Wait Until the Snow
Awaiting Winter's Embrace: Ralph McTell's Poetic Reflections
Lyrics
How I'd like to run away
Expresses a desire to escape or run away.
Oh how I'd love to go
Reiterates the longing to leave or go somewhere.
Then I think maybe I will stay
Contemplates the decision to stay instead of leaving.
And just wait for the snow.
Plans to wait patiently for the snow to come.
To wipe the year from off the page
Desires a fresh start symbolized by the snow wiping away the past year.
I'll pretend I did not know
Intends to feign ignorance about certain matters.
But I remember all the words
Recalls all the spoken words and experiences.
And the memory well it won't go
Acknowledges that memories persist despite the desire to forget.
No it won't go
Reaffirms the persistence of memories.
How I'd like to up and fly
Expresses a wish to escape and explore various places.
Almost anywhere
Acknowledges the lack of courage to take bold actions.
But I don't have the nerve to try
Suggests that others may think the speaker never cared.
And you think that I'd never cared
Decides to wait until the snow has melted before making a move.
So I'll wait until the snow has gone
Yes I think maybe I'll stay
Expresses uncertainty about where to go, leading to the decision to stay.
For I really don't know where I'd run
Reflects on the impracticality of running away, as it goes against the speaker's nature.
And running's not that's not my way
Emphasizes that running away is not the speaker's preferred approach.
No it ain't my way.
Reiterates that escaping is contrary to the speaker's usual behavior.
How I'd like to run away
Repeats the desire to run away from current circumstances.
Oh how I'd love to go
Expresses the strong desire to leave once again.
Then I think maybe I will stay
Considers the possibility of staying after contemplating departure.
And just wait for the snow.
Reiterates the decision to wait for the snow before making any major choices.
To wipe the year from off the page
Desires a symbolic cleansing of the past year through the arrival of snow.
I'll pretend I did not know
Intends to act as if certain knowledge or events did not occur.
But I remember all the words
Retains memories of words spoken and experiences despite attempts to forget.
And the memory well it won't go
Acknowledges the persistence of memories, resisting efforts to erase them.
No it won't go.
Reaffirms the enduring nature of memories despite the desire to let them go.
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