As winter comes to an end, I love to reflect on the season with a music-driven lens. One of the greatest parts about the chilly weather is the festive holiday spirit, followed by the somber transition into the new year. In Oregon, the hope for snow has become fleeting as spring inches closer. It feels as though this season has barely even started, and yet its end is near. Continue reading to see my compiled list of songs that remind me of the cold, even though, unfortunately, we’ve had a lackluster winter.
“Shake the Frost” – Tyler Childers
Country singer Tyler Childers released “Shake the Frost” in 2016 as a part of his Live on Red Barn Radio I & II album. The music composition is relatively simple, with just a pattern of guitar chords to hum as a backdrop behind Childers’ voice. The song is about a metaphorical emotional coldness: “I wouldn’t act so angry all the time/I wouldn’t keep it all inside/And I’d let you know how much I love you each and every day/So darlin’, will you stay right here and shake this frost off of my bones?” I love the idea of melting emotional frigidity with love. Childers is a talented poet and writer and this track reflects that in an obvious way.
“Shake the Frost” is perfect for wintertime because it gives you a warm feeling to combat the chills. I am really such a fan of this song and I can’t help but smile when it comes on. It’s so romantic and full of passion.
“I’m Not My Season” – Fleet Foxes
The 2020 Fleet Foxes album, Shore is a wistful, melodic record that has one song that sticks out above the rest. “I’m Not My Season” is about the turning of the seasons and the ever-present passage of time. Like Childers, Fleet Foxes are excellent songwriters and “I’m Not My Season” is no exception: “Though I liked summer light on you/If we ride a winter-long wind/Well, time’s not what I belong to/And I’m not the season I’m in.” Lead singer Robin Pecknold whisper-sings the chorus as the hushed synthesizer chimes into the harmonies.
“I’m Not My Season” connects to winter as it pressures the listener to accept the transition into bigger and better things. I saw Fleet Foxes perform this song in person in August of 2024 at UC Berkeley in the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre. It was a truly transformative experience and despite seeing it in the summer, I am still certain that it is a great addition to this list and an overall winter classic.
“If We Make It Through December” – Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard is one of my favorite musicians of all time. I own a number of his CDs and listening to him while driving in the car is always enjoyable. “If We Make It Through December” came out in October of 1973 and solidified itself as a staple of the somber Christmas music genre. The song is about a father struggling to get through the holidays and doing his best to support his family through it: “I don’t mean to hate December/It’s meant to be the happy time of year/But my little girl don’t understand/Why Daddy can’t afford no Christmas here.” The depressing lyrics mixed with the relatively happy ensemble sound and steel guitar is a great juxtaposition.
This track is a flawless addition to this list because it adds a side of wintertime that often goes unnoticed: the economic impacts. I love the way that it gives a subtle nod to the vampiristic consumerism of that time of year.
“Please Come Home For Christmas” – Eagles version
The 1973 Eagles cover of Charles Brown and Gene Redd’s “Please Come Home for Christmas” is an absolute classic. The melancholy of the track is similar to “If We Make It Through December” but with a more romantic focus. It features Don Henley’s emotion-filled voice as he croons: “Please come home for Christmas/If not for Christmas, by New Year’s night.” To capitalize on the holiday feels of the track, the percussion is spliced in with elusive bells. The entire song is very dreamy, with the wistful backing vocals to make Henley’s voice seamlessly blend into the repeated piano chords.
“Please Come Home For Christmas” will never not remind me of winter. Even though the holidays aren’t all there is to the season, it’s definitely a defining characteristic of this time. This song makes me nostalgic of driving home from my grandparents house on Christmas Eve and how exciting it was to see all the pretty lights as I patiently waited for the coming day.
The drabness of winter is somewhat lessened by the joy of the holidays but often not enough to offset it completely. I can’t wait for spring. I think these songs accurately represent the mixed emotions of this time. There is so much romance, heartbreak and new beginnings to ring in the new year that I couldn’t imagine a better group of tracks to show that.
