Bitter Cold
The Willis Clan Lyrics

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Heading down the winter highway
You bear your burden tall
No one comes to take it from you
When your heart begins to fall

As you go your lonely way
You hear the wind begin to say

Oh, the bitter cold now
It's in your bones now
Can't take it back now
You'll never know how

There be days so full of trouble
Your mind is sinking down
And your nights are full of sorrow
Your cries the only sound

Though you take it all in stride
It's weary now
You feel inside

Oh, the bitter cold now
It's in your bones now
Can't take it back now
You'll never know how
Oh, the bitter times now
I see in your eyes now
long is the road now
Wherever you go now

You await your final rest
And watch the sun fade in the west

Oh, the bitter cold now
It's in your bones now

Can't take it back now
You'll never know how

Overall Meaning

The Willis Clan's song Bitter Cold speaks to the human experience of facing hardship and adversity without a support system. The first stanza opens with a metaphorical image of the winter highway, which represents the cold and harsh reality of life's challenges. The singer is alone on this path, carrying their burden. They feel a sense of isolation and despair as they struggle to cope with their difficulties. The second stanza talks about the internal struggle of dealing with emotional pain. The singer's mind sinks down and they cry, but the only sound they hear is their own. Despite taking everything in stride, the weight of their struggle is exhausting and wearing them out from within.

In the chorus, the wind speaks to the singer, reminding them that the bitter cold of their struggles is in their bones now. They can't take it back, and they will never know just how deeply they have been affected. The bitter times have marked them, and they carry this pain wherever they go. The final stanza alludes to the singer's impending mortality. They await their final rest as the sun sets in the west. The bitterness of their experiences is still with them, and they will carry it until the end of their days.

Line by Line Meaning

Heading down the winter highway
As you travel on a cold, isolated road

You bear your burden tall
You carry a heavy load

No one comes to take it from you
No one can help you with your struggles

When your heart begins to fall
When you feel down and defeated

As you go your lonely way
As you continue on your solitary path

You hear the wind begin to say
You hear the wind whispering to you

Oh, the bitter cold now
The intense cold is overwhelming

It's in your bones now
You feel it deep in your soul

Can't take it back now
You cannot reverse the past

You'll never know how
You'll never fully understand its impact

There be days so full of trouble
There will be times of great hardship