I See The Lights

Today is Winter Solstice which marks the end of night's slowly creeping consumption of daylight. From now on the nights will grow shorter and the days longer. We move from the soul's despair of "a winter's day in a deep and dark December" to its joy in realizing that "the party lights" are not that far away.


A winter's day
In a deep and dark December
I am alone
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow
I am a rock I am an island

I've built walls
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need of friendship
Friendship causes pain
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain
I am a rock I am an island

Don't talk of love
But I've heard the words before
It's sleeping in my memory
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings
that have died
If I never loved I never would have cried
I am a rock I am an island

I have my books
and my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room
safe within my womb
I touch no one
and no one touches me
I am a rock I am an island

And a rock feels no pain
And an island never cries
-Simon and Garfunkel





(Party lights, I see the party lights)
Woo-oh, ooh,
(They're red & blue & green)
Party lights
(Everybody in the crowd is there)
Mama, I wanna go, go, go, go, go, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah
(Mama, Mama)

Well, Mama, dear, oh tell me, do you hear?
They're partying tonight
I tell you I can't sleep
Because across the street
Oh, oh, oh, oh, I see the party lights

I see the lights, I see the party lights
They're red and blue and green
Oh, everybody in the crowd is there
But you won't let me make the scene

Mama dear, oh, look-a-here, look here
There goes Mary Lou
I see Tommy and Joe
Oh, oh, and Betty and Sue
Oh, oh, oh, oh, there goes my boyfriend, too

I see the lights, I see the lights, I see the party lights
They're red and blue and green
Oh, everybody in the crowd is there
But you won't let me make the scene
Listen to the party, Mama!

(instrumental)

Hey, Mama dear, oh, look-a-here, look here
I'm feeling oh so blue
They're doin' the Twist, the Fish, the Mashed Potato, too
I'm here a-lookin' at you

I see the lights, I see the lights, I see the party lights
They're red and blue and green
Oh, everybody in the crowd is there
But you won't let me make the scene

They're doin' the Fish, they're doin' the Twist
The Watusi, the Mashed Potato
I see the lights, I see the lights
They're doin' the Bop, I wanna go
(Mama, mama)
I want to go
I want to go
I want to go
-Claudine Clark

You will find a scientific explanation of Winter Solstice here.

You will find an article about Winter Solstice customs and traditions here.