So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red
As strawberries in the summertime
I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red
As strawberries in the summertime
I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red
As strawberries in summertime
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red
As strawberries in the summertime
I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red
As strawberries in the summertime
I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red
As strawberries in summertime
Lyrics submitted by brasky09, edited by peyton1085, Jake2825, Catzzz
White Winter Hymnal Lyrics as written by Robin Noel Pecknold
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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I can't quite figure out what this song means, and it's been bothering me. From what I gather it's somehow about the death of innocence or at least death of some kind.
"The pack" sound like children from the fact that they were "swallowed in their coats" and "little heads", although "swallowed" sounds quite sinister, as if their clothes were eating them, as does "tied round their throats". This makes me think of a noose more than a scarf. The noose idea is supported by the fact that if it weren't for these, their heads would fall in the snow. Although I guess then the scarves could be somehow keeping them alive.
I'm not sure what the next couple of lines refer to, but the image of Michael falling then turning "white snow red" says to me he's bleeding on the ground. What surprises me there is the image of "strawberries in the summertime", which casts a positive image onto Michael's bleeding.
Any thoughts on this?
Fleet foxes don't really use symbolism liberally like that. The song is supposed to evoke images, not deep meaning.
Whether they intended to evoke images or use symbolism, I got the same interpretation as Anarise,
I think "swallowed" is less sinister, and more chosen to mirror the preceding "following". same with "throats" and "coats" the resulting sound is the opposite of loss of innocence (for it is entirely pleasing to the ear) but rather a playful and vivid winter scene.
Personally, I always picture snowmen from Calvin and Hobbes. Although they do not necessarily wear red scarves, their heads are capable of falling in the snow.<br /> <br /> The line about following the pack, following their coats does bring up images of kids. I also relate it to people following a certain trend. The scarves tied round their throats could refer to a fear of becoming socially unacceptable if they were to stop following the ways of the masses. Its almost as if thats the only thing thats keeping them alive. "And I turned round and there you go" could refer to him being awakened by a friend of his who was never part of whatever specific way of life it may be referring to. But then in the line "Michael you would fall, and turn the white snow read as strawberries in the summertime" conjures up images of injury or failure.<br /> <br /> But since he says "turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime" maybe his fall is a good thing since the imagery used is so beautiful.<br /> <br /> Maybe his "fall" is a step forward.<br /> <br />
"the pack" sounds like wolves not children from the fact that they were "swallowed in their coats" because wolves have coats of fur which get thicker in winter time..therefore "swallowed". now the "red scarves" could be blood dripping onto their throats from prey they have eaten. prey they have had to eat in order to live and "keep their little heads from falling in the snow" to die.... another take could be the red scarves are leashes and it is a sled team. two sled teams because if he turns around and sees his friend Michael and his sled team fall into the snow so all the dogs with red leashes turn the snow red...
it means.... with scarves of red tied round their throats - thats what they used to keep them from getting their heads cut off<br /> turn the white snow red as strawberrys in the summer - they cut their head off and the snow got all bloody <br /> the hymnal is when they used to cut peoples head off
This was the first song by Fleet Foxes I heard, so I of course thought of foxes. The "pack" and "scarves of red tied 'round their throats" added to why I though they were foxes. Instead of seeing the "swallowed in their coats" as a bad thing, I saw it as they don't have the choice to take them off, as it is their fur. Fur of course keeps them warm so the "scarves of red tied ’round their throats keeps their little heads from fallin’ in the snow", or dying from the cold. I pictured a fox, Michael, was shot by a hunter and the pack ran away with him. The 'I' in the song is the fox that turned around and saw Michael die from his injury. Michael would then "fall and turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime." Some of you said that "strawberries in the summertime" was a good sign, and I agree with that. Michael died, and it was a good thing in the narrators eyes as he wouldn't have to feel the pain the hunter brought him. <br /> <br /> It really is a beautiful song and I don't think Fleet Foxes' songs are to be taken too literally. They almost seem to have hidden meanings that you can put together and create your own story out of. <br /> <br /> Did anyone else see it like this?
I like the link to the fox in their coats & red scarves.<br /> think it all ties to the circle of life & nature in general, if you watch the film clip it's a man turning a wheel circulating the stars & the sun. reference to the circulating season in summer & the new life which it will bring in the comparison to strawberries.<br /> maybe he's falling taking down some prey as he goes & the blood turning the snow red isn't Michaels.
Like most it was as if the "scarfs of red tied round their throats" were there to keep "their little heads from falling in the snow". But that is not true. Removing the line "With scarves of red tied 'round their throats" we get this:<br /> <br /> "I was following the pack all swallowed in their coats<br /> To keep their little heads<br /> From falling in the snow"<br /> <br /> So, this guy was following the pack (children) all swallowed up in their coats, because mummy and daddy did not want you to get sick they pulled up the zippers too high. The scarfs were tied around their throats as if they were choking, again with the same reason that mummy and daddy were trying too hard to protect their children from the cold.<br /> <br /> But although the parents thought they were in good hands and they would not get cold or sick because their jackets were closed up tight and their scarfs too, the guy turned around and did not see Michael playing to wild and fell off of the whatever they were riding on. Maybe a sledge with horses, falling in the snow, and the sledge riding on his head, with Michael then bleeding to death in the snow.<br /> <br /> Of course, this song has no deeper meaning, but this means more that Fleet Foxes did not want to tell a story about their youth or something. It's just a little story about a guy not paying attention and the contradiction of parents protection their children from the cold too much, still one falls and dies in the snow because of an accident jackets and scarfs could never prevent. This contradiction also sounds through the sound of the music, for it being very cheerful, while the story isn't.<br /> <br /> So yes, it's a story. A cruel story. But no deeper meaning. Just the feeling you get when you listen to it. Therefor this is one of the best of the Fleet Foxes.
@Anarise I think you are right about them wearing scarfs keeping them from dying. They could be children who became lost and are freezing cold and trying to keep from getting hypothermia and "falling in the snow".
@Anarise Hey, I was confused for a long time too, but I think it might be a memory of a very young child that didn't really know that much and had no idea what was going on. Still not sure, though. Sorry -SingerofApollo
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