By Gary Bennett
Winter is upon us once again, and unlike my friends to the south, I love it — the chill of the air and the heat of the fireplace.
I suspect many of you feel the same.
To me, real winter begins right after the holidays. I don’t even consider December to be part of winter.
On Jan. 2, family get-togethers, all the anticipation, celebrations and sparkle of the holiday season are gone. We are left with two full months (or more) of persevering and seeing what we are made of.
And, it’s absolutely invaluable.
There’s something about winter that toughens us and opens our eyes to myriad possibilities. We buckle down. We work hard. We don’t worry about vacations. Days are short. Time is of the essence. When we accomplish something, particularly outdoors, we feel good about ourselves. We feel like we can’t be deterred.
But there can be a melancholy about winter. There’s an overabundance of darkness. The other three seasons seem long ago and far away. Unfortunately, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can rear its ugly head with some folks, causing mental and physical ailments.
Still, if you can, try to embrace the season. Embrace the cold. Embrace the melancholy. Spring will come in fits and starts and everything will be renewed again.
Here are my top 17 classic rock songs about winter (or set in the winter) to help get you through, nee, celebrate, the season.
- “SONG FOR A WINTER’S NIGHT”
Gordon Lightfoot, 1967
Warm, caring loner holed up in his cabin, longing for an absent love.
“The lamp is burnin’ low upon my table top, the snow is softly falling, the air is still in the silence of my room, I hear your voice softly calling.”
- “A WINTER’S TALE”
The Moody Blues, 2003
Sweet, poignant song about losing a love but taking it well.
“It was only a winter’s tale, just another winter’s tale, and why should the world take notice, of one more love that’s failed?”
- “CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’”
The Mamas & the Papas, 1968
Longing for the warmth of LA during a cold winter in New York City.
“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray, I’ve been for a walk, on a winter’s day.”
- “A WINTER’S TALE”
Queen, 1995
Not the same tune as the Moody Blues song above, but Freddie Mercury singing gorgeously of life and beauty as both wind down.
“It’s winter-fall, red skies are gleaming, sea-gulls are flyin’ over, swans are floatin’ by, smoking chimney-tops.”
- “A HAZY SHADE OF WINTER”
Simon and Garfunkel, 1966 (also covered by The Bangles, 1984)
Quintessential pop tune contemplating the passing of the seasons with a focus on winter.
“But look around, leaves are brown now, and the sky is a hazy shade of winter.”
- “COLD”
Annie Lennox, 1992
Song explores longing, isolation and heartbreak—the cold realities of life.
“Cold is the color of crystal, the snow light, that falls from the heavenly skies, catch me and let me dive under, for I want to swim in the pools of your eyes.”
- “WHEN OCTOBER GOES”
Barry Manilow, 1984
Johnny Mercer lyrics contemplating the pain of growing old and of reliving lost love.
“I should be over it now, I know, it doesn’t matter much how old I grow, I hate to see October go.”
- “WINTERLONG”
Neil Young, 1977
Waiting and yearning for your love for a very long time.
“I waited for you, winterlong, you seem to be where I belong, it’s all illusion anyway.”
- “WINTER”
U2, 2008
Describes a person’s crisis of faith.
“Rhymes they sprang in me, summer sang in me, but summer sings in me no more.”
- “WINTER SONG”
Chris Rea, 2000
A heartwarming song trying to explain the rapture of true love when it’s cold outside.
“If I put my arms around you, turn you in from the storm, from your autumn through winter, darling I’ll keep you warm.”
- “ASPENGLOW”
John Denver, 1970
The wonder of glowing, snowy mountaintops at dawn and dusk.
“As the winter days unfold, hearts grow warmer with the cold, peace of mind is all you know, winter’s gold, Aspenglow.”
- “SNOWBOUND”
Genesis, 1978
Lovely ballad about (somehow!) a peaceful death out in the cold.
“Lay your body down upon the midnight snow, feel the cold of winter in your hair, here in a world of your own, in a casing that’s grown.”
- “MY DECEMBER”
Linkin Park, 2000
Sad story about being away and missing home.
“This is my December, these are my snow-covered dreams, this is me pretending, this is all I need.”
14. “WINTERTIME LOVE”
The Doors, 1968
A plea for love and warmth in the cold season.
“Wintertime winds blow cold to season, fallin’ in love, I’m hopin’ to be, wind is so cold, is that the reason? Keeping you warm, your hands touching me.”
- “SNOWBIRD”
Anne Murray, 1970
Peppy song about yearning for youth in the twilight of life.
“Beneath this snowy mantle, cold and clean, the unborn grass lies waiting, for its coat to turn to green, the snowbird sings the song he always sings.”
- “WINTER”
The Rolling Stones, 1973
Song bemoans the realities of the season and hopes for spring love.
“And it sure been a cold, cold winter, and the wind ain’t been blowin’ from the south, it’s sure been a cold, cold winter, And a lotta love is all burned out.”
- “WINTER SONG”
Bruce Springsteen, 1973
Slow, moody “acquired-taste” song that drips with sexual innuendo cloaked in seasonal comparisons.
“Summer’s sweet and she brings me water, but give me winter, that old icy whore, summer lies meek and follows orders, winter cries “Me!” and pulls you through the door.”
