Snowblind

About

Snowblind appears on Swings Both Ways as one of its most introspective songs. Written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, the track was originally composed in 2002 during Williams’s Australasian tour and remained unreleased for over a decade. It was finally included on the 2013 album using Williams’s original vocal recording, capturing the emotional rawness of its first performance.

Williams described Snowblind as a song about longing and self-sabotage, written at a time when he desired love but struggled to maintain relationships. “I wanted to be in love, but I couldn’t keep it together,” he said. “It’s about meeting someone amazing and knowing you’ll ruin it.” The lyrics reflect that conflict between tenderness and restlessness, as he sings of vulnerability, fleeting affection and the inability to stay grounded.

Musically, Snowblind departs from the playful tone of much of the album, offering a gentle, orchestral ballad in the style of classic cinematic love songs. Its arrangement of piano, strings and woodwinds complements Williams’s warm yet fragile vocal. The tone is wistful rather than melancholy, balancing sadness with an acceptance of imperfection. The title itself evokes both clarity and blindness, a metaphor for the contradictory emotions of love and loss.

“It’s from a period of my life when I wanted to be in love but knew I wouldn’t be able to do the monogamy thing. The song is saying to someone, you’re so full as a person that I’m overpowered by it, and I’m not going to be here long because of it.”Robbie Williams

Snowblind was praised by critics for its sincerity and lyrical depth. Q Magazine called it one of the finest songs of Williams’s career, while others noted its mature perspective and restrained production. As a reflective moment on Swings Both Ways, it offered a poignant counterpoint to the album’s exuberant energy, highlighting Williams’s ability to balance humour with honesty and vulnerability.