Oh, meet me there, bundles of flowers
We wait through the hours of cold
Winter shall howl at the walls
Tearing down doors of time
Shelter as we go

And promise me this
You'll wait for me only
Scared of the lonely arms
The surface, far below these burns

And maybe, just maybe I'll come home

Who am I, darling to you?
Who am I?
Going to tell you stories of mine
Who am I?

Who am I, darling for you?
Who am I?
To be a burden in time, lonely
Who am I, to you?

And who am I, darling for you?
Who am I?
To be a burden
Who am I, darling to you?
Who am I?

I come alone here
I come alone here


Lyrics submitted by harrietgarbutt, edited by M4TTY, Fancy288

Promise Lyrics as written by Benjamin John Howard

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Promise song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +18
    General Comment

    Is it just me or his voice really makes everything just freeze in time?

    enigmaticsoulon March 25, 2012   Link
  • +5
    My Interpretation

    Firstly, I really like your view of this song. Because of your opinion this song has now a double meaning for me.

    Secondly, my thoughts about this song has also a different meaning. For me this is about a man who is transforming into the person he is supposed to be.

    “And meet me there, bundles of flowers We wait through the hours of cold Winter shall howl at the walls Tearing down doors of time Shelter as we go”

    In time he will tear down his walls he build (winter shall howl at the walls), it is a long and lonely road to achieve that goal. (the hours of cold) During this progress he has to be careful and patient (shelter as we go)

    The we-form is the person he is at the moment and the person he will/wants to become.

    The new man is saying to the old man: and meet me there, bundles of flowers. So when he is finally blossomed, he knows he is transformed.

    "And promise me this You'll wait for me only Scared of the lonely arms Surface, far below these burn And maybe, just maybe I'll come home">>

    During the progress there will be people who wants something from you. Don't give in, just because you are lonely. You only will lose yourself more and more. Rise above it and maybe you will find yourself.

    The sentence, who am I, darling to you? Is for me: the way you are now is not enough, that is why you are feeling alone. Respect yourself and do something about it.

    richardHon October 19, 2014   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    I think instead of

    "Surface, far below these words"

    it is actually "Surface, far below these burns"

    great song though, exactly how I'm feeling now.

    rjo309on February 14, 2012   Link
  • +4
    My Opinion

    One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard - his voice sends shivers down my spine.

    bellabambion December 01, 2013   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    This song describes a situation within the context of a couple facing a definitive separation. The structure of the song makes one think that she had an affair and now she regrets and wants to have another opportunity with his boyfriend/husband. So, he sings the song explaining how he feels.

    The couple is living difficult times, they spend time together but he doesn’t see things to get better. There is certain hopelessness in the first verse:

    “And meet me there, bundles of flowers We wait through the hours of cold Winter shall howl at the walls Tearing down doors of time Shelter as we go”

    Then, he asks her to commit, telling her that it is the only way for him to consider coming back:

    “And promise me this You'll wait for me only Scared of the lonely arms Surface, far below these burn And maybe, just maybe I'll come home”

    At the end of the song, he is so insecure that asks what he means to her. He’d like to hear that she loves him but he is not sure anymore. Is she with him out of pity?

    HartoPicanteon October 02, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    A very serious Promise has been Broken. Now second guessing questions are being asked of self.

    This song (along with many other BH songs) takes me to places I never thought my heart was capable of going. I feel something different each time I play it.

    For some reason I always want to play when I'm alone....

    rexbon November 25, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think someone died. they're at a funeral. in literature and poetry, winter and cold are metaphors for death. bundles of flowers, definitely a funeral, and the singer is watching the deceased's loved ones grieving.

    and he is realizing, while starring at the face of death, that he doesn't want to be alone. he doesn't want to die alone. he wants someone to grieve him, he wants to be loved.

    and all of the little things, the petty fights, the disagreements, and pain, of a relationship, he is asking his lover if it's worth it. if she'll be the one that will stand by him forever, even when it becomes a burden. will she leave him alone?

    he's also asking himself if he can accept that kind of love. especially when he's so used to being alone. he's not very hopeful.

    in the end, he's convinced he will end up on his own. with no one, he's convinced he'll die alone, and that he will never be good enough.

    he's selfish, asking her to wait. wait for him to be ready. asking her to accept his cold heart and distance and still welcome him and love him endlessly.

    he needs love and wants it, but is incapable of returning the affection. and he knows it.

    monster9406on August 22, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Here is what I think it means :)

    And meet me there, bundles of flowers, We wait through the hours of cold Winter shall howl at the walls, Tearing down doors of time.

    -Singer is fantasiing about it, it did not happen yet. I think it represents long time passed since they last saw eachother, bundles of flowers=happiness, winter tore down the doors of time=finally winter(time passed) came to end(they meet again).

    Shelter as we go...

    And promise me this: You’ll wait for me only, Scared of the lonely arms.

    -He asks his lover to wait for him ONLY, he is scared that she will fall into someone other's arms because she is lonely.

    Surface, far below these words

    And maybe, just maybe I’ll come home

    • He will come back if he feels like her words have a meaning. That she truly will wait for him, that the words wont just fall into oblivion. Who am I, darling to you? Who am I? Gonna tell you stories of mine Who am I?

    Who am I, darling for you? Who am I? Gonna be a burden in time, lonely Who am I, to you?

    -He is asking her a clear question. Does he mean anything to her. Will he become burden in time( time when they meet again).

    Who am I, darling for you? Who am I? Going to be a burden

    Who am I, darling to you? Who am I?

    I come alone here I come alone here

    -I came alone here, not sure about this one. Maybe at the end she doesnt wait for him after all

    lalaalaaon November 08, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My interpretation is that the song is about to lovers that have been separated. A reunion is planned but the uncertainty of the relationship is in question. "Who am i, darling to you" It's a hauntingly beautiful song.

    luvlylizon September 05, 2015   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    It sounds to me like straight forward writing with little hidden meaning. He's fallen in love with a woman who's as guarded as he sees himself. They have to compromise to let down their walls and face the cold to find each other's warmth. He reassures her by asking who am I to be your burden.

    Tlidriveron September 10, 2015   Link

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