Released: August 25, 1986

Songwriter: Paul McCartney Eric Stewart

Producer: Paul McCartney Hugh Padgham

[Verse 1]
It's beautiful outside, an old hand gathers wood
Can he see me sitting here? His mind is somewhere else
His friends have flown away, he's left out in the cold
He won't sit by my fire, he says he likes it in the snow
Where footprints never go, he likes it in the snow

[Verse 2]
It's getting dark outside, the old hand's going home
Has he someone waiting there? Or is he living on his own?
Where footprints never go, he likes it in the snow

[Chorus]
White blanket, hiding the traces of tears she didn't see
Oh white blanket covers the memory
Of all that used to be, all that used to be
But his heart keeps aching in the same old way
He can't help feeling that she might come back someday

[Verse 3]
It's beautiful outside, a magpie looks for food
The old hand throws a crumb
Do you think he's found a friend?
Where footprints never go, he likes it in the snow

[Chorus]
White blanket, hiding the traces of paths he didn't take
Oh white blanket covers the memory
Of moves he didn't make
Oh white blanket, hiding the traces of tears she didn't see
Snow white blanket simply covers the memory
Of all that used to be
But his heart keeps aching in the same old way
He can't help feeling that she might come back someday

Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney, born June 18, 1942, is the single most successful music artist of all time. He found worldwide fame as the bass player and vocalist for The Beatles, and has continued to enjoy commercial success long after the band’s breakup.

His post-Beatles projects—the most lucrative of which was the band Wings, alongside then-wife Linda Eastman—have been met with mixed critical reception but he still retains a substantial public following, regularly conducting worldwide arena tours well into his later years.

His album sales with The Beatles, Wings and solo endeavours combined come to over 100 million, and his net worth was estimated to be approximately $1.2 billion circa 2018. He was knighted in 1997 and is known for his activism.