“White Winter Hymnal” Lyrics & Meaning (Fleet Foxes)

Things just don’t match up.

The melody to White Winter Hymnal does not match the lyrics at all.

At least not if you take them literally.

But it turns out, the violent literal meaning of the lyrics is quite different from the intended meaning.

So what is the actual White Winter Hymnal lyrics meaning?

Keep reading to find out. Even though there is really just a chorus and nothing else, there is still quite a bit to unpack.

 

White Winter Hymnal Lyrics And Meaning

The Fleet Foxes are an American indie rock band from Seattle Washington. Originally named “The Pineapples”, the band is made up of 5 members, Robin Pecknold, Skyler Skjelset, Casey Wescott, Christian Wargo, and Morgan Henderson.

Fleet Foxes rose to popularity in 2008, after the release of their second album Sun Giant. They have been nominated for two Grammy awards and the Rolling Stones hailed Fleet Foxes’ debut album as one of the best of the decade.

White Winter Hymnal is the first single off that debut album. It was written by lead vocalist and guitarist Robin Pecknold. The meaning behind the lyrics is far different from what you might think at first listen. We’ll get into that below. First, here are the lyrics in full.

 

White Winter Hymnal Lyrics

I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the
I was following the, I was following the

I was following the pack, all swaddled in their coats
With scarves of red tied ’round their throats
To keep their little heads from fallin’ in the snow
And I turned ’round and there you go
And, Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow
Red as strawberries in the summertime

I was following the pack, all swaddled in their coats
With scarves of red tied ’round their throats
To keep their little heads from fallin’ in the snow
And I turned ’round and there you go
And, Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow
Red as strawberries in the summertime

I was following the pack, all swaddled in their coats
With scarves of red tied ’round their throats
To keep their little heads from fallin’ in the snow
And I turned ’round and there you go
And, Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow
Red as strawberries in the summertime

 

White Winter Hymnal Meaning

If interpreted literally, the song is about a general decapitating his soldiers and tying their heads to their bodies with scarves. It’s rather gruesome. But Pecknold denies any specific meaning behind the lyrics and claims he just wanted to write a song for a good jam session.

However, over the years, Pecknold has alluded that the inspiration for the song was based on his childhood friendships. Pecknold and his friends grew apart, as most children do, but many of his friends went on to participate in dangerous activities with nefarious crowds.

Many joined gangs and sold drugs. Pecknold has expressed his childhood frustrations that his friends chose gang relations over maintaining their friendships. 

When viewed from this perspective, the lyrics of White Winter Hymnal can be interpreted as a metaphor for his failed friendships. The primary character in White Winter Hymnal is named Michael. The inference is that Michael was one of Pecknold’s old childhood buddies.

 

Why Winter?

There are two considerations as to why Pecknold framed this song in Winter.

1. He is alluding to the cold.
2. White is the color of innocence.

When a friend turns their back on you it can be referred to as being “iced out”. This means that previous feelings are no longer there and that the emotional connection once shared is broken.

The feelings of being cold and lonely are often closely associated as well. If his friends left him to begin other life adventures, Pecknold would have felt very alone.

The color white is often considered the color of innocence. The fact that much of the action within the lyrics involves violence or blood-staining snow, may refer to the disruption of Pecknold’s innocence.

He seemed to have a certain level of naivety regarding his friends’ choices. Their decision to move on from the friendship may have been Pecknold’s first experience with childhood loss, thereby staining his innocence.

And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red

This line can be interpreted as Pecknold describing the end of his and Michael’s friendship. Stating that Michael fell could be understood to mean that Michael lost his morality or that Pecknold began to see him as less important than he did previously.

“…turn the white snow red” can literally be taken to mean death. However, it is most likely referring to the death of their friendship. Or the death of Pecknold’s opinion of Michael. 

With scarves of red tied ’round their throats

This line could reference Pecknold’s frustration with his friend’s choices. They decided to embrace drugs and violence as the determinant of their friendships.

The scarf could symbolize the hold that gangs had on his friends. The pull to gang activity was so strong that they were tied to it. 

I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats

The coats could be alluding to gang activity and drug use. Pecknold’s friends were entirely consumed with their new lives. He tried to stick by them and maintain a friendship, but he was always steps behind and couldn’t pull his friends back. 

 

White Winter Hymnal Lyrics Meaning

When you first hear the song White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes, you think it sounds calm and peaceful. When you start to pay attention to the lyrics, you notice the extremely violent subject matter.

But when you give it some thought (or when you listen to what the author of the lyrics himself has said), you realize the lyrics are metaphorical. They are far from happy, and actually quite depressing, but they are not actually violent at all.

Another song with misunderstood lyrics and a connection to violence and war comes from Creedence Clearwater Revival. Read our article about the lyrics and meaning of Fortunate Son for more on that hit song.

For another song inspired by a friend (and one whose meaning is mostly not completely understood), check out our analysis of the Wish You Were Here lyrics meaning.