Better Than Snow – English Lyrics

• By: Norah Jones, Laufey
• Album: Christmas With You

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the cozy, jazz-infused world of "Better Than Snow," an original holiday collaboration by Norah Jones and Laufey. This track is a perfect way to learn English by experiencing sophisticated vocabulary in a relaxed, charming context. Listen closely to how both artists' distinct voices blend in beautiful vocal harmonies, and appreciate the song's intimate, simple language which clearly articulates the universal message that love is the greatest gift of the holiday season, regardless of whether you have snow or palm trees.

[English]

Mm-mm

Sit by my fire, I'll never leave you

Look out the window, palm trees aglow

Now, as I sweat through my ugly sweater

Christmas with you is better than snow

Drive to the ocean all through December

It would be nice to hide from the cold

Then the sun warms me, and I remember

Christmas with you is better than snow

Christmas with you is better than snow

Watching the waves crash down on the shore

I never needed anything more than you here beside me

Jack Frost won't mind if we stay in the heat of each other

We'll build sand castles instead of snowmen

We'll bake some cookies either way

I'll take the warmest day of the year, 'cause

Christmas with you is better than snow

Christmas with you is better than snow

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Christmas /ˈkrɪsməs/ B1	noun - the Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed on December 25
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - frozen precipitation consisting of ice crystals
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - combustion that gives off heat and light
window /ˈwɪndoʊ/ A1	noun - an opening in a wall or roof that lets in light and air
palm /pɑːm/ B1	noun - the inner part of the hand, or a type of tropical tree
trees /triːz/ A1	noun - woody plants with a trunk and branches
ugly /ˈʌɡli/ A2	adjective - unpleasant to look at; unattractive
sweater /ˈswɛtər/ A2	noun - a knitted garment worn on the upper body
ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ B1	noun - the vast body of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface
December /dɪˈsɛmbər/ A2	noun - the twelfth month of the year
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - having a low temperature
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star at the centre of the Solar System
waves /weɪvz/ A2	noun - rising and falling movements of water on a sea or lake
shore /ʃɔːr/ B2	noun - the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or river
sand /sænd/ A1	noun - tiny particles of rock found on beaches and deserts
castles /ˈkæslz/ A2	noun - large fortified buildings or complexes, often from medieval times
snowmen /ˈsnoʊmən/ B1	noun - figures made of snow, shaped like a person
cookies /ˈkʊkiz/ A1	noun - small sweet baked treats
warmest /ˈwɔːrmɪst/ B2	adjective - most warm; having the highest temperature
remember /rɪˈmɛm.bər/ B1	verb - to keep something in mind, or recall a past event

Key Grammar Structures

• Sit by my fire, I'll never leave you

  ➔ Future with 'will' implied (I *will* never leave you) & Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase uses a conditional structure to express a promise. The imperative 'Sit' directly addresses the listener. The implied 'will' emphasizes the certainty of the promise.

• Now, as I sweat through my ugly sweater

  ➔ Present continuous tense with 'as' as a conjunction of time

  ➔ The present continuous ('sweat') describes an action happening *now*, simultaneously with the speaker's awareness. 'As' connects this action to the moment of speaking.

• Christmas with you is better than snow

  ➔ Comparative adjective ('better') used in a simile

  ➔ This line uses a classic comparative structure to express preference. 'Better' is the comparative form of 'good', indicating that spending Christmas with the person is more enjoyable than experiencing snow.

• We'll build sand castles instead of snowmen

  ➔ Future with 'will' & 'instead of' construction

  ➔ The use of 'will' indicates a future intention. 'Instead of' introduces a contrasting alternative – building sandcastles rather than snowmen, highlighting the tropical setting.