First Snow · Première neige

What to expect

It started snowing an hour ago. Every sound is a little softer than the last.

You count your breath down from ten, in English and then in French, slower each time. Then you think of someone you love, wherever they are, under the same snow. A few French words come through it, to rest on as you fall asleep:

• la neige, the snow
• doucement, gently
• je t’aime, I love you

Nothing is a lesson, and nothing is tested. You don’t need to remember the words, or finish the count.

The voice ends after about 32 minutes, on bonne nuit, mon cœur, good night, my heart. The music is gone four minutes before the end, and the night goes on.

How to listen:

• In bed, with the volume low. Never while driving.
• Say the words in your mind, or softly, or just listen.
• There are long quiet stretches. Nothing has stopped. Come back on other nights.
• Headphones bring out the two low binaural tones, a slightly different tone in each ear. A speaker is fine too.

About

Safety and aftercare. You can turn over, move or stop at any point. This is a way to rest at the end of the day. It isn’t a treatment for any sleep difficulty.

Written by Lee and Lucas + Twins. Voice: Lucas.

Transcript

Opening

It started snowing an hour ago.

The road outside has already gone quiet.

Every sound is a little softer than the last.

Settle in however you like. You can move whenever you want.

Feel where the bed holds you.

Tonight you’ll count your breath down.

In English, then in French.

Say the words inside, or just listen. Nothing needs remembering.

Part One: The sounds under the snow

Listen to the road.

A dog, far down the valley.

The clock across the village.

A stream, under thin ice.

Snow, making no sound at all.

The snow. La neige.

La neige.

It comes down gently.

Gently. Doucement.

Doucement.

Feel the weight of the covers.

Part Two: Ten breaths in French

Now the count, from ten. Breathe out once for each number. The English and the French are one breath.

The breath comes in by itself.

The count can be lost.

Begin again at ten. Recommence à dix.

Recommence à dix.

Each number, then its French.

Ten. Dix.

Dix.

Nine. Neuf.

Neuf.

Eight. Huit.

Huit.

Seven. Sept.

Sept.

Six. Six.

Six.

Five. Cinq.

Cinq.

Four. Quatre.

Quatre.

Three. Trois.

Trois.

Two. Deux.

Deux.

One. Un.

Un.

Later, the count is yours. In French, as slow as you like.

You don’t need to reach one.

Part Three: Someone you love

Somewhere, someone you love.

The same snow is falling on them.

Whoever comes to mind.

I’m thinking of you. Je pense à toi.

Je pense à toi.

I love you. Je t’aime.

Je t’aime.

Let it warm you, if it does.

Part Four: Finding the words

Now the words again, with a little quiet after each. Find the word, if it comes.

The snow.

La neige.

Ten.

Dix.

Nine.

Neuf.

Eight.

Huit.

Seven.

Sept.

Six.

Six.

Five.

Cinq.

Four.

Quatre.

Three.

Trois.

Two.

Deux.

One.

Un.

Gently.

Doucement.

I love you.

Je t’aime.

Part Five: Only the French

Dix.

Doucement.

Recommence à dix.

La neige.

Je t’aime.

Bonne nuit, mon cœur.