Walking in the Air (from The Snowman)

Hayley Westenra is an opera singer from New Zealand. Her voice has an angelic quality that makes her perfect for songs like this one. She sounds delicate and pure, like if you touched her, she might evaporate into dust. “Walking in the Air” was written by Howard Blake for The Snowman movie in 1982.

The lyrics are simple but convey the essence of this story perfectly. The first verse talks about how their journey began:

“We’re walking in the air/ We’re floating in the moonlit sky/ The people far below are sleeping as we fly.”

The following verse is about what they see as they fly:

“I’m holding very tight / I’m riding in the midnight blue/ I’m finding I can fly so high above with you.”

And finally, the last verse talks about how this journey must end:

“Far across the world/ The villages go by like dreams / The rivers and hills/ Are far below.”

It was originally sung by Peter Auty, but it has been covered many times since then, including this version by Hayley Westenra. The song hit number 5 on the UK Singles Chart in 2003, when it was released as a single with other tracks from Westenra’s album Pure.

It has been covered by over a hundred other artists. Westenra’s version of the song was recorded for her first album, Pure (2003), and released as the third single from that album.

The beautifully crafted music video was shot in Prague, Czech Republic and features Hayley singing with a choir while walking over rooftops and through snowy streets.

Hayley Westenra’s “Walking in the Air” is a beautiful rendition of an already beautiful song. It’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written, in my opinion. It always makes me cry because it reminds me of my childhood and how much I loved watching The Snowman on TV at Christmastime (and still do).

Lyrics

We’re walking in the air’
We’re floating in the moonlit sky;
The people far below
Are sleeping as we fly.

I’m holding very tight
I’m riding in the midnight blue
I’m finding I can fly
So high above with you.

On across the world
The villages go by like dreams,
The rivers and the hills,
The forests and the streams.

Children gaze open mouthed,
Taken by surprise;
Nobody down below
Believes their eyes.

We’re surfing in the air,
We’re swimming in the frozen sky,
We’re drifting over icy
Mountains floating by.

Suddenly swooping low
On an ocean deep,
Rousing up a mighty monster
From his sleep.

We’re walking in the air,
We’re dancing in the midnight sky