Popular Nostalgia

Walking in the Air is the signature song from The Snowman an animated Christmas film about a boy who makes friends with a snowman. It is shown at Christmas time every year. It was sung by St. Paul’s Cathedral choirboy, Peter Auty for only £300. He was left out of the credits in a rush to finish the film. The single which reached number 5 in the charts, was sung by Aled Jones – a Welsh choirboy who is now touring as an adult and had a Christmas CD out in 2007 “You Raise Me Up-The Best of Aled Jones”.

The Snowman has no words other than those sung in the music. The story is of a boy who builds a snowman. The snowman comes to life and flies the boy to the North pole to meet Santa and the other snowmen. The Snowmen have a party with bagpipes and dancing. Santa gives the boy a scarf and then they go home.

Spoiler! Do not read if you have never seen this film!

The Snowman melts the next day and the boy is heartbroken. This is one of the saddest scenes a small child will ever witness:

Walking in the Air 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

Far across the world
The villages go by like trees
The rivers and the hills
The forests and the streams

Children gaze open mouth
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
Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep

We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly

Walking in the Air Sheet Music

The sheet music is available from £1.95 at the Music Room. There are various arrangements for different instruments and voices.