Winter Song
Sara Bareilles feat. Ingrid Michaelson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum
Bum bum, bum bum bum bum
Bum bum, bum bum bum bum

This is my winter song to you
The storm is coming soon
It rolls in from the sea
My voice, a beacon in the night
My words will be your light
To carry you to me

Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love

They say that things just cannot grow
Beneath the winter snow
Or so I have been told

They say we're buried far
Just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold

Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive

This is my winter song
December never felt so wrong
'Cause you're not where you belong
Inside my arms

Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum
Bum bum, bum bum bum bum
Bum bum, bum bum bum bum

I still believe in summer days
The seasons always change
And life will find a way

I'll be your harvester of light
And send it out tonight
So we can start again

Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive

This is my winter song
December never felt so wrong
'Cause you're not where you belong
Inside my arms

This is my winter song to you
The storm is coming soon
It rolls in from the sea

My love a beacon in the night
My words will be your light
To carry you to me

Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive

Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive

Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive
Is love alive

Is love alive
Is love alive




Is love alive
Is love alive

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Sara Bareilles' Winter Song are followed by the assertion that the storm is coming soon and it rolls in from the sea. The song evokes the image of an impending winter storm and the emotions that come with it. The singer's voice is described as a beacon in the night, a symbol of hope and comfort for whoever hears it. The desire to be reunited with a loved one is clear when the singer says that their words will be a light to carry the other person to them.


The second verse of the song is about how people believe that things cannot grow during winter, that they are buried beneath the snow, but the singer does not believe this holds true for love. The person they long for is seemingly buried far like a distant star and they cannot hold them, but hope remains that love is alive. The chorus is repeated several times, underlining the idea that love is still alive despite the challenges that winter brings.


Ingrid Michaelson adds her harmonies to the chorus, and in the final lines, the singer declares that they still believe in summer days. They want to be the harvester of light and send love out so that two people can start again. The final chorus repeats that love is still alive, making the song feel hopeful despite its wintery setting. Overall, Winter Song is an evocative song of hope, longing, and warmth in the midst of a cold winter season.


Line by Line Meaning

Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum
Instrumental intro


Bum bum, bum bum bum bum
Instrumental interlude


Bum bum, bum bum bum bum
Instrumental interlude


This is my winter song to you
I'm dedicating this song to you, my love, for the winter season.


The storm is coming soon
Soon a storm will arrive, signaling the arrival of winter.


It rolls in from the sea
The storm originates from the sea.


My voice, a beacon in the night
My voice will guide you through the dark and difficult times of winter.


My words will be your light
My words will give you hope and guide you towards me.


To carry you to me
I want you to come to me and be with me during the winter.


Is love alive
Are we still in love?


Is love alive
Are we still in love?


Is love
Is our love


They say that things just cannot grow
People say that growth and change cannot happen during winter.


Beneath the winter snow
This refers to things that are buried beneath the snow during winter.


Or so I have been told
Although people say this, I don't believe it to be true.


They say we're buried far
They say that we're far apart and can't be together during winter.


Just like a distant star
This is a simile, meaning we're far apart like a star in the sky.


I simply cannot hold
I can't bear the thought of being separated from you during winter.


This is my winter song
This is a song I wrote for the winter season.


December never felt so wrong
It feels wrong that you're not here with me during December.


'Cause you're not where you belong
You belong with me, but you're not here.


Inside my arms
I want to hold you in my arms.


I still believe in summer days
I believe in the warmth and happiness of summer, even during winter.


The seasons always change
The seasons will change, and winter won't last forever.


And life will find a way
We will find a way to be together again and overcome the difficulties of winter.


I'll be your harvester of light
I'll gather all the light and warmth we can find and share it with you during winter.


And send it out tonight
I'll share this warmth and light with you tonight.


So we can start again
We can start over and make the most of our time together during winter.


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?


Is love alive
Do we still love each other?




Writer(s): Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson

Contributed by Audrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@maddie7790

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
It rolls in from the sea
My voice; a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
To carry you to me.
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love
They say that things just cannot grow
Beneath the winter snow,
Or so I have been told.
They say were buried far,
Just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold.
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
'Cause you're not where you belong;
Inside my arms.
Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
Bum bum bum bum bum bum
Bum bum bum bum bum bum
I still believe in summer days.
The seasons always change
And life will find a way.
I'll be your harvester of light
And send it out tonight
So we can start again.
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
'Cause you're not where you belong;
Inside my arms.
This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon
It rolls in from the sea.
My love a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light
To carry you to me.
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?



All comments from YouTube:

@shiguresgirl

I would pay so much money to get Ingrid & Sara to collaborate on an entire album together.

So. Much. Money.

@twinkietube5451

5 years ago damn

@gapgirl321

@@chrise.3814 work on your material. that was painfully unfunny. to a 7 year old comment at that.

@Taniere

How much?

@supersizesenpai

@@gapgirl321 I kind of chuckled a little bit cuz it was so out of pocket. lol

@mayaelisheva3501

This song is what musical dreams are made of
I mean
Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson IN THE SAME SONG
with gorgeous harmonies
I can't.

@tiffy717

Two of my favorite artists, in ONE SONG? Omg my life is for fulfilled.  

@RaziyatheRavager

Ikr? It's beautiful.

Listen to it with Rainymood, though... if you like the rain. At least once. It's sooooo peaceful.

@tiffy717

Brutal Doomguy OMG, best idea ever!

@RaziyatheRavager

Let it be said that I am not without a soft side.

It's mostly for the SSG, buuut I can make an exception for Ingrid Michaelson. She and I go waaaay back.

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