Winter Song
Screaming Trees Lyrics


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Jesus knocking on my door
Late last night and early this morning
Window glass, rusted and weary
I went straight through
Didn't hear no warning

Just a roll of the dice
And a precious vice
To bring you round, it's easier
When I'm wasting my time
And I'm losing my mind
Oh my mind

Try to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard not to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart

Dead end street, just out my back door
I heard what's seen, a young girl laughing
Now raindrops fall away like souls
I wondered if she ever heard mine dying

Just a roll of the dice, and a precious vice
To bring you round, it's easier
When I'm wasting my time
And I'm losing my mind
Oh my mind

Trying to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard now to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart
Trying to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard now to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart





Jesus knocking on my door
One last time, and early this morning

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Screaming Trees' song "Winter Song" are cryptic and open to interpretation. The singer seems to be experiencing a rough time mentally, as evidenced by the repeated refrain of "Trying to wait for the sky to fall / It's kind of hard now to see it all / Whisper a song of winter in your heart." The singer is waiting for some sort of change or release (for the sky to fall) but is having trouble seeing a way out of their current circumstances. The appearance of Jesus knocking on their door twice could represent spiritual struggles or a plea for some sort of divine intervention.


The second verse takes a darker turn, with the singer referencing a dead-end street and the sound of a girl's laughter. It's unclear what the laughter means to the singer, but the subsequent line ("Now raindrops fall away like souls") creates a haunting image of a lost innocence or something slipping away. The repeated references to "just a roll of the dice and a precious vice" suggest that the singer is aware that their situation may be partially due to their own choices or recklessness.


Overall, "Winter Song" is a poetic and emotionally charged ode to depression and longing. The repeated imagery of winter and waiting for change creates a sense of impatience and desperation, while the references to chance and vice hint at a larger struggle with personal responsibility and fate.


Line by Line Meaning

Jesus knocking on my door
The singer is referring to a pivotal moment where they felt a spiritual presence near them.


Late last night and early this morning
The spiritual presence was noticeable for a long period of time.


Window glass, rusted and weary
The singer notices the outside world through a glass window that is old and worn, and could represent a lack of clarity for the singer.


I went straight through
The singer disregarded the state of the window as they were more focused on the spiritual presence.


Didn't hear no warning
The singer was taken by surprise by the spiritual presence and did not expect it.


Just a roll of the dice And a precious vice To bring you round, it's easier When I'm wasting my time And I'm losing my mind Oh my mind
The singer uses their vices to distract themselves from the challenges of life and cope with their own mental state.


Try to wait for the sky to fall It's kind of hard not to see it all Whisper a song of winter in your heart
The singer talks about their inability to ignore the world and the chaos happening around them. They offer the listener advice to keep a calm song of winter in their heart to cope.


Dead end street, just out my back door I heard what's seen, a young girl laughing Now raindrops fall away like souls I wondered if she ever heard mine dying
The singer describes a bleak outlook of the world and seems to be referring to the idea that all life is fleeting. They wonder if others are aware of this reality.


Jesus knocking on my door One last time, and early this morning
The song comes full circle, with the singer once again mentioning the spiritual presence they felt earlier, but this time with an added sense of finality.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONNER, LANEGAN

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

Juan Mendoza-Marker

Jesus knocking on my door
Late last night and early this morning
Window glass, rusted and weary
I went straight through
Didn't hear no warning

Just a roll of the dice
And a precious vice
To bring you round, it's easier
When I'm wasting my time
And I'm losing my mind
Oh my mind

Try to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard not to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart

Dead end street, just out my back door
I heard what's seen, a young girl laughing
Now raindrops fall away like souls
I wondered if she ever heard mine dying

Just a roll of the dice, and a precious vice
To bring you round, it's easier
When I'm wasting my time
And I'm losing my mind
Oh my mind

Trying to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard now to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart
Trying to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard now to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart

Jesus knocking on my door
One last time, and early this morning



All comments from YouTube:

wpcooper1978

Always believe this song deserved a great clip ... one of the best songs of the era, with out a doubt!

Juan Mendoza-Marker

Jesus knocking on my door
Late last night and early this morning
Window glass, rusted and weary
I went straight through
Didn't hear no warning

Just a roll of the dice
And a precious vice
To bring you round, it's easier
When I'm wasting my time
And I'm losing my mind
Oh my mind

Try to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard not to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart

Dead end street, just out my back door
I heard what's seen, a young girl laughing
Now raindrops fall away like souls
I wondered if she ever heard mine dying

Just a roll of the dice, and a precious vice
To bring you round, it's easier
When I'm wasting my time
And I'm losing my mind
Oh my mind

Trying to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard now to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart
Trying to wait for the sky to fall
It's kind of hard now to see it all
Whisper a song of winter in your heart

Jesus knocking on my door
One last time, and early this morning

Chris Morgan

Great song from an all-time great rock album.

Paddy Scoffin

yes

Sharon Guy

Hauntingly beautiful~~love Mark Langdon’s voice and Screaming Trees♥️

scott pierce

so easy to play as well , a,e,d and g . Lanegan and the trees are the most underrated band of the 80`s/90`s

Rob Atwater

Well I used to love the Screaming Trees and I never bothered to listen to the album sweet Oblivion cuz I figured the whole thing sounded like nearly lost you and I didn't like that song I thought it was too mainstream.. wintersong is an Awesome song!!!!!!!

scott pierce

@Jefferson Araujo el Católico TV Ben McMillan was the man. Jack Endino is Seattle scene royalty.

Jefferson Araujo el Católico TV

Not as underrated as Gruntruck, Skin Yard or My Sister's Machine.

Mad Mike

I totally agree. I really wish troubled times or no one knows was on the singles soundtrack

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