“A Hazy Shade of Winter” (listen to it here) was written by Paul Simon in
the early sixties and appears on Simon & Garfunkel’s fourth studio album, Bookends (1968). The song is a metaphor
for a life which draws upon the transition from fall to winter. It speaks of a
person who once had great hope, but as time goes on, hope is slowly
transitioning to uncertainty. There is a haze through which the writer cannot
see clearly. He listens to the Salvation Army Band for inspiration but it is unclear
if this gives him any peace. Ultimately, he rejects the message of salvation
and turns back to his vodka and lime while reading his collection of incomplete rhymes. It is a mid-life crisis song in which the singer wonders if he
has accomplished anything in his life and longs for something more; he longs to
be remembered. He recognizes that it should be the springtime of his life, but
the patch of snow on the ground tells him that winter is coming.
the early sixties and appears on Simon & Garfunkel’s fourth studio album, Bookends (1968). The song is a metaphor
for a life which draws upon the transition from fall to winter. It speaks of a
person who once had great hope, but as time goes on, hope is slowly
transitioning to uncertainty. There is a haze through which the writer cannot
see clearly. He listens to the Salvation Army Band for inspiration but it is unclear
if this gives him any peace. Ultimately, he rejects the message of salvation
and turns back to his vodka and lime while reading his collection of incomplete rhymes. It is a mid-life crisis song in which the singer wonders if he
has accomplished anything in his life and longs for something more; he longs to
be remembered. He recognizes that it should be the springtime of his life, but
the patch of snow on the ground tells him that winter is coming.
Hazy
Shade of Winter
Time,
time time, see what’s become of meWhile
I looked around for my possibilitiesI
was so hard to pleaseBut look aroundThe
leaves are brownAnd
the sky is a hazy shade of winterHear
the Salvation Army bandDown
by the riverside, there’s bound to be a better rideThan
what you’ve got plannedCarry
your cup in your handAnd
look around youLeaves
are brown, nowAnd
the sky is a hazy shade of winterHang
on to your hopes, my friendThat’s
an easy thing to sayBut
if your hopes should pass awaySimply
pretend that you can build them againLook
aroundThe
grass is highThe
fields are ripeIt’s
the springtime of my lifeSeasons
change with the sceneryWeaving
time in a tapestryWon’t
you stop and remember meAt
any convenient time?Funny
how my memory skips while looking over manuscriptsOf
unpublished rhymeDrinking
my vodka and lime
I
look aroundLeaves
are brown, nowAnd
the sky is a hazy shade of winterLook
aroundLeaves
are brownThere’s
a patch of snow on the groundLook
aroundLeaves
are brownThere’s
a patch of snow on the groundLook
aroundLeaves
are brownThere’s
a patch of snow on the groundWords and music written by Paul Simon; published
by Universal Music Publishing Group ©.