Vanessa Carlton – Fairweather Friend

Song MeaningFor me, this song is about a girl who's involved with this guy. They really love each other; but then the guy gets drunk or something, and hooks up with another girl. He didn't mean to though, and so the girl tries to forgive him by "magical thinking." He also seems interested in younger women; but again he "doesn't mean to." She tells him that he does it for the fame; meaning that he just does it for attention. Then, they break up, but she is "glad he is doing well."

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  @LeonorEmmalyn

General CommentI agree with the two comments above...also some of the lyrics have been changed.

Say you see through the folly
But you do it for the fame
And I'm fighting the jet stream
Drinkin' cheap wine on airplanes

And you're in L.A., not Chicago
Key under mat, I walk the dog, order in, home alone

Found your letter on a full moon Sunday night
Another girl, and you spell, guess he's back for a night (?)
Pour the vodka, and it dulls sharp fights
Breaking words, a diamond band ring

And you didn't mean to do it
So I don't have to believe it
If you didn't really do it
And magical thinking gets us by

You sing for the after show, those candy colored lips
But your age is showing, and you gotta work harder for it
It's always easier with freshmen
And I'm not as clever, if she needed a ride (?)

And you didn't mean to do it
So I don't have to believe it
If we didn't really do it
And magical thinking gets us by

Fair-weathered friends
Fair-weathered friends

Say you see through the folly
But you do it for the fame
And I am fragile as porcelain
Drinking cheap wine on airplanes
And did I ever leave Chicago?
I got your message, glad you're doing well

And you didn't mean to do it
So I don't have to believe it
If we didn't really do it
And magical thinking gets us by

Oo, oo
Say you see through the folly
But you did it for the fame
Say you see through the folly
But you did it for the fame
Say you see through the folly
But you did it for the fame
Say you see through the folly
But you did it for the fame

My fair-weathered friend

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  @LauraH247

Lyric CorrectionI think it's
"It's always easier with freshmen, not as clever but she'll bring you to life"

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  @maddymusiclife

General CommentBasically this song is a big fuck you to Steven Jenkins and is pretty much a reflection of the book The Year Of Magical Thinking by Joan Diddion that Vanessa has admitted to being inspired Vanessa.
It ties into neuroscience and how the brain is lazy and that consitant thoughts create pathways of magical thinking and that you'll basically have the same brain patterns at the age of 20 to the time of your death.
"you can only let so much reality in at one time and all the other you just create"

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  @lovexisxdead
  0

  I believe the whole 'you can't change your brain pathways' concept has been refuted.

  Flag Distortioniston April 02, 2010  

General Commentsuch a great song.

"You sing for the aftershow those candy colored lips
but your age is showing and you GOTTA<- work harder for it"
HAHA in your face stephan jenkins!

and it's "YOU'RE fragile as porcelain" not "i'm"

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  @dianication
  0

  thanks for the corrections, i added them in :)
  

  Flag jordaaanon October 23, 2009  

General CommentAnd here you are the lrc version. (synchronized)


[00:09.88]Say you see through the folly but you do it for the fame
[00:19.13]I'm fighting the jet stream drinking cheap wine on aeroplanes
[00:23.25]and you're in LA not Chicago
[00:27.32]key under mat, I walk the dog, order in, home alone.
[00:39.26]Found your letter on a full moon Sunday night
[00:42.66]Some other girl, and you spell, guess he's back for a night (?)
[00:46.65]Pour the vodka, and it dulls sharp fights
[00:50.90]Breaking words, a diamond band ring
[00:53.84]And you didn't mean to do it
[00:57.59]So I don't have to believe it
[01:01.28]If you didn't really do it
[01:05.41]And magical thinking gets us by
[01:16.60]You sing for the after show, those candy colored lips
[01:20.66]But your age is showing, and you gotta work harder for it
[01:24.54]It's always easier with freshmen
[01:28.23]And I'm not as clever, if she needed a ride (?)
[01:32.04]And you didn't mean to do it
[01:35.60]So I don't have to believe it
[01:39.48]If we didn't really do it
[01:43.29]And magical thinking gets us by
[02:05.38]Fair-weathered friends
[02:14.20]Fair-weathered friends
[02:29.63]Say you see through the folly
[02:30.71]But you do it for the fame
[02:33.34]And I am fragile as porcelain
[02:34.97]Drinking cheap wine on airplanes
[02:37.21]And did I ever leave Chicago?
[02:41.25]I got your message, glad you're doing well
[02:44.44]And you didn't mean to do it
[02:48.39]So I don't have to believe it
[02:52.20]If we didn't really do it
[02:56.07]And magical thinking gets us by
[03:08.18]Oo, oo
[03:11.80]Say you see through the folly
[03:12.42]But you did it for the fame
[03:18.36]Say you see through the folly
[03:20.36]But you did it for the fame
[03:25.86]Say you see through the folly
[03:27.42]But you did it for the fame
[03:33.36]Say you see through the folly
[03:35.11]But you did it for the fame
[03:44.20]My fair-weathered friend

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  @ahmedhamdy90

General CommentConsidering the Rabbits on the Run album is out and she's updated the name to Fairweather Friend the title should really be changed - the old version's still there under "Fair Weathered Friends"

Couple of changes (in caps):
- Chorus: If you didn't really mean it THEN magical thinking gets us by
- Verse 2: Your age is showing and you've GOT TO WORK harder for it

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  @caelistra

Lyric CorrectionSorry admins, could you please delete the previous post? I forgot to classify it under the correct comment type.

Considering the Rabbits on the Run album is out and she's updated the name to Fairweather Friend the title should really be changed - the old version's still there under "Fair Weathered Friends"

Couple of changes:
- Chorus: If you didn't really mean it
Then magical thinking gets us by
- Verse 2: Your age is showing and you've got to work harder for it

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  @caelistra
  0

  I've fixed everything but the title, because I have no idea what you mean. I have it under Fairweather Friend.

  Flag Evilgranny606432on August 03, 2011  

  0

  What are you talking about? Did you mean to post this as a song interpretation?

  Flag Evilgranny606432on August 11, 2011