I was just bony hands as cold as a winter pole You held a warm stone out new flowing blood to hold Oh what a contrast you were To the brutes in the halls My timid young fingers held a decent animal. Over the ramparts you tossed The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers Tied to a brick Sweet as a song The years have seemed short but the days were long. Cool of a temperate breeze from dark skies to wet grass We fell in a field it seems now a thousand summers passed When our kite lines first crossed We tied them into knots And to finally fly apart We had to cut them off. Since then it's been a book you read in reverse So you understand less as the pages turn Or a movie so crass And awkwardly cast That even I could be the star. I don't look back much as a rule And all this way before murder was cool But your memory is here and I'd like it to stay Warm light on a winter's day. Over the ramparts you tossed The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers Tied to a brick Sweet as a song The years have seemed short but the days go slowly by Two loose kites falling from the sky Drawn to the ground and an end to flight
"When the kite lines first crossed We tied them into knots To finally fly apart, we had to cut them off" This perfectly describes what I'm experiencing right now, the aftermath of a relationship I thought and hoped would never end. When something so powerful and meaningful dies, the only way to avoid being taken down with it is to divorce yourself from it completely. To deny or ignore whatever feelings remain. I can only hope in the end that we both learned something, that it wasn't in vain.
The overwhelming feeling of nostalgia, memories of simpler times when we felt more innocent and falling in love was the biggest adventure in the world, and as time passes, the overbearing burdens of life's realities come to the surface to tarnish that hope and innocence until everything is a bittersweet memory. To me, this tune makes me miss myself and my youth and makes me wish I could just remember how it felt like to be so free and open-hearted.
2022 here, I came to say that this song is still one of the most beautiful ever written, and it should be FAR more known than it is. Actually no, I take that back. I like it the way it is, one of my little secret songs that I’ll listen to till that day when I’ll finally head to the clearing at the end of the path. Until then, this song will remain close to my heart.
Yes, with the current state of the music industry for the most part, being able to go back and listen to these beautiful and well written songs is just a joy....
17yrs since this upload. I was broke , had no means to support myself. Comes an angel & lifts me off poverty. She’s my wife & thanks to her , I’m on my feet. Have a career & will leave everything to her my dearest & only boy. ❤❤❤
I always loved this song growing up, but it hits extra hard once you've had some life experiences that kind of mirror the sentiment of the song in some way.
The Shins are a band that I can listen to their songs for years, and never totally get it. It takes a bit to pull apart the meanings but once you do, it's amazing.
For example my favorite song by them is Australia, it took me a long while to find the meaning of that one... it refrences to freedom (I feel like I could just fly) while Australia was a prison continent.
This song is just flawless. The lyrics, riffs, tone, the feel, the video, and pretty much everything about it truly amazes me. This band is just so amazing.
My first boyfriend introduced me to this song...To me it's all the feelings of first love, feeling "understood", heartache...Somehow listening to this song feels like listening to my life lol. Deep.
If we're talking favorite lines, "Warm light...and a winters day." It's how I always felt when that special someone was sitting there just waiting for the daily hug. Relationships really are about as thin as paper, and it's so easy for these connections to tear, whether it's disease, misery, differences, etc. Treasure the people in your life and love them for who they are now.
lets me remember, and feel the exquisite pain of my mate dying. It was unbareable, but Im still here, out on the other side. He loved this song, too -- the sad, little, paper cows hooked us from the first time we watched the video. How wonderful that it would come to remind me of him so.
The Shins are just so relaxing. On a bad day I hit The Shins on my iPod and I'm almost immediately happy. They make awesome, meaningful music that should be more relevant today. It's just peaceful...
I 'discovered' these guys years ago, but only recently started really enjoying them. I didn't know what I was missing. I would almost go so far as to call Chutes Too Narrow a masterpiece.
