Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of anticipation and a clandestine meeting, shrouded in a peculiar kind of natural prophecy. The opening lines suggest a distrust of outward appearances, with the "climes" (likely referring to weather or climate) heating with "deceit." This sets up a contrast with the "snow," which is presented as a source of "secret messages" and "little fortunes." The narrator finds meaning and guidance in these hidden signs within the snow, waiting for a specific moment to connect with someone.
The central tension arises from the need for a secret rendezvous, indicated by the choice of a "local airport" that is "busy all the time." The solution is to meet "at night," when the "airport" becomes "quieter." This setting, usually a hub of transit and public farewells, is repurposed for a private, perhaps fleeting, encounter. The repetition of "airport" emphasizes its significance as the chosen, yet compromised, meeting ground.
The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of the mundane, busy airport with the almost mystical interpretation of snow. The "weather has been hiding secret messages" transforms a natural phenomenon into a coded communication system, directly influencing the narrator's plans. This elevates the act of waiting for a meeting into something fated, guided by "fortunes so well hidden."
This lyrical approach is effective because it imbues a potentially ordinary meeting with a sense of destiny and quiet urgency. The focus on hidden meanings in nature and the preference for the quiet of night at a busy place creates an atmosphere of intimacy and veiled significance. The final stanza, describing a "perfect visit" to "the margins of the surface," wrapped in "fabrics" and waiting to "see something so beautiful," suggests a shared experience that will be profoundly moving, taking the "breath out of our lungs."