Vanessa Carlton: Half A Week Before Winter Meaning

Half A Week Before Winter Lyrics

Half a week before the winter
The chill bites before it comes
And I'm a child of the pleasure
Daddy brings before he runs

He sits behind a desk of mahogany
He whispers dreams into my ear
And though I've given him his empire
He delivers...

1. anonymous

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   Jul 21st 2010 !⃝

   This song, I think is referring to her record label! 'He sits behind a desk of mahogany,He whispers dreams into my ear' is a producer telling her she'll be a huge star-although in many interviews she says being a celebrity isn't all its cracked up to be- then he lets her down. 'The unicorns are riding high powerful in coats of white' part could stand for innocence and how she has to carry all the weight of the empty promises hence their promises were broken. The vampire part stands for how much energy they have taken from her and now they grow tired because she doesn't want to conform to their cookie-cutter pop-star image.' I carry on, I carry on' could stand for her persistence. 'The coats of white all turn to red' could stand for how she is the 'unicorn' symbolizing innocence and how the 'vampires' are feeding on her: it is said that if you drink a unicorns blood, you'll live forever. maybe I over analyzed this song. MAYBE I'M WRONG OR AM I?
2. anonymous

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   Mar 1st 2008 !⃝

   She actually said in an interview that the song was about vampires because she has always been fascinated by them, and she thinks that they are sexy.
3. ChloeEleanor

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   Nov 26th 2007 !⃝

   I reckon it's something to do with child abuse.
   Winter = a time in the year which is cold and bitter. The line "the chill bites before it comes" suggests that inside she feels cold ALL year round as she is dominated by a preferably older male figure. (father?) In this line she refers to her personal fear and then the actual temperature of the weather.."the chill"
   the word child suggests that she is younger than the person dominating/abusing her, it also suggests how she feels belittled and small by the possible abuse.
   the mahogany materialistically suggests that this person is powerful/rich which emphasises their dominance over her.
   i think that the word pleasure MAY be sarcastic.
   "whispers" suggests kind of..."secret goings on" and that she is keeping quiet about it. "dream" suggest fake fantasies and that this man is playing on the girls age, vulnerability and naivety.
   the last two lines of this verse then suggest that although she cares/loves/is there for..him, he delivers her worst fears and nightmares. which contrasts with the "dreams" he tells her suggesting they are fake.
   im not sure about the unicorns. but I think its refering to the "dreams" he tells her, the unicorns "riding high" symbolising the power of this dominant person.
   "all the weight of empty promise"
   i reckon this symbolises the actual physicalities of this persons actions; suggesting the weight of this person on top of her; abuse; the horrid truth.
   the talk of the lights and streets suggests she runs away from it for a while and is so desperate to escape that she goes out on the streets.
   the "red" may suggest blood (=[), anger. etc.
   the "vampires are getting tired" may suggest that this dominant person has abused this person to such an extent that they themselves are growing bored of their actions. (vampire=something evil and blood sucking)
   
   this could be completely wrong and if it is, I apologise.
   but it's just my first thoughts.
4. anonymous

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   May 11th 2007 !⃝

   She's awaiting winter like a unicorn, and will go through it gloomily like a vampire. ♥
5. anonymous

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   Apr 10th 2007 !⃝

   Vanessa Carlton said at a concert that "Half a Week Before the Winter" is an a song about a battle between Vampires and Unicorns (Carlton's logo, btw).
6. anonymous

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   Jan 23rd 2007 !⃝

   I don't know. Maybe it's not even supposed to HAVE meaning. All I know is that I love the lyrics. And the tune.
   
   Perhaps she is a princess?
   
   Anyone?
   
   xD

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