I was just bony hands as cold as a winter pole You held a warm stone out new flowing blood to hold Oh what a contrast you were To the brutes in the halls My timid young fingers held a decent animal. Over the ramparts you tossed The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers Tied to a brick Sweet as a song The years have seemed short but the days were long. Cool of a temperate breeze from dark skies to wet grass We fell in a field it seems now a thousand summers passed When our kite lines first crossed We tied them into knots And to finally fly apart We had to cut them off. Since then it's been a book you read in reverse So you understand less as the pages turn Or a movie so crass And awkwardly cast That even I could be the star. I don't look back much as a rule And all this way before murder was cool But your memory is here and I'd like it to stay Warm light on a winter's day. Over the ramparts you tossed The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers Tied to a brick Sweet as a song The years have seemed short but the days go slowly by Two loose kites falling from the sky Drawn to the ground and an end to flight.
it's such a beautiful thing to have a deep feeling, insightful person share these thoughts and feelings with us and through music. what I love most about the shins is Mercer's lyrics.they're so true to human life, never apologetic and sometimes harsh. but so honest. will love this song and the Shins and Broken Bells forever. and my kids will too lol..
@@TheInfamousBertman yeah, there aren't many recent comments and yours was the oldest one I found. 14 years is a really long time and so I felt I should reply; when you commented this I was just 4 lmao. Hope you're doing well!
"Life is like a book, you read in reverse, so you understand less as the pages turn, or a movie so crass and awkwardly cast that even I could be the star"... Best line of a song ever...
Some songs have power that exceeds their notes and words. This is one of those songs, but it’s been a while and so I forgot how powerful it was. I’m sitting at work now trying to hide the tears so my coworkers don’t think I’m weird. Well maybe I AM weird, but I know the Shins would understand.
For years I've had the '60's, '70's and a bit of the '80's on something of a loop. So refreshing to have somer newer, great musicians to get into. James Mercer's voice is superb. Discovered Broken Bells first and checked the band members’ music further. The cows add to this (I think), it's just lovely. Thanks for sharing.
As canções do The Shins são maravilhosas. Trazem uma leveza que a música sempre deveria trazer. O vocalista tem um timbre muito especial e o seu jeito de cantar atrai. Enfim, The Shins traz um universo musical novo onde é prazeroso viver.
Love that this song can still give me chills after listening to it and playing it on guitar hundreds and hundreds of times. Was the first Shins song I ever heard and I was immediately captivated, a very rare thing for me.
I used to listen to this song walking to school in the snow in the months following my dad's suicide, and every time I listen to it, it brings me right back. And funny how perfectly the lyrics portray how I felt. A stinging but subtle, horrific but beautiful grief
I've loved this song for the longest time. I first saw this video in American Eagle of all places, and though weird, it just seems like the right video for this song
this song (and album) reminds me of my first trip out to montana, and the rocky mountains, in my early 20s. remember driving around marveling at the incredible beauty of the scenery, and this was the perfect soundtrack for that. #memories
I don't listen to other songs from this band, not really my cup of beer. But these are still to this day some of the best lyrics I have ever heard. Impressive.
First discovered this band/album when I was 12 and loved it (but didn't really have the life experience to truly appreciate it yet)... fast forward to a little over a year a ago I'd forgotten about them and incidentally rediscovered this song while tripping with my ex... didnt really think much of it then, til she went on to break my heart 6 or so months ago so we both have gone our separate ways... but fuck man, shit just hits different now don't it? 😭 lol. And if anyone else is here in the comment for a similar reason sendin ya'll a big ass hug rn cuz damn, jusst sayin 🫂🖤 lol
this has got to be one of the best videos I've ever seen. So well thought and really moving. Yeah, the cow can move you to tears. This song was already a "cryer" for me, with the video now...
Two days ago I had an lecture with Adam Bizanski, the animator of this clip. He's a great man, he did this clip just for fun(and didn't made the last verse), he asked his friend who went to their concert at a CD store to give them the CD. Two months later they sent him an e-mail that they loved the clip and asked him what those he want for this clip(+ last verse), he didn't know what to say, so he said: "mmm 500$?", the said yes haha :)
How bizarre, I just viewed this for the very same reason as you! I was just compiling my '10 songs to learn list' from Justin's beginners course and this one struck me too. I love it. Good luck with your practice.
siempre me encanto esta cancion pero no la entendia.. simplemente me encantaba la frase "winter's day" y finalmente tuve que VIVIR de a poco para entenderla completamente. paz y buena vibras a todos y lo mas bonito es que solo quedan los buenos recuerdos. After all the cuttiest part of all is that only the good memories remain.
