Hartford defined the finished song as a "word movie" and described his writing process as "thinking in pictures, like paintings using words and sound".[5][6] In a 1980 interview, Hartford commented he was still unsure of the song's meaning and that its message will be interpreted differently by listeners.[7] 12 years later, Hartford again attributed his inspiration to start writing the song to Doctor Zhivago, and said the content was a result of his personal experience.