In The Bleak Midwinter | Jacob Collier Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

In The Bleak Midwinter
Jacob Collier Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Ooh (Ah)

In the bleak midwinter frosty wind may blow.
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
Snow had fallen: snow on snow.
Snow on snow.
In the bleak midwinter long ago.

Ah (Ooh)

Enough for Him whom cherubim worship night and
Day, a breast full of milk and a manger full of hay.
Enough for Him whom angels fall down
Before, the ox, ass, and cattle which adore.
Angels and archangels they have gathered there.
Cherubim and seraphim from all the air.
But His mother only in her maiden lay.
Worshiped the Belovéd with a kiss.

Ah

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part.

Yet what I can I give Him? Give my heart.
Give my heart.


Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jacob Collier's "In The Bleak Midwinter" paints a vivid and raw picture of the harshness of winter. The opening line, "In the bleak midwinter frosty wind may blow," sets the tone for the song. The second line, "Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone," further emphasizes the desolation of the winter season. The repetition of "snow on snow" adds to the imagery of the harsh and unrelenting winter.


The second half of the song takes a turn as it shifts the focus to the birth of Jesus, and how even in the midst of darkness, hope and light can be found. The lyrics, "Enough for Him whom cherubim worship night and day, a breast full of milk and a manger full of hay" refer to the humble and unassuming birth of Jesus. The line about the angels, ox, ass, and cattle all adoring Him further demonstrates that even in the midst of the bleakness of winter, the birth of Jesus brings light and life.


The final line of the song, "What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what I can I give Him? Give my heart," brings the focus back to the present day and the listener. It is a call to action, to reflect on what one can give to Jesus, even if it is just their heart.


Line by Line Meaning

Ooh (Ah)
The beginning of the song with no particular meaning.


In the bleak midwinter frosty wind may blow.
During winter, where it is cold, one may experience the harshness and cruelty of the elements.


Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
The ground has become solid like metal whereas water has frozen solid like a rock.


Snow had fallen: snow on snow.
The snow keeps falling continuously on top of the previous snow that has already fallen.


Snow on snow.
Repetition to emphasize the quantity of snow that has fallen.


In the bleak midwinter long ago.
The setting in which this harsh winter environment exists is a long time ago.


Ah (Ooh)
A break before the next stanza with no particular meaning.


Enough for Him whom cherubim worship night and
Even though one may think that they have nothing to offer, there is still something available for the Belovéd whom even heavenly beings adore.


Day, a breast full of milk and a manger full of hay.
The humblest of offerings would suffice for the Beloved one: a mother's milk and a stable with hay as a bed.


Enough for Him whom angels fall down
The Belovéd is worshipped by even the highest heavenly beings.


Before, the ox, ass, and cattle which adore.
Even the humblest of animals have a level of worship for the Belovéd.


Angels and archangels they have gathered there.
All levels of heavenly beings have gathered to worship the Belovéd.


Cherubim and seraphim from all the air.
Even the most exalted heavenly beings have gathered to worship the Belovéd.


But His mother only in her maiden lay.
Only the mother of the Belovéd, who remained a virgin, is truly worthy to be the mother of the Belovéd.


Worshiped the Belovéd with a kiss.
The mother of the Belovéd showed the highest level of worship by kissing the Belovéd.


Ah
A break before the next stanza with no particular meaning.


What can I give Him, poor as I am?
Feeling inadequate, one wonders what they could offer the Belovéd.


If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If one had the wherewithal to provide, they would offer valuable items such as a lamb.


If I were a wise man, I would do my part.
If one had the wisdom to make an appropriate offering, they would be sure to do so.


Yet what I can I give Him? Give my heart.
Even though one may not have material items to offer, the most valuable thing that one could offer would be their heart.


Give my heart.
Repetition of the previous line to emphasize the point.


Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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