This reminds me of the time i toured part of Europe with a band and me and this girl musician spent most of our free time together seeing the sites in the various cities we played at. Her name was Morna. She was really shy and had green eyes. We spent the whole tour together and she friendzoned me so hard at the end I thought my heart was going to explode. She went home with one of the vocalists who looked like a young Dave Duchovny that she barely knew. That's just how it goes these days.
![The Shins - Phantom Limb [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OkITsv3Nk6M/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Shins - Phantom Limb [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](/img/tr.png)
![The Shins - New Slang [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zYwCmcB0XMw/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Shins - Saint Simon [OFFICIAL VIDEO] (Remastered)](/img/1.gif)
How the hell does his mind conjure up words that encapsulate a feeling so well?
Umm…drugs?
Talent! A true creative.
James is an amazing poet as well as musician. He reminds me of Paul Simon when he was with Art Garfunkel.
Hey dude love your videos!
Such a creative and lovely song writer
I was just bony hands as cold as a winter pole
You held a warm stone out new flowing blood to hold
Oh what a contrast you were
To the brutes in the halls
My timid young fingers held a decent animal.
Over the ramparts you tossed
The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers
Tied to a brick
Sweet as a song
The years have seemed short but the days were long.
Cool of a temperate breeze from dark skies to wet grass
We fell in a field it seems now a thousand summers passed
When our kite lines first crossed
We tied them into knots
And to finally fly apart
We had to cut them off.
Since then it's been a book you read in reverse
So you understand less as the pages turn
Or a movie so crass
And awkwardly cast
That even I could be the star.
I don't look back much as a rule
And all this way before murder was cool
But your memory is here and I'd like it to stay
Warm light on a winter's day.
Over the ramparts you tossed
The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers
Tied to a brick
Sweet as a song
The years have seemed short but the days go slowly by
Two loose kites falling from the sky
Drawn to the ground and an end to flight
"When the kite lines first crossed
We tied them into knots
To finally fly apart, we had to cut them off"
This perfectly describes what I'm experiencing right now, the aftermath of a relationship I thought and hoped would never end. When something so powerful and meaningful dies, the only way to avoid being taken down with it is to divorce yourself from it completely. To deny or ignore whatever feelings remain. I can only hope in the end that we both learned something, that it wasn't in vain.
The overwhelming feeling of nostalgia, memories of simpler times when we felt more innocent and falling in love was the biggest adventure in the world, and as time passes, the overbearing burdens of life's realities come to the surface to tarnish that hope and innocence until everything is a bittersweet memory. To me, this tune makes me miss myself and my youth and makes me wish I could just remember how it felt like to be so free and open-hearted.
the comment is written so beautifully
🖤
Well said. Also loss. I'm 42 and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel profound loss. For a myriad of reasons. Hope you are all loved and well.
Yeah
that harmonica solo changes lives
dyelday agreed sassy
angstyday right?!?!
look forward to it every time!
effin gorgeous
100 % agreed cuts through the heart
I didn't notice that there are no drums until now, it just flows so perfectly.
Dang you are right
This has been one of my favorite songs for decades and I have never noticed there are no drums
2022 here, I came to say that this song is still one of the most beautiful ever written, and it should be FAR more known than it is. Actually no, I take that back. I like it the way it is, one of my little secret songs that I’ll listen to till that day when I’ll finally head to the clearing at the end of the path. Until then, this song will remain close to my heart.
Yes, with the current state of the music industry for the most part, being able to go back and listen to these beautiful and well written songs is just a joy....
Nice
17yrs since this upload. I was broke , had no means to support myself. Comes an angel & lifts me off poverty. She’s my wife & thanks to her , I’m on my feet. Have a career & will leave everything to her my dearest & only boy. ❤❤❤
I really didn't plan on a paper cow making me cry tonight
same
Does anyone ever think a paper cow will make them cry? Gosh, me too. I'm glad I'm alone right now. Thank God for The Shins.
