The original poem was that of Emperor Koko in Hyakunin Isshu (one hundred waka poems by one hundred poets): "To give you; Go out to the field in Spring; and gather young herbs; the snow is falling on my sleeves."
百人一首の光孝天皇の歌（君がため春の野に出でて若菜つむわが衣手に雪は降りつつ）が元歌。