When winter’s shadowy fingers First pursue you down the street And your boots no longer lie About the cold around your feet
Do you spare a thought for summer Whose passage is complete Whose memories lie in ruins And whose ruins lie in heat When winter comes howling in
Winter Song is the third track on the debut album of progressive folk band Lindisfarne, formed in England in 1968, and has been hailed by Elvis Costello as the greatest song ever. Though opposing statements; when you’re doing this are you considering this?, the tune nicely builds up the spirit of the season and wraps it all up by anchoring it in the Biblical version.
When the turkey’s in the oven And the Christmas presents are bought And Santa’s in his module He’s an American astronaut Do you spare one thought for Jesus Who had nothing but his thoughts Who got busted just for talking And befriending the wrong sorts? When winter comes howling in When winter comes howling in
Written and performed by founding member Alan Hull (1945-1995) the tune is a starch reminder of all those who may not have it as good as the rest of us, symbolized by summer, the gypsy, the lonely drunk and Jesus. It is a tune and a message we should all bear in mind this season when the world seems especially bleak.
For making us remember those who have less than us in a somber tune song number 18 is Winter Song by Lindisfarne on The Christmas List of Songs.
-Andrew Tobias
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