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February Lyrics
I threw your keys in the water
I looked back, they'd frozen halfway down in the ice
They froze up so quickly, the keys and their owners
Even after the anger, it all turned silent and
The every day turned solitary; so we came to February
First we forgot where we planted those bulbs last year
And then we forgot that we'd planted at all
Then we forgot what plants are altogether
And I blamed you for my freezing and forgetting and
The nights were long and cold and scary; can we live through February?
You know, I think Christmas was a long red glare
Shot up like a warning we gave presents without cards
And then the snow, and then the snow came, we were always out shoveling
And we'd drop to sleep exhausted, and we'd wake up and it's snowing
And February was so long that it lasted into March
Found us walking a path alone together
You stopped and pointed and you said, "That's a crocus,"
And I said, "What's a crocus?" And you said, "It's a flower."
I tried to remember, but I said, "What's a flower?"
You said, "I still love you."
The leaves were turning as we drove to the hardware store
My new lover made me keys to the house
And when we got home, well, we just started chopping wood
Because you never know how next year will be
And we'll gather all our arms can carry; I have lost to February
Whenever I listen to this song it reminds me of the inevitable rough patch that ever couple must go through. We all like to think we will stay in the spring and summer of our love but the truth is we will all go through a "winter" and February is especially difficult because it's the final long stage of that winter.
I like how the song begins and ends with "keys" -- first the ones she throws in the water and then later when she makes a new set with her new lover. It symbolizes letting someone in or "freezing" them out -- as she does in February with her past lover.
Winter for them is characterized by being filled with solitary days, exhausted battles against the relentless snow and going through the motions during "Christmas" rather than reclaiming the spirit behind it. For me this couple's problems are external not internal. They had planted "bulbs" and eventually "what plants are altogether" meaning the winter had erased all the beauty and love they use to share. She asks if they are capable of "living" to February because their relationship has moved from one of love to mere suvival.
The part that makes me cry is when he points to the crocus -- finally a bulb from their flowers in bloom! She has forgotten what flowers are but he remembers and tells her "I still love you." (Such emotion in her voice when she hits those notes!)
The last line hits it all home when she says she "lost" to February. It's a sad reflection that she lost someone who really did love her but also she lost love itself because that is what tragedy can do to you.
this song is so touching to me. i always think of february as the nagging inside of a person to give up on a relationship. i can see everything in this song with a deeper meaning. it's so personal and yet so universal.
this is a beautiful song, no question about it. dar williams is a beautiful poet with a beautiful voice. beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
this song is about the end of a relationship. the whole thing about the wood chopping in the last verse is about how they made plans too far ahead of time, had too much faith in the relationship. february is the coldness that seeps into a relationship, after the magic of the holidays has worn off.
absolutely gorgeous.
wonderful song. gives me a chill everytime I hear it.
The line, "We gave presents without cards" is awesome. You know your relationship is in trouble when you begin to give material things and leave out the words that mean so much more than the gift itself.
Do you think it is about the end of a relationship? or when she writes that the leaves are turning does she mean that the relationship has taken a new turn, maybe they both realized when he said he still loved her that it was worth fight for, worth working through? So they go home, and the chop wood, and prepare for the next "february". I think she means that they go and make good memories, and strenghten their relationship, so that next time they have a rough patch, they have the "fire wood" or whatever to make it through the cold.
this is one of the most beautifully written songs i have ever listned to. it shows how a once good relationship slowly deteriorates throughout the year. how they begin fall out of love. they forget the things they used to do for fun with eachother. the relationship begins to become seemingly pointless. we see this as she sings the line, "And then the snow, and then the snow came, we were always out shoveling And we'd drop to sleep exhausted, and we'd wake up and it's snowing" they spent the day shoveling, went to bed, woke up and they needed to shovel all over again. its just to poignant!
The first four verses are about the end of a relationship, and the last is about the beginning of a new one.
Sollisch, the line you chose is one of the most brilliantly written lyrics I have ever heard. Ir reflects the struggle to keep a relationship going only to find out that all the progress can be easily undone, as easily as the new snow can cover the ground you just cleared.
Dar is just amazing.
This song breaks my heart.
I'm going through a slow breakup now.
When she sings: You said, "I still love you" it hurts so much.