His 1983 solo debut album after leaving Thin Lizzy was titled White Flames and spawned the hit single Bird of Paradise.
During the following years, White focused on touring extensively with his White Flames band.
In 1990, he was invited by the then, former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters, to perform in another take of The Wall, by the ruins of the Berlin Wall, among with other guest artists, and delivered a memorable guitar solo in the song Comfortably Numb.
Through the years, he released records under his own name, as well as under the names Snowy White's Blues Agency and Snowy White & the White Flames.
Official Website: Snowy White
Silence In the Valley
Snowy White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the river used to flow
There's a shadow in the corner
Where the sunrise used to go
Now the soldiers stand in the doorway
And watch the children in the snow
___ the darkend windows
Where I listen to the speeches
And the strangers change their lives
And the preacher cannot comfort them
'Cause the darkness holds them tight
There's a silence in the valley
Where the music used to play
And the houses stand in ruin
As the warlords have their day
And on the snow the blood goes cold
And people crowd along the road
They disappear into gray
When no compassion can be found
To rest beneath God's frozen ground
There's a camera crew arriving
And a politician too
And many words are spoken
But they will never find the truth
The valley holds the secrets
And there is nothing we can do
The lyrics to Snowy White's "Silence In The Valley" paint a bleak picture of a war-torn town where everything has changed for the worse. The opening lines suggests that a once vibrant and lively place, filled with the sound of flowing water, is now in the grips of a cold wind, and the river that fed it has dried up. The shadows where the sunrise once shone also suggest a sense of loss and decay. The imagery suggests that war has ravaged the town, and everything that once made it a beautiful place to live is gone.
As the song progresses, we see the impact of this war on the people who live there. The soldiers who stand in the doorway and watch the children in the snow suggest a sense of fear and intimidation. The darkened windows and solitary light suggest that people are living in fear, and they are not able to lead normal lives. Even the speeches of strangers can't change their lives because of the darkness that holds on to them tightly.
The chorus shows how war has silenced the music that once played in the valley, and the houses now stand in ruin. The warlords have taken over, and people are simply trying to survive. The blood in the snow suggests that violence is a regular occurrence, and people are dying every day. The grayness that takes over suggests that death and despair are prevalent in this place, and God's frozen ground is where the dead are laid to rest. It's a haunting and evocative message that will stay with you long after the song ends.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a cold wind in the valley
The valley is no longer warm and pleasant; it is now affected by a chilly wind.
Where the river used to flow
The river that used to run through the valley has dried up.
There's a shadow in the corner
A dark and ominous presence now occupies one corner of the valley.
Where the sunrise used to go
The sunrise can no longer be seen in its usual spot in the valley.
Now the soldiers stand in the doorway
The valley is now being occupied by soldiers who are guarding the entrance.
And watch the children in the snow
The soldiers observe the children playing in the snow from their vantage point.
___ the darkend windows
As the singer looks out of a window, they notice that it is very dark outside.
Just one solitary light
Only one light is visible in the darkness.
Where I listen to the speeches
The artist is listening to speeches being made by unknown individuals.
And the strangers change their lives
People who do not know each other are making life-changing decisions.
And the preacher cannot comfort them
Even the preacher is incapable of consoling these individuals.
'Cause the darkness holds them tight
The darkness has a strong grip on these people and refuses to let go.
There's a silence in the valley
There is an eerie quietness that has settled over the valley.
Where the music used to play
The music that used to fill the valley's airwaves is no longer heard.
And the houses stand in ruin
The buildings in the area are now in a state of disrepair.
As the warlords have their day
The valley is now under the control of warlords who are taking advantage of the situation.
And on the snow the blood goes cold
The sight of blood on the snow is a chilling reminder of the violence that has taken place.
And people crowd along the road
Individuals are gathered along the roadside, looking for a way out of the valley.
They disappear into gray
As they leave the valley, their surroundings become increasingly bleak and dreary.
When no compassion can be found
The lack of empathy and understanding in the valley is disconcerting.
To rest beneath God's frozen ground
The valley is so cold and unforgiving that even the dead struggle to find peace.
There's a camera crew arriving
A group of journalists is coming to cover the events taking place in the valley.
And a politician too
A prominent political figure is also on his way to the area.
And many words are spoken
Numerous individuals are talking about the situation in the valley.
But they will never find the truth
Despite their best efforts, none of these individuals will be able to uncover the full truth about what is happening in the valley.
The valley holds the secrets
The truth about the valley is only known by those who live there.
And there is nothing we can do
As outsiders, there is nothing we can do to truly help the people in the valley.
Writer(s): snowy white
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.