21 Best Songs About Snow & Winter Wonderland

The best songs about snow evoke the familiar feeling of winter and how the season conjures up sentimental emotions and a sensation of warmth.

It’s an image that artists and bands of all kinds have drawn upon in their music to deliver moving and touching music that fans around the world adore.

Read on, and discover the great songs that capture the sensation of snow falling and how we respond to this beautiful weather.

The 21 Best Songs About Snow & Winter Wonderland

Everyone, from classic jazz singers from the turn of the century to modern-day rock and pop artists, has explored the imagery and emotions behind snow.

To ensure this playlist covers music for all tastes, we’ve featured singers and bands from a broad range of music genres and styles who have covered the topic of snow.

Without further ado, here’s our playlist of the 21 best songs about snow and winter wonderland:

21. “Snowblind” – Black Sabbath

The English rock band Black Sabbath is widely credited with the creation of heavy metal music, which runs through the core of their song “Snowblind.”

“Something blowing in my head, winter’s ice, it soon will spread,” the dynamic lyrics sing, continuing with, “Down to freeze my very soul, makes me happy, makes me cold.”

“Snowblind” is a great addition to their discography, which includes the aggressive and pumping song about choices, “Heaven and Hell.”

20. “January Hymn” – The Decemberists

The alternative rock and indie band The Decemberists released the song “January Hymn” in 2011, featuring the track on the album The King Is Dead.

With moving and nostalgic lyrics, it’s a song that captures the winter season in all its frosty glory, reflecting on a childhood playing with friends in the snow.

The Decemberists recorded the song in a converted barn on Oregon’s Pendarvis Farm, with an undercurrent of British folk rock enhancing its atmospheric appeal.

19. “White As Snow” – U2

One of the most famous bands in the world, U2, has released some of the best songs of all time, with “White as Snow” a fitting addition to their discography.

This great song describes a barren landscape in the midst of winter, on which no fruit can grow, and a soldier goes hunting in the frigid woodlands.

Released in 2009 on the album No Line on the Horizon, “White as Snow” ends on a tragic note, as the soldier draws his last breath after being wounded.

18. “Snow (Hey Oh)” – Red Hot Chili Peppers

A more upbeat tune about snow is “Snow (Hey Oh)” by 1990’s classic rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, which was released in 2006.

“Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder where it’s so white as snow,” the lyrics sing, “Privately divided by a world so undecided, and there’s nowhere to go.”

“Snow (Hey Oh),” which was featured on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ double album Stadium Arcadium, was their follow-up single to “Tell Me Baby.”

17. “20 Years Of Snow” – Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor’s song “20 Years of Snow” from 2006 is another example of songs about snow that features imagery of pain and suffering.

The lyrics describe a wounded animal in the snow, using the imagery as an analogy for a relationship that is falling apart at the seams.

“20 Years of Snow,” considered one of the best releases that year, was released in 2006 on the Regina Spektor album Begin to Hope, her fourth album.

16. “Let It Go” – Idina Menzel

“Let It Go” by Idina Menzel needs no introduction to anyone with young children after becoming an international hit upon the release of Disney’s Frozen.

“The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside, couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried,” the lyrics sing, “Don’t let them in, don’t let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be.”

It captures Idina Menzel’s strong vocal range and mesmerizing style that helped make her one of Broadway’s biggest stars.

15. “Winter Song” – Sara Bareilles And Ingrid Michaelson

After writing and recording one of the best songs about divorce, Sara Bareilles teamed up with Ingrid Michaelson for “Winter Song.”

This touching song explores the winter season with a personal touch, dedicated to the passing of the seasons and the yearning for sunny days.

“Winter Song” was released on the compilation album The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs with music from Katy Perry, Fiona Apple, and Lenka.

14. “While I Shovel The Snow” – The Walkmen

The Walkmen’s song “While I Shovel the Snow” was released in 2010 on the album Lisbon, and it received much acclaim from fans and critics.

“Once again, the winter’s here, all the lochs are frozen over,” the song’s moving lyrics explain, continuing, “So I look in back of me, see a shape beside the walkway.”

It’s a perfect example of The Walkmen’s distinct indie rock style, which features stirring vocal performances alongside exceptional guitaring and arrangements.

13. “Coldest Winter” – Kanye West

Kanye West’s career has gone from strength to strength, with the artist picking up many Grammy Awards and selling millions of records worldwide.

“Coldest Winter” is one of his more affecting pieces of music, showcasing his idiosyncratic vocals and mastery of intricate and unique music production.

This seasonally-tinged hip-hop track was released in 2008 along with a great music video featuring exceptional production values and cinematography.

12. “Amid The Falling Snow” – Enya

Enya’s music has consistently played with themes around nature and the weather, with “Amid the Falling Snow” another fine example of this approach.

The evocative lyrics conjure up images of snow gently falling in the candlelight and the warm and sentimental feeling you get when gazing out of the window.

“Amid the Falling Snow” was released in 2005 on the album Amarantine to critical and commercial acclaim, cementing their solid reputation with fans.

