
Hitchcock's musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by his appreciation of Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso, The Byrds, Country Joe & The Fish, and Syd Barrett.
Hitchcock's lyrics are an essential component of his work, and tend to include surrealism, comedic songs, characterisations of English eccentrics, plant roots, insects, trains, dreams, and melancholy depictions of everyday life. His themes include what many psychologists view as the roots of modern neurosis - namely, death, sex, and eating. (As if in recognition of these themes, he released an EP in 2007 called "Sex, Food, Death and Tarantulas".)
Winter Love
Robyn Hitchcock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crystal branches everywhere,
As the colours drain away.
You alone, are far away.
Leaves of frost upon the trees.
Lovers falling on their knees.
Curtains parting in the night.
Let me in your sweet delight.
Now a different world I see.
For one second all I know,
Everything is made of snow.
First from white and then to blue,
Pink to purple, lost to view.
It's the darkest time of year.
Winter love is almost here.
The lyrics of Robyn Hitchcock's "Winter Love" describe the onset of winter, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. The "darkest time of year" could refer to the short, dark days of winter, as well as a metaphorical darkness, such as a sense of loneliness or despair. The "crystal branches" and "leaves of frost" evoke a beautiful but icy landscape that reflects the coldness of the season. Hitchcock contrasts this with the warmth of love, as "lovers falling on their knees" seek solace in each other's arms. The reference to "curtains parting in the night" suggests a private, intimate encounter that takes place against the backdrop of the winter landscape. Ultimately, the song expresses a bittersweet longing for a connection that can withstand the trials of winter.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the darkest time of year.
The winter season is the gloomiest period when daylight is brief and darkness takes over.
Crystal branches everywhere,
The trees are covered with icy branches that glimmer like crystals due to the cold.
As the colours drain away.
The leaves or any other colorful item loses their vibrancy and turn pale due to the bleakness of winter.
You alone, are far away.
Being far away from someone is like being isolated in a lonely winter landscape.
Leaves of frost upon the trees.
The leaves turn to frost like texture covering the tree branches and surroundings.
Lovers falling on their knees.
Couples become sentimental and express their love through actions such as falling to their knees in the romantic winter season.
Curtains parting in the night.
The curtains being drawn in the mysterious winter night reveal the outside world.
Let me in your sweet delight.
Winter's charm makes it difficult for one to resist the urge to be with their lover.
Where the garden used to be,
The garden that once flourished with life and color is now barren and frozen due to winter.
Now a different world I see.
Winter brings about a transformation of the landscape into a world that is unfamiliar to what one has grown accustomed to for the rest of the year.
For one second all I know,
For one fleeting moment of winter, everything seems to be still, and time stops.
Everything is made of snow.
The snowfall covers everything and creates a white, picturesque world that appears to be made entirely out of snow.
First from white and then to blue,
After the snowfall, the snow on the ground changes in color from white to blue due to the winter's coldness.
Pink to purple, lost to view.
As the colors of the sky change from pink to purple, the landscape becomes obscured and difficult to see.
It's the darkest time of year.
The winter season is the gloomiest period when daylight is brief and darkness takes over.
Winter love is almost here.
The winter season is a time for romance and love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROBYN HITCHCOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind