This famous poem by William Shakespeare is actually a song from the comedy play "As You Like It". The speaker in this poem doesn’t mind the winter wind and the bitter sky because these things don’t hurt as much as human friendship and ingratitude.
Despite singing that most friendships are false and loving is foolish the speaker seems to have an optimistic outlook on life and ends the song with “this life is most jolly”.
Read an analysis of the poem at InterestingLiterature.
When I set this this poem to music the lines that stood out to me was “heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho” and “this life is most jolly” so the melody for my version is inspired by this positive mindset.
Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
Poem by William Shakespeare
Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
