Bluegrass Breakdown Ep. 2: Footprints in the Snow

We all know that sometimes, bluegrass lyrics make a little less than a good amount of sense. That's what I'm here for. I will explain the meaning of bluegrass songs verse by verse. Today we visit Footprints in the Snow.

Now some folks like the summertime when they can walk about
Strolling through the meadow green it's pleasant there's no doubt
But give me the wintertime when the snow is on the ground
For I found her when the snow was on the ground

This has been your daily weather report. In case you were wondering, there are two kinds of people: Pleasant summertime people, and the rest. Also, the author of this song wants you to forget about summer because it has nothing to do with the rest of the song. Psyche!

   I traced her little footprints in the snow
   I found her little footprints in the snow
   I bless that happy day when Nellie lost her way
   For I found her when the snow was on the ground

It takes a bit of doing, but I can gather that the "her" in the first verse is Nellie in the chorus. Notice the order of the verbs in this chorus: 1.) traced 2.) found. So the author actually made the footprints himself, left, came back later and found them. Also, Nellie has a horrific sense of direction, much to the author's amusement. Finally, the last line of the chorus has confused so many vocalists over the years. Was Nellie dead when he found her? Was this the first time he ever saw her and they later fell in love and got married? The following verses explain it better, so this is kinda like foreshadowing.

I dropped in to see her there was a big round moon
Her mother said she just stepped out but would be returning soon
I found her little footprints and I traced them through the snow
I found her when the snow was on the ground

Two key words here: dropped, and moon. The very fact that both are mentioned in the same breath says "falling through the roof" to me. Further, going off the first two lines of the song, it seems to me to be a poorly timed sky-dive proposal. As he drops from the plane, he can't help but notice the big round moon. When he lands on the living room floor (literally came down with the shingles), Nellie's mother was like "What? She ain't even in the house, bruh!" Oh and roll that foreshadowing thing about finding her again.

Now she's up in heaven she's with the angel band
I know I'm going to meet her in that promised land
But every time the snow falls it brings back memories
For I found her when the snow was on the ground

Now it all comes together. Now it makes sense. So remember that foreshadowing thing in every verse and chorus? Here's what it was leading up to. Once upon a time, the author met this girl, Nellie. All was hunky dory until he decided to do a skydiving proposal stunt. Poorly timed and barely planned, he makes the jump at night just after she already left the house (her intentions still unknown and never divulged). He goes outside to look for her, draws footprints in the snow for fun, miraculously finds her that way, but, alas, she's up in Heaven with the Angel Band. Must've died of frostbite, because the author emphasizes there being snow on the ground. And this didn't happen in the summertime, by the way.

And there you have it! That confusing Footprints in the Snow actually makes sense now! You're welcome, earth!

Is there another song that has confusing lyrics? Let me know! I can explain them to you on the next episode of the Bluegrass Breakdown!