For godsake I'm genuinely tearing up
It makes absolutely no sense. Why is this video so crushingly depressing?
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one
I always loved this song growing up, but it hits extra hard once you've had some life experiences that kind of mirror the sentiment of the song in some way.
damn.
I love how his voice goes up when he says "like" in this line:
"but your memory is here and I'd like it to stay."
He sounds so sad, but I love it.
The harmonica in this perfectly embodies winter.
The Shins are a band that I can listen to their songs for years, and never totally get it. It takes a bit to pull apart the meanings but once you do, it's amazing.
For example my favorite song by them is Australia, it took me a long while to find the meaning of that one... it refrences to freedom (I feel like I could just fly) while Australia was a prison continent.
This song is just flawless. The lyrics, riffs, tone, the feel, the video, and pretty much everything about it truly amazes me. This band is just so amazing.
Man I love this song. It creates feelings in me I didn't know I needed to express. Poignant, sorrowful, but so beautiful.
My first boyfriend introduced me to this song...To me it's all the feelings of first love, feeling "understood", heartache...Somehow listening to this song feels like listening to my life lol. Deep.
I can't get enough of this song. I've listened to it six times already today. It's just so melancholy and pretty... :,)
If we're talking favorite lines, "Warm light...and a winters day." It's how I always felt when that special someone was sitting there just waiting for the daily hug. Relationships really are about as thin as paper, and it's so easy for these connections to tear, whether it's disease, misery, differences, etc. Treasure the people in your life and love them for who they are now.
lets me remember, and feel the exquisite pain of my mate dying. It was unbareable, but Im still here, out on the other side. He loved this song, too -- the sad, little, paper cows hooked us from the first time we watched the video. How wonderful that it would come to remind me of him so.
This song is so beautiful and the video is stunning, and simply gorgeous.
The Shins are just so relaxing. On a bad day I hit The Shins on my iPod and I'm almost immediately happy. They make awesome, meaningful music that should be more relevant today. It's just peaceful...
I hadn't heard this song in forever, and when the first note came it took my breath away.
This song always reminds me of my friend Diane, who lost her fight with breast cancer. Today is her birthday.
G L I hope you and her the best!
What a beautiful dedication. Know that she is always with you. Trying not to cry...
Crying... but it's ok. Sending love.
I'm sorry for your loss
Late on this..but I hope u have found some peace.
Maybe the most beautiful lyrics I’ve ever heard.
Mid 2021 and still listen to this song and your memory is still here... and I'd love it to stay
I 'discovered' these guys years ago, but only recently started really enjoying them. I didn't know what I was missing. I would almost go so far as to call Chutes Too Narrow a masterpiece.
I was just bony hands as cold as a winter pole
You held a warm stone out new flowing blood to hold
Oh what a contrast you were
To the brutes in the halls
My timid young fingers held a decent animal.
Over the ramparts you tossed
The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers
Tied to a brick
Sweet as a song
The years have seemed short but the days were long.
Cool of a temperate breeze from dark skies to wet grass
We fell in a field it seems now a thousand summers passed
When our kite lines first crossed
We tied them into knots
And to finally fly apart
We had to cut them off.
Since then it's been a book you read in reverse
So you understand less as the pages turn
Or a movie so crass
And awkwardly cast
That even I could be the star.
I don't look back much as a rule
And all this way before murder was cool
But your memory is here and I'd like it to stay
Warm light on a winter's day.
Over the ramparts you tossed
The scent of your skin and some foreign flowers
Tied to a brick
Sweet as a song
The years have seemed short but the days go slowly by
Two loose kites falling from the sky
Drawn to the ground and an end to flight.
thank you!
It seems he relates to his old school days on many of his top songs, like MANY of us, JR HS and HS could be very confusing and troubling times...
2020 still getting strong vibes and feelings out of this masterpiece
This might be the most tearjerking music video ever.
it's such a beautiful thing to have a deep feeling, insightful person share these thoughts and feelings with us and through music. what I love most about the shins is Mercer's lyrics.they're so true to human life, never apologetic and sometimes harsh. but so honest. will love this song and the Shins and Broken Bells forever. and my kids will too lol..
