Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Sunset Wings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His house is in the village though
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow
My little horse must think it's query
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Sunset Wings is a poem-turned-song that captures the contemplative and tranquil experience of being in the midst of nature. The singer finds themselves in a snowy forest, admiring the beauty of the woods filling up with snow. They mention that the woods belong to someone else, that the owner resides in the nearby village. Despite this, the singer decides to pause and watch the snowfall, assuming that the owner will not notice their presence.
The singer's horse, however, seems puzzled by their sudden stop in the absence of a farmhouse nearby. As the horse shakes its harness bells, questioning the pause, the only sounds that can be heard are the gentle wind and the falling snowflakes. The second stanza portrays a sense of isolation, with the woods and frozen lake enhancing the feeling of darkness on the eve of winter.
In the final stanza, the singer acknowledges the beauty and allure of the woods, describing them as "lovely, dark and deep." Yet, they remember their responsibilities and commitments, metaphorically referred to as "promises to keep." The repetition of the last two lines emphasizes the singer's awareness that they have a long journey ahead of them before they can rest and sleep, both physically and metaphorically.
Overall, the lyrics of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" reflect on the interconnectedness of nature, the desire to be present in the moment, and the recognition of one's obligations and the long road that lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Whose woods these are I think I know
I believe I know who owns these woods
His house is in the village though
But his house is located in the village
He will not see me stopping here
He won't catch me pausing here
To watch his woods fill up with snow
As I witness his woods being covered in snow
My little horse must think it's query
My small horse may find it curious
To stop without a farmhouse near
To halt without a nearby farmhouse
Between the woods and frozen lake
In the space amidst the woods and the frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year
On the darkest evening of the entire year
He gives his harness bells a shake
He jingles his harness bells in a quick motion
To ask if there is some mistake
To inquire if there is an error
The only other sound's the sweep
The sole additional sound is the gentle rustling
Of easy wind and downy flake
Of the soft breeze and light snowfall
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
The woods are enchanting, mysterious, and profound
But I have promises to keep
Yet, I have obligations to fulfill
And miles to go before I sleep
And there are many miles left before I can rest
And miles to go before I sleep
And many more miles to traverse before I can rest
And miles to go before I sleep
And numerous miles to cover before I can rest
And miles to go before I sleep
And countless miles remaining before I can find respite
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alex Popov
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind