I absolutely love this song, and had to post because the lyrics absolutely intrigue me.
First off - as a whole, they're so beautifully written. She uses some very vivid descriptions, ones that bring out a lot of emotion. I think because a lot of people have different emotions and feelings that come to mind with moments like rainstorms, mist, falling leaves, etc...and the song brings those out. And artfully does so as the song moves from cold, dark, and stormy imagery to the last image of a lighthouse shining out in the middle of a storm.
Second - looking at the meaning behind these descriptions, I went and did a little digging. I think, as a whole, though it's only implied and not directly said, I think knowing Michelle's background it's safe to go on the assumption that this is a song about her relationship with God. So going from there...
At first I thought the "never fair weather" meant to compare God to the storm, as in he's the wind and rain and not fair weather. Which, I know it's more typical to describe God as the calm in the storm of life and such, but at the same time people often look at storms as displays of God's power and might; a lot of people see God in the strength and wildness of nature as well as in it's calm. So at first listen, I thought the song was more a tribute to God's power and strength and intensity. But then as I listened more to the lyrics, I did end up seeing them more as a description of life's turmoil and more stormy moments; as well as the colder and more wintery description of life's "season's" changing and passing - death and loss of memory and other changes.
I do like the idea that it means "never [a] fair weather [friend]", though I admit, I keep trying in my head to find something that fits more with the weather analogy than strictly just the old saying about fair weather friends...
So I pulled out the dictionary to find a little more meaning in this and a couple other lines...
"Fair Weather" - so yeah, I give. Even without the context of the saying, it has a more negative connotation. Generally, when someone says this, I think "nice", "pleasant", and "comfortable" weather. But the dictionary also has "weakening or failing in times of trouble" or "temporary; insincere". Which certainly fits. Because even if he's also the calm in the storm, God is certainly not what those definitions describe.
"Windfall" - I know generally it's something blown over or blown about by the wind, but this one has a decidedly positive connotation when I look it up. According to the dictionary, it's "an unexpected gain, piece of good fortune, or the like" and it implies something occurring in a large amount, and something that wasn't earned or fought for, but rather brought to a person by outside forces. Appropriate, I think.
Gibraltar - known generally as a rocky point of land extending out to form one side of a narrow passage between the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea. And famous for being completely solid and invincible. Is there actually a lighthouse there? I don't know...I couldn't find anything about it if there was.
Interestingly also....the "Levantar" or "viento de levante" is a west-blowing wind in the Mediterranean that blows strongest through the straight of gibraltar, bringing moisture with it, and can make for dangerous waters. interestingly, it's also a term that refers to a person who leaves a situation secretly or hurriedly.
I absolutely love this song, and had to post because the lyrics absolutely intrigue me.
First off - as a whole, they're so beautifully written. She uses some very vivid descriptions, ones that bring out a lot of emotion. I think because a lot of people have different emotions and feelings that come to mind with moments like rainstorms, mist, falling leaves, etc...and the song brings those out. And artfully does so as the song moves from cold, dark, and stormy imagery to the last image of a lighthouse shining out in the middle of a storm.
Second - looking at the meaning behind these descriptions, I went and did a little digging. I think, as a whole, though it's only implied and not directly said, I think knowing Michelle's background it's safe to go on the assumption that this is a song about her relationship with God. So going from there...
At first I thought the "never fair weather" meant to compare God to the storm, as in he's the wind and rain and not fair weather. Which, I know it's more typical to describe God as the calm in the storm of life and such, but at the same time people often look at storms as displays of God's power and might; a lot of people see God in the strength and wildness of nature as well as in it's calm. So at first listen, I thought the song was more a tribute to God's power and strength and intensity. But then as I listened more to the lyrics, I did end up seeing them more as a description of life's turmoil and more stormy moments; as well as the colder and more wintery description of life's "season's" changing and passing - death and loss of memory and other changes.
I do like the idea that it means "never [a] fair weather [friend]", though I admit, I keep trying in my head to find something that fits more with the weather analogy than strictly just the old saying about fair weather friends...
So I pulled out the dictionary to find a little more meaning in this and a couple other lines...
"Fair Weather" - so yeah, I give. Even without the context of the saying, it has a more negative connotation. Generally, when someone says this, I think "nice", "pleasant", and "comfortable" weather. But the dictionary also has "weakening or failing in times of trouble" or "temporary; insincere". Which certainly fits. Because even if he's also the calm in the storm, God is certainly not what those definitions describe.
"Windfall" - I know generally it's something blown over or blown about by the wind, but this one has a decidedly positive connotation when I look it up. According to the dictionary, it's "an unexpected gain, piece of good fortune, or the like" and it implies something occurring in a large amount, and something that wasn't earned or fought for, but rather brought to a person by outside forces. Appropriate, I think.
Gibraltar - known generally as a rocky point of land extending out to form one side of a narrow passage between the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea. And famous for being completely solid and invincible. Is there actually a lighthouse there? I don't know...I couldn't find anything about it if there was.
Interestingly also....the "Levantar" or "viento de levante" is a west-blowing wind in the Mediterranean that blows strongest through the straight of gibraltar, bringing moisture with it, and can make for dangerous waters. interestingly, it's also a term that refers to a person who leaves a situation secretly or hurriedly.
Just a few thoughts there.