11. “White Winter Hymnal” – Fleet Foxes

Indie folk rock band Fleet Foxes released their exceptional song about snow, “White Winter Hymnal,” in 2006 as part of their self-titled album.

With an official music video using gorgeous stop-motion animation, it’s a song that encapsulates the magic of winter weather and the mystical aspects of the season.

The cover art for the album was inspired by the works of the Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel, whose iconic painting Hunters in the Snow is widely regarded as a masterpiece.

10. “Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow” – Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds

While you might expect a song from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds about winter to explore seasonal depression, this entry is more complex.

“Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow” delivers more depth, and the song talks about the need for healing and how people struggle to understand one another.

Nick Cave released this moving song on the album No More Shall We Part in 2001 after a four-year gap following his iconic release The Boatman’s Call.

9. “Goodbye England (Covered In Snow)” – Laura Marling

Laura Marling’s 2010 song “Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)” takes an altogether sweeter look at winter and the colder weather it brings.

“I want to lay here forever in the cold, I might be cold, but I’m just skin and bones,” she sings in the song, “And I’ll never love England more than when covered in snow.”

It’s another example of how great snow songs draw on the deep feelings of nostalgia that many people feel when they head into the winter months.

8. “Winter Wonderland” – Bing Crosby

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without listening to “Winter Wonderland” by Bing Crosby, a seasonal classic for all ages.

Few people don’t know the classic lyrics, which sing, “Snow is glistening, a beautiful sight / we’re happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland.”

“Winter Wonderland” was originally written in 1943 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith and has since been covered by more than 200 artists.

7. “50 Words For Snow” – Kate Bush

Like “Cloudbusting,” one of the great songs about clouds by Kate Bush, “50 Words for Snow” is a beautiful piece of music that similarly evokes the beauty of nature.

Kate Bush released this wonderful song on the album of the same name in 2011, with all the songs on the release set against the background of falling snow.

She was inspired by the many words for snow that Eskimos have and wanted to capture this diversity of expression and feeling through her music.

6. “Cold Rain And Snow” – Grateful Dead

One of the most iconic bands to play during the Summer of Love, Grateful Dead has released many well-known rock tracks worth your time.

Our next song about snow, “Cold Rain and Snow,” describes the break up of a relationship between a man and his wife using these weather conditions to heighten the mood.

“She’s coming down the stairs, combin’ back her yellow hair,” the lyrics sing, “Well I’m goin’ where those chilly winds don’t blow, winds don’t blow.”

5. “Valley Winter Song” – Fountains Of Wayne

“Valley Winter Song” by Fountains of Wayne takes us firmly into pop music territory, released in 2003 as their career was getting underway.

It’s a song that yearns for summer, even “Though the interstate is choking under salt and dirty sand / And it seems the sun is hiding from the moon.”

Fountains of Wayne included “Valley Winter Song” on their album Welcome Interstate Managers and stormed the charts with the single “Stacey’s Mom.”

4. “Hazy Shade Of Winter” – Simon And Garfunkel

Two years before releasing their hit song about underdogs, “The Boxer,” Simon and Garfunkel impressed fans with “Hazy Shade of Winter” in 1968.

This classic song uses the imagery of the winter months to conjure feelings of fading memories, hanging on to hopes, and a passing Salvation Army band.

“Hazy Shade of Winter” was featured on the album Bookends, their first album released after their international success with the soundtrack to The Graduate.

3. “Velvet Snow” – Kings Of Leon

The Kings of Leon’s song “Velvet Snow” brings us back to more recent times and another outstanding indie rock band from a contemporary band.

“Then you go and when you go / you get to going way too fast and I’m so slow,” the lively lyrics sing, “Turn out the lights ’cause she’s coming to fight, and then she’ll go.”

It’s one of the best rock songs released in 2004 and a striking example of the energy and vitality that helped make Kings of Leon so popular.

2. “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” – Billie Holiday

The popular song “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” was first recorded in 1937 by Billie Holiday, with many more versions in the years since.

It’s a wonderful song that captures the vibe of the Big Band movement that would dominate the jazz scene over a period of decades.

Billie Holiday was commended for her contributions to music throughout her career and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for her work in 2000.

1. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” – Frank Sinatra

As with “Winter Wonderland,” Frank Sinatra’s “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” is an iconic piece of music many people listen to during the winter season.

Originally recorded by Vaughn Monroe with the Norton Sisters in 1945, it’s a seasonal classic that has been featured in many Christmas movies over the decades.

Frank Sinatra has written and performed many classic songs, including some of the best karaoke songs of all time, such as “My Way.”

Summary

So that’s a wrap on this playlist exploring the best songs about snow you can listen to when you suffer from the wintertime blues and need uplifting.

These beautiful and moving songs capture the essence of how it feels to sit beside a glowing fireplace while snow gently falls on the landscape outside.

With songs about the passing seasons and weather a common fixture in many artists and bands’ repertoire, there’s no doubt that more snow songs will emerge in the future.

What’s the best song about snow, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.