Farm home on the English countryside in the winter

Cold and Raw the North Wind Doth Blow

Cold and raw the north wind doth blow,
Bleak in the morning early;
All the hills are covered with snow,
And winters now come fairly.

Listen as male American voice:

Listen as female British voice:

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Meaning

This rhyme paints a stark picture of winter’s arrival, focusing on the cold, raw wind and snow-covered hills. It is largely literal, evoking the sensory experience of winter’s harshness. Symbolically, it may represent hardship, endurance, or the emotional chill of solitude.

Origin

The rhyme originates in England, and likely developed from rural or pastoral poetic traditions that observed and described the seasons. It shares characteristics with older ballads and folk songs that predate the nursery format.

Time Period

The earliest versions of this rhyme or song are traced to the 17th century, though it became more standardized in the 18th to early 19th century as part of the English folk and children’s verse tradition.

Why It Became Popular

Its popularity stemmed from its vivid seasonal imagery and simple, memorable lines. It likely spread through oral tradition, and later appeared in printed songbooks and nursery collections, which helped preserve it. Its melodic qualities also contributed to its use in early children’s education and lullaby repertoire.

First Known Publication

Appeared in Thomas D’Urfey’s collection Pills to Purge Melancholy (published 1719–1720). It was presented as a song rather than a nursery rhyme, with several more verses, some of which were quite adult in tone.

Structure and Style

Meter: Iambic tetrameter
Rhyme Scheme: AABB
Line Count: 4 lines (in the nursery version)
Style Notes: Simple, lyrical style; the vivid sensory language and seasonally evocative imagery lend it a quiet solemnity. Its brevity in nursery versions increases its impact and makes it easily memorizable.

Themes

Winter
Nature
Hardship
Observation of seasons
Rural life

Language Notes

“Doth” is an archaic third-person singular form of “does”, indicating the rhyme’s antiquity.
“Fairly” is used here to mean “completely” or “truly”, not attractively.
The phrase “cold and raw” was a common expression in older English to describe chill, damp weather.

Moral or Lesson

None clearly intended. The rhyme is descriptive rather than didactic, focusing on seasonal observation rather than imparting a moral.

Historical or Cultural Notes

The original song associated with this rhyme was likely not intended for children. It had several additional verses referencing romantic and domestic life, and was sung in taverns and parlors before being pared down for nursery use. The transformation into a children’s rhyme likely occurred during the Victorian era, when many folk songs were sanitized and abridged for educational and nursery settings.