anonymous January 23rd, 2007 01:35AM  
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

anonymous April 10th, 2007 03:17PM  
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).

anonymous May 11th, 2007 07:48PM  
She's awaiting winter like a unicorn, and will go through it gloomily like a vampire. ♥

ChloeEleanor November 26th, 2007 02:10PM  
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.

anonymous March 1st, 2008 01:35PM  
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.