Lol what? The lyrics are often times poetic nonsense. I absolutely love the shins, but they really aren't particularly coherent a lot of the time.
@@johnwrath3612 you're not really listening then
One of the most beautiful ( and saddest ) vids I've ever seen ...........................................
This such a moving video. I love the Shins and their Broken Bells CD. They created their own niche and I was on board in '07!!
"When our kitelines first crossed, we tied them into knots...to finally fly apart, we had to cut them off"
That's just beautiful.
Hey it's been 14 years, how are you?
@@aelingalathynius9963Good. Don't listen to the shins much anymore though. Did you just find this comment randomly?
@@TheInfamousBertman yeah, there aren't many recent comments and yours was the oldest one I found. 14 years is a really long time and so I felt I should reply; when you commented this I was just 4 lmao. Hope you're doing well!
"Life is like a book, you read in reverse, so you understand less as the pages turn, or a movie so crass and awkwardly cast that even I could be the star"...
Best line of a song ever...
@@aelingalathynius9963 Cute
this song evokes so many bittersweet memories 💙
Or a movie so crass and awkwardly cast that even I could be the star!
Heather Miaou Bruce I know Heather, I know...
he was in a movie though
"Some Days Are Better Than Others"
Jesse Busser Love that line. It’s such a Woody Allen thing to say.
Still hits hard after all these years
the best part of the song is definalty 2:00 till 2:46. I abselutely LOVE James Mercer's voice. This song is perfection.
I love The Shins so much. This album was by far one of my favorites. Hope the new one ends up living up. Peace
one of the greatest songs ever written
Oh how life passes by....
Some songs have power that exceeds their notes and words. This is one of those songs, but it’s been a while and so I forgot how powerful it was. I’m sitting at work now trying to hide the tears so my coworkers don’t think I’m weird. Well maybe I AM weird, but I know the Shins would understand.
i dont think i could ever get sick of this song. its so lovely. I cant believe this is the first time I've seen the video.
The Shins are so beautiful... seriously wish I could put into words what they make me feel.
For years I've had the '60's, '70's and a bit of the '80's on something of a loop. So refreshing to have somer newer, great musicians to get into. James Mercer's voice is superb. Discovered Broken Bells first and checked the band members’ music further. The cows add to this (I think), it's just lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Listen to Daniel Rossen -- he channels George Harrison like you wouldn't believe.
Band of Horses!
So simple yet so sweet.
This song makes me come incredibly close to crying every time I listen to it.
I almost never cry at anything.
As canções do The Shins são maravilhosas. Trazem uma leveza que a música sempre deveria trazer. O vocalista tem um timbre muito especial e o seu jeito de cantar atrai. Enfim, The Shins traz um universo musical novo onde é prazeroso viver.
the scent of your skin and some foreign flowers...tied to a brick...
one of the greatest shins songs, in my opinon.
such a unique band...
Love that this song can still give me chills after listening to it and playing it on guitar hundreds and hundreds of times. Was the first Shins song I ever heard and I was immediately captivated, a very rare thing for me.
this song reminds me of my childhood-simple and awesome but really thoughtful just figuring out everything independintly and really meaningful
I used to listen to this song walking to school in the snow in the months following my dad's suicide, and every time I listen to it, it brings me right back. And funny how perfectly the lyrics portray how I felt. A stinging but subtle, horrific but beautiful grief
This song is absolutely gorgeous. Great vocal coloring
This song flows so smoothly.
"But your memory is here and i'd like it to stay, a warm light on a winter's day" hits hard 17 years later.
keep coming back to this - the song always had me in tears - the vid just breaks me up. the song to end all ending sonds.
If I find enough songs by this new group, this could become one of my favorite groups other than the Decembers 😊
this is such a wonderful song. and the lyrics are great
I've loved this song for the longest time. I first saw this video in American Eagle of all places, and though weird, it just seems like the right video for this song
this song (and album) reminds me of my first trip out to montana, and the rocky mountains, in my early 20s. remember driving around marveling at the incredible beauty of the scenery, and this was the perfect soundtrack for that. #memories
one of the greatest song ever written.
