December" was first recorded on May 27, 2001 at Monster Island Studios in W… Read Full Bio ↴December" was first recorded on May 27, 2001 at Monster Island Studios in Washington, D.C., during a stop on the Hooptie Tour, with the intention of sending the recordings to prospective producers for the band's planned fourth album. Several of these recordings were posted to weezer.com, but "December" was not among them. The song was attempted again for the Radio 1 show The Evening Session, presented by Steve Lamacq, on June 13, 2001. Normally, bands record four songs to promote a new album, but Weezer performed eight entirely new songs. "December" was not one of the songs aired, but was finished in Los Angeles on July 9 and later released for free on weezer.com. The song was brought back during the sessions for Maladroit in December of that year. The band shared several in-progress recordings of the song with fans during the album's production.
Rivers Cuomo's guitar solo and Brian Bell's counterpoint were reportedly composed independently, without either guitarist having heard the other. "We just mashed them together to see what would happen, and it sounded beautiful," Cuomo later told Guitar Player in 2002. "December" was played live at several shows throughout June and July of 2001, during the Hooptie Tour and Euro Freak Out Tour, though it was only performed three times during the tours in support of Maladroit in 2002. In early December of 2014, Rivers Cuomo created a Christmas-themed Spotify playlist titled "Everything Will Be Jolly in the End," featuring several songs by Weezer, among others. "December" was included on this playlist. On December 6, at a show in Atlanta, Georgia on the Everything Will Be Alright in the End Tour, Weezer performed the song for the first time in twelve years, acoustically. The song was also played during that tour's final two remaining shows.

December
Weezer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Only love can ease the pain
Of a boy caught in the rain
Only hope will remember
Burning flame in December

Only love
Only love

Only faith can bring to life
One who falls by the wayside
Only trust can inspire
Soggy lungs to breathe fire

Only love
Only love

It's only natural
The moon is just half full
We give our best away
We give our best away

Only love

Only trust can inspire
Soggy lungs to breathe fire

Only love
Only love

Only love
Only love

Overall Meaning

In "December," Weezer reflects on the power of love, hope, faith, and trust to heal one's pain and to bring life and inspiration. The opening lines "Only love can ease the pain / Of a boy caught in the rain" suggest that a broken heart needs love to heal, to renew hope and optimism. "Only hope will remember / Burning flame in December" highlights the ephemeral nature of happiness and the need to cherish and preserve moments of joy and love.

The second verse underscores the importance of faith and trust in oneself and in others. "Only faith can bring to life / One who falls by the wayside" implies that faith is a call to action, to rise up from the ashes of failure and despair. "Only trust can inspire / Soggy lungs to breathe fire" is a metaphor for the power of trust to reignite passion and commitment, to fuel one's creative or emotional intensity. There is a sense of urgency and vulnerability in these lines, as the singer is seeking a way out of darkness, towards the light of love and hope.

Overall, "December" is a beautiful and introspective song that speaks to the complexity of human emotions and the need for connection and support. It reminds us that love is the greatest healer, the strongest motivator, and the purest expression of the human spirit.

Line by Line Meaning

Only love can ease the pain
Love is the only remedy for the pain and sadness in a person's heart

Of a boy caught in the rain
The metaphor of being caught in the rain represents feeling lost and hopeless

Only hope will remember
Hope is the key to not forgetting the good things in life

Burning flame in December
December serves as a symbol of darkness and the burning flame represents hope and light

Only faith can bring to life
Having faith is essential to overcoming tough times and becoming a better person

One who falls by the wayside
Someone who has hit rock bottom and seems to have lost their way

Only trust can inspire
Trust is the foundation for all successful relationships and can give someone the confidence they need to succeed

Soggy lungs to breathe fire
The metaphor of soggy lungs represents feeling suffocated and unable to breathe, but with trust they can breathe fire and become unstoppable

It's only natural
Things happen the way they're supposed to, and we must accept this as a natural occurrence

The moon is just half full
Life is not always bright and full, but even when it's just half full, there is still hope

We give our best away
People put in their best effort but sometimes it goes unnoticed or is not appreciated by others

Only love
Love is the most powerful force in the world

Only trust can inspire
Trust is needed to inspire people to reach their full potential

Soggy lungs to breathe fire
Through trust, people can rise above their difficulties and achieve greatness

Only love
Love is the most important thing we can give and receive in life

Only love
We should always choose love over hate or fear

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Rivers Cuomo

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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