Season Suite: Winter – English Lyrics

• By: John Denver

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of the changing seasons and the English language through John Denver's "Season Suite: Winter." This poignant song offers a chance to explore descriptive vocabulary related to weather and emotions. Its simple, heartfelt lyrics and clear an-d melodic delivery make it an excellent choice for language learners to connect with themes of nature, time, and hope.

[English]

It's cold and it's getting colder

It's gray and white and winter all around

And oh, I must be getting older

And all this snow is trying to get me down

There's a fire in the corner, slowly dyin' (away)

Sometimes I just don't feel like goin' on (anymore)

And yet I know it's more than worth the waiting

For another chance to see the summer sun

(Come on, shine on me)

There's a fire in the corner, slowly dyin' (away)

Sometimes I just don't feel like goin' on (anymore)

And yet I know it's more than worth the waiting (away)

For another chance to see the summer sun

(Come on, shine on me)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - of a low temperature
snow /snəʊ/ A1	noun - frozen precipitation in the form of flakes
fire /faɪər/ A2	noun - the process of burning
dying /ˈdaɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - to cease to live
chance /tʃɑːns/ B1	noun - a possibility
worth /wɜːrθ/ B2	noun - the value of something
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ B1	verb - remaining inactive in expectation
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A2	noun - the warmest season of the year
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
older /ˈoʊldər/ B1	adjective - having lived for a long time
gray /ɡreɪ/ A2	adjective - a color between black and white
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
shining /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ B1	verb - emitting bright light
corner /ˈkɔːrnər/ A2	noun - a place where two lines or surfaces meet
going /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/ A1	verb - moving or traveling

Key Grammar Structures

• It's cold and it's **getting** colder

  ➔ present progressive (be + verb‑ing)

  ➔ "getting" shows an action that is happening now and will continue.

• And **oh**, I **must be getting** older

  ➔ modal verb + be + verb‑ing (must be + ing)

  ➔ "must be getting" expresses a strong assumption about a present ongoing change.

• And all this snow **is trying** to get me down

  ➔ present progressive (is trying)

  ➔ "is trying" shows an effort that is happening right now.

• There's a fire in the corner, **slowly dyin'** (away)

  ➔ there is + noun; present participle as adjective (slowly dyin')

  ➔ "slowly dyin'" functions as a descriptive phrase modifying "fire".

• Sometimes I just **don't feel like** goin' on (anymore)

  ➔ negative present simple + feel like + gerund

  ➔ "don't feel like" is followed by a gerund ("goin'"), not an infinitive.

• And yet I **know** it's more than worth the waiting

  ➔ verb of perception + that‑clause; comparative structure (more than)

  ➔ "know" introduces a clause; "more than worth" compares the value of waiting.

• For another chance **to see** the summer sun

  ➔ infinitive of purpose (to + verb)

  ➔ "to see" explains why the chance is wanted – the purpose of the chance.

• (**Come** on, **shine** on me)

  ➔ imperative mood; base form verbs used for commands

  ➔ "Come" and "shine" are commands directed at the listener or a metaphorical sun.