No, That One “Winter Wonderland” Lyric About Parson Brown Isn’t as Creepy as You Think

There are plenty of odd Christmas lyrics we overlook for the sake of staying in the festive spirit, and some of the lines in the holiday classic “Winter Wonderland” are certainly no exception. For the most part, the song is a straightforward celebration of spending time with loved ones in the snow, Christmas or no Christmas.

But other parts of the song raise more questions than spirits. Namely, who, exactly, is Parson Brown, and why is he asking about the narrator’s love life?

The Most Misunderstood “Winter Wonderland” Lyric

“Winter Wonderland” might not specifically mention Christmas (or any seasonal holiday for that matter), but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a staple in the holiday music canon since its first release in the 1930s. The first verses describe two people walking on a snowy lane while a bluebird chirps a love song nearby. Then, the song takes a confusing left turn as it enters the B section.

In the meadow we can build a snowman then pretend that he is Parson Brown. He’ll say, ‘Are you married?’ We’ll say, ‘No, man, but you can do the job when you’re in town. This section of “Winter Wonderland” begs an important question: who is Parson Brown? Why is he asking about marriage? Doesn’t that seem a bit too forward? As a child, I used to assume that Parson Brown was the name of some pop culture icon from the 1930s or ‘40s, and that’s why I never knew who he was.

This theory turned out to be false. Parson isn’t a first name; it’s a profession. Parson refers to a member of the clergy, particularly a Protestant one, who can officiate weddings—hence his presumably forward question about whether the narrators in the song are married. When they sing back, You can do the job, they’re speaking literally. The parson (with the last name Brown) is professionally qualified to wed the two winter wonderland lovebirds.

The Holiday Song Stranger That Never Was

That’s right, dear reader: the Parson Brown in “Winter Wonderland” never existed (and not just because he was a snowman). The use of “parson” instead of “pastor” could have been a lyrical antiquity or a vocal delivery issue. It’s somewhat easier to harmonize with an open “ah” vowel of “parson” than a short “a” vowel of “pastor.” The “st” in the middle of the latter word could have caused issues with clashing consonants in the studio, too. 

Otherwise, the term “Parson Brown” is no less specific to one particular individual than the phrase “John Doe” or “Farmer *insert random name here*.” It’s merely a sonically pleasing way to describe a make-believe scene between two lovers pretending that the snowman they built together had the power invested in its icy form to marry them in their romantic, glistening winter wonderland.

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