What do you think White Winter Hymnal means?

Fleet Foxes: White Winter Hymnal Meaning

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Album cover for White Winter Hymnal album cover

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 swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red...

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  1. anonymous
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     Jan 24th 2017 !⃝

    "I was following the pack," I thought this meant a "pack" of foxes. "All swallowed in their coats," (fur) and " red as strobarys in the summer time" can mean animal is dead .

  2. anonymous
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     Dec 20th 2016 !⃝

    Michael is a cardinal that fell.

  3. anonymous
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     Dec 16th 2016 !⃝

    I think its about people being hung so when they fall from the platform the scarf (Rope) will catch their heads from falling in the snow and they will die.

  4. anonymous
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     Dec 2nd 2016 !⃝

    "I was following the eye" is what I heard before looking up the lyrics and I am not sure if anyone thought of it, but they eye is a demonic symbol especially when in the center of the pyramid. Kind of like the illuminati sign.
    I have no clue what the part about scarves and snow is but I do know that Micheal is not some random name.
    Jesus and God is also caled "Micheal the archangel" and I know He wont fall and only one person is plotting his fall. The Devil.
    I think its a crepy song and it gives me goosebumps like all songs with extreme subliminal messages do.

  5. anonymous
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     Nov 21st 2016 !⃝

    It definitely has a sinister meaning.Turning the white snow with blood. Beautiful vocals as sung by Pentatonix, wish the words were nice as well.

  6. anonymous
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     May 25th 2016 !⃝

    I always thought this was just about foxes.
    "I was following the pack," I thought this meant a "pack" of foxes. "All swallowed in their coats," (fur) "with scarves of red tied round their throats to keep their little heads from falling in the snow." Foxes are kinda short, so I just assumed this meant for them to keep their heads out of the snow or something...?
    "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 thought this meant that one of the foxes was shot by hunters.
    But this is just the way I view it, and I'm assuming the real meaning is much darker, whatever it is...

  7. anonymous
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     Feb 24th 2016 !⃝

    Snowmen guys comeon. Scarves and they fall off with red scarves on the snow. :)

  8. anonymous
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     Dec 14th 2015 !⃝

    I think maybe " I was following the 'pack' all swallowed in their coats" I think pack would mean a few kids. " And Michael you would fall, and turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime." ' Michael you would fall and turn the white snow red ' Meaning... DIE! ; (

  9. anonymous
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     Aug 24th 2015 !⃝

    I believe it's a song about, just like some of you guys said, being with your "pack" and not disobeying these rules. The thing is, as he repeats "I was following the" and doesn't finish the sentence could mean 1) He's tired, and must repeat so he won't loose hope or 2) There is a bunch of people following a leader or an idea they don't even know about, but they keep following so that no one will be adrift just because he/she is not "following" the same ideas.

    About the "All swallowed in their coats/With scarves of red tied 'round their throats/To keep their little heads/From fallin' in the snow" thing, it looks pretty simple - the cold would stand as not following the ideas, and they'd comfort(and even lie to) themselves so that no one would be adrift. So, the point is - they're trying to survive by holding themselves to an(possibly fake) idea.

    But then, something terrible happens: Michael disagrees with the idea, and stops lying to himself, so that he'll be free. But the loneliness of being different then all of the others killed him( or maybe just from the other's eyes) something that would rather reassure their ideas OR make them keep lying to themselves. It could be a metaphor to some of the irony in capitalism - let's be different by being similar (like buying something believing you have a choice when actually you don't) and making yourself a fool, believing that not having the latest product is the worst thing that could happen to you( seeing Michael die as he doesn't follow the ideas).

  10. anonymous
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     May 22nd 2015 !⃝

    The song immediately made me think about the Russian Revolution. Those who wanted to survive wore the "strawberry red" scarves in of the revolutionary movement. Many who did not wear the scarves were assumed to be against the revolution and were beheaded. The revolution brought an end to the lives of the Czar and his family. One of the goals of the revolution was to bring an end to religion. The patron saint of the Czar's family was the Archangel Michael. The death of Michael could represent the end of the Czarist rulers and the religion.

  11. anonymous
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     Oct 29th 2012 !⃝

    I see two possible things.
    1) It's about conformity. Following the pack is the conformity, and everybody has the red scarves, but Michael doesn't want to conform, so he falls and he turns the snow red which is a symbol for not comforting because snow should be white not red.
    2) It's just a creepy song that gives off the image of a bunch of gives walking in a group in the winter, and their heads are decapitated, the only thing holding them onto their heads is their scarves. Michael falls, his scarf, undoing, and the blood from his body spills into the snow.

  12. anonymous
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     Aug 24th 2011 !⃝

    *He

    (my bad)

  13. anonymous
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     Aug 15th 2011 !⃝

    I think maybe, Just maybe this song is talking about following the "Rules" or being "Captured".
    (All of this happening in the Winter)

    "I was following The Pack"
    I think this part is talking about a "LINE" which means one follows the other.


    "With scarves of red tied 'round their
    throats To keep their little heads
    From fallin' in the snow"
    Maybe talking about "There heads being on the line" meaning "You dont follow the "Rules" you die (Your Head will come off)"

    "And I turned 'round and there you go.
    And, Michael, you would fall,
    And turn the white snow
    Red as strawberries in the summertime."
    This part maybe meaning "Michael" was trying to get away from the "Pack/Rules" and when he looked she got killed. "You would fall, And turn the white snow
    Red as strawberries in the summertime"

    "Turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summer time"
    Which tells me she fell and now is bleeding turning "The white snow red as strawberries in the summer time"

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