Arcade Fire – Winter for a Year

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Oh my God, a winter for a year
Oh my God, a winter for a year
And I cleaned out the back of my wardrobe for a year
Jackets never turn into branches
Not while you're not here

Oh my God, a winter for a year
Oh my God, a winter for a year
I kept my life so cold
Every breath just fogs up all the mirrors
The tears are frozen long
Long before I ever thought of crying

So ends my year-long romance
With radio towers and machines
Wasted all my prayers
That I can't remember my dreams
But I don't mind

Oh my God, a winter for a year
Oh my God, a winter for a year
And I cleaned out the back of my wardrobe for a year
Jackets never turn into branches
Not while you're not here

So ends my year-long romance
With radio towers and machines
Wasted all my prayers
That I can't remember my dreams
But I don't mind
No, I don't
No, I don't care anymore


Lyrics submitted by Rcntly2stepping, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Winter for a Year song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentIt does have a few references to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe... the whole year-long winter and jackets turning into branches. But I love the meaning he gives them:

    "Oh my god a winter for a year
    Oh my god a winter for a year
    And I cleaned out the back of my wardrobe for a year
    Jackets never turn into branches
    Not while you're not here"

    He's stuck in the neverending winter until his love returns, it's impossible to visit their magic place while she's gone.
    mitsukai_zeroon December 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentNobody has commented on this song yet?

    I love it. I love the twangy picking sound at the beginning.
    I love the reference to a seemingly never-ending winter.
    Yet another emotional connection that is overcome by static and interference and cold.
    nursejenon January 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think the lines "and i cleaned out the back of my wardrobe for a year/ jackets never turn into branches/ not while you're not here" is a reference to the chronicles of narnia..
    natahleyon May 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSuch a great song. My favorite line is
    "So ends my year-long romance with radio towers and machines" which might be talking about how hard it can be to stay in touch with people you love.
    Beatle_maniacon March 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love how Neil Young-ish it is!!
    nicknicklebyon March 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI've listened to this song a couple of times and I'm near positive that "and I cleaned out the back of my wardrobe for a year" should be "Been knocking at the back of my wardrobe for a year"
    Ryuhzaon October 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationThe Narnia reference is definitely there, but I think mitsukai_zero might be looking at these lyrics with rose colored glasses. The 'year-long romance...with radio towers and machines' is literal. Essentially this is a story about a failed long-distance relationship after a year of separation. The mystery and magic of the relationship is gone, hence he cannot Find Narnia, if you catch the drift. The second verse sounds to me like he's saying 'I still tried, but I knew deep down it couldn't work and I turned away options(I kept my life so cold...Every breath just fogs up all the mirrors)'.
    Kinda depressing, but the song is still great, and all great art comes from honesty and pain.
    reliquarianon November 25, 2010   Link

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