This was my favorite band I bought a cd which I never did back in the day. Man this is still so good
I don't listen to other songs from this band, not really my cup of beer. But these are still to this day some of the best lyrics I have ever heard. Impressive.
James mercer is the best poet of our generation. And the shins as a whole... Are a gift
I remember the first time I saw this video a few tears ago it made me cry.
No I'm not emo - just highly moved by good songs.
Props.
Man... this music and those lyrics !
First discovered this band/album when I was 12 and loved it (but didn't really have the life experience to truly appreciate it yet)... fast forward to a little over a year a ago I'd forgotten about them and incidentally rediscovered this song while tripping with my ex... didnt really think much of it then, til she went on to break my heart 6 or so months ago so we both have gone our separate ways... but fuck man, shit just hits different now don't it? 😭 lol. And if anyone else is here in the comment for a similar reason sendin ya'll a big ass hug rn cuz damn, jusst sayin 🫂🖤 lol
I love this song. Heartbreaking and beautiful.
One of my favorite acoustic songs.
God, I love this song...His voice is so clear & sweet.
i just discovered The Shins today and i fell in love cuz theyre awesome
this has got to be one of the best videos I've ever seen. So well thought and really moving. Yeah, the cow can move you to tears. This song was already a "cryer" for me, with the video now...
Two days ago I had an lecture with Adam Bizanski, the animator of this clip.
He's a great man, he did this clip just for fun(and didn't made the last verse), he asked his friend who went to their concert at a CD store to give them the CD.
Two months later they sent him an e-mail that they loved the clip and asked him what those he want for this clip(+ last verse), he didn't know what to say, so he said: "mmm 500$?",
the said yes haha :)
The look in the cow's eyes at 2:21 speaks to my soul.
This has always been one of my favorite shin songs. I heard the new shins line up play on sat nite live tonite, and i cant say i like the new band yet
This makes my broken heart far more broken. 😢
Though it haunts me so, what are we letting go...our spell is broken.
How bizarre, I just viewed this for the very same reason as you! I was just compiling my '10 songs to learn list' from Justin's beginners course and this one struck me too. I love it. Good luck with your practice.
siempre me encanto esta cancion pero no la entendia.. simplemente me encantaba la frase "winter's day" y finalmente tuve que VIVIR de a poco para entenderla completamente. paz y buena vibras a todos y lo mas bonito es que solo quedan los buenos recuerdos. After all the cuttiest part of all is that only the good memories remain.
This song! That harmonica!
One of the best videos, ever. Great song and a heartwarming video. I love these paper cows :-)
Such a touching song. I want to learn it by heart and sing it to my child someday.
What a lovely rhythm.
The most beautiful song ever created
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Jaw to floor.
Beautiful, beautiful, so much more than a song.
my fav song of the awesome band, shins. beautiful.
This makes me bawl, every single time.
I love this song your the best singers ever
Wow...very nice...i love the Shins...great band..
I get transported back in time when I hear this. It’s managed to somehow grow on me even more with time.
This song really gives you a different outlook on life , sad but beautiful thank you god for giving me the Shins and Mercer the lyrical genius
genious gitar play
and awesome lyrics
amazing only heard about them a year ago and they have change my musical taste
I remember this video differently. However this brilliance just slipped on by with no acknowledgement.
This reminds me of the time i toured part of Europe with a band and me and this girl musician spent most of our free time together seeing the sites in the various cities we played at. Her name was Morna. She was really shy and had green eyes. We spent the whole tour together and she friendzoned me so hard at the end I thought my heart was going to explode. She went home with one of the vocalists who looked like a young Dave Duchovny that she barely knew. That's just how it goes these days.
Wonder what happened to Morna and where she is now a days.
@@sinceunati I sometimes wonder that tooo. She's probably making Tiktok videos complaining about men and dating.
Wow... Great video. I always loved this song but never grasped how truly deep this song is until seeing the video. Heart Breaker.
I concur bro.
fave song that they have ever wrote :)
oh my goodness this song is great
warm light on a winters day. exactly how i feel when i listen to this song.nuff said.
This is and will forever be the most beautiful song ever written….for me at least ❤️
One of my most favorite songs ever.