Hymn To Winter
Sissel Lyrics


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(Traditional / Bjerkestrand / Graham)

Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
Long is the long night 'til morning will be
Bright be the north star to shine constantly
'Til winter brings you home safely to me

Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the true love that brings you to me

Still is the valley, no bell to be ringing
Silent the harsh frost that crushes the tree
Frozen the heart with no song to be singing
'Til winter brings you home safely to me

Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the truel love that brings you to me

Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
Long is the long night 'til morning will be
Bright be the north star to shine constantly
'Til winter brings you home safely to me

Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home




Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the true love that brings you to me

Overall Meaning

Sissel's "Hymn to Winter" is a song that explores the emotions and feelings that the winter season brings to people waiting for their loved ones to come home. The first stanza talks about the darkness that falls upon the singer, and the long night they have to endure until their loved one returns. However, the north star shines bright, offering a glimmer of hope that their loved one will make it home safely. The second stanza talks about the stillness and silence of the valley, and the frozen heart of the singer, who has no song to sing until their loved one returns. The chorus repeats the blessings bestowed upon the west wind, the wild fall, the ocean that carries their loved one home, the cold winter with its storm and sea, and the true love that brings their loved one back to them.


Overall, the song is a beautiful ode to winter and the emotions it evokes in people. The darkness, stillness, and coldness of winter make the singer long for their loved one to come home, and the blessings they repeat in the chorus show their gratitude for the elements of nature that ensure their loved one's safe return.


Line by Line Meaning

Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
The darkness that surrounds me is profound and heavy


Long is the long night 'til morning will be
The night feels endless and I anxiously await the coming of morning


Bright be the north star to shine constantly
The north star provides a bright and constant source of guidance


'Til winter brings you home safely to me
I await your safe return during the winter season


Blessed be the west wind
May the west wind bring you to me safely


Blessed be the wild 'fall
May the changing of the seasons bring you back to me


Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
May the ocean guide you safely back to me


Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
May the cold and stormy winter lead you safely back to me


Blessed be the true love that brings you to me
May our love guide you back to me safely


Still is the valley, no bell to be ringing
The valley is quiet and still, with no bells ringing to herald your arrival


Silent the harsh frost that crushes the tree
The frost is heavy and silent, damaging the trees in its wake


Frozen the heart with no song to be singing
My heart feels frozen and empty without you here


'Til winter brings you home safely to me
I eagerly wait for winter to bring you back to me safely


Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
The darkness holds a heavy weight on me once again


Long is the long night 'til morning will be
The night feels never-ending and I anticipate the dawn


Bright be the north star to shine constantly
The north star remains the constant guide through the darkness


'Til winter brings you home safely to me
I long for winter to bring you back to my side where you belong


Blessed be the west wind
May the west wind bring you back to me safely


Blessed be the wild 'fall
May the changing of the seasons bring you back to me safely


Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
May the waves guide you safely back to me


Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
May the winter elements carry you back to me safely


Blessed be the true love that brings you to me
Our love will guide you back to me safely




Contributed by Lauren N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@saireygamp62

Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
Long is the long night 'til morning will be
Bright be the north star to shine constantly
'Til winter brings you home safely to me
Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the true love that brings you to me
Still is the valley, no bell to be ringing
Silent the harsh frost that crushes the tree
Frozen the heart with no song to be singing
'Til winter brings you home safely to me
Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the truel love that brings you to me
Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
Long is the long night 'til morning will be
Bright be the north star to shine constantly
'Til winter brings you home safely to me
Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the true love that brings you to me



@liligibson8457

Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
Long is the long night 'til morning will be
Bright be the north star to shine constantly
'Til winter brings you home safely to me

Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the true love that brings you to me

Still is the valley, no bell to be ringing
Silent the harsh frost that crushes the tree
Frozen the heart with no song to be singing
'Til winter brings you home safely to me

Blessed be the west wind
Blessed be the wild 'fall
Blessed be the ocean to carry you home
Blessed be cold winter, its storm and its sea
Blessed be the truel love that brings you to me

Deep is the darkness that falls down on me
Long is the long night 'til morning will be
Bright be the north star to shine constantly
'Til winter brings you home safely to me



All comments from YouTube:

@normanmeharry58

just when I think I have heard all that this singer makes beautiful I discover another gem. This hymn is the latest...

@jwilliam2255

One of my two or three (or is it five or six) favorites from Northern Lights. Sissel's use of vocal ornament here is so exquisitely lovely, I tear up every time I hear this song. One of your best montages Schmued ... thanks for this post.

@hughelizabethmckay6792

Thank you Schnued for this post ‘Hymn to Winter ‘ , Beautiful , For once in my lifetime I am stuck for words , I am a 63 year old man ❤️

@Mothmaiden_Abyzou

Her voice is so beautiful. Like an Angel's singing ♡

@saireygamp62

she could sing a restaurant menu and we would love it

@jimhamilton5782

So so lovely. Winter can be sacred even in N. Alberta at 60-70 degs below zero F. with the forest glimmering in silence. So bright & still.

@roofbolterx5

Perfectly sang from the heart. The Voice never disappoints . She has taken so much of my time, or have I taken so much of her time?

@rolandbruiners5709

With that soothing soprano, I'm most definitely over my sleeping troubles. Sissel does it for me.
#STUDENT
#FANFROMSOUTHAFRICA

@raycranley

Calming loveliness. Thank you Sissel, from the heart.

@irishfield1

So amazing voice and song gorgeous ever could listen to this ever thank you Sissel

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