White As

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Story behind the song

I wrote "White As" during a snowstorm in Maryland in the mid-1990s. From the beginning, I wanted the music itself to evoke the falling snow. The gentle movement of the harp, the rolling 3/4 rhythm, and the delicate trills were all intended to capture the quiet beauty of a winter landscape. At the time, I was reading the Greek myth of Persephone and Demeter. The story of Persephone's descent into Hades—and the ancient explanation that her absence brought winter to the earth—deeply resonated with the world outside my window. As the words and melody developed together, the myth became woven into the song, connecting the changing seasons with themes of loss, longing, and renewal. The title deliberately remains unfinished. Rather than telling listeners what something is "white as," I wanted to leave space for their own imagination. More than a song about winter, "White As" is an attempt to capture the stillness, mystery, and quiet transformation that snowfall can bring.

Lyrics

White as the winter snow Cold air and silence, falling Long gone the crocus flower And Persephone Now all lies sleeping Teardrops freeze the ground Poor Demeter's weeping Her child is not found Now darkness and fear hold sway And move across the land Light creeps in, her shadow grim While searching for her lamb Now all lies sleeping Teardrops freeze the ground Poor Demeter's weeping Her child is not found Mighty rings my mother's cry It shakes both earth and sky Three full moons have traveled by Without you by my side Still the world lies sleeping sound Her tears freeze the ground Fate lies beyond her power Her child is not found

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