A 2008 release of the Bird EP saw Holly's first national exposure, with the languid piano and soaring cellos of "Winter" and the upbeat smirk of "OK" appearing in hit shows like One Tree Hill, 90210, Drop Dead Diva, Ghost Whisperer, The Ex List, and Privileged. That Summer, "You Are Goodbye" was awarded the coveted iTunes Single of the Week spot-- its heartbreaking lyric and haunting production garnering a slew of new fans. Soon the film world took notice, and Conlan was offered a spot on the soundtrack of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits starring Natalie Portman. Radio play followed in a nod from KCRW (Top Tune - "OK") and her addition to their 2009 pledge-drive giveaway package.
With the support of LA's famed Hotel Cafe, Holly has been lucky to share the stage with a number of notable performers including Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Katy Perry, and Butch Walker. As part of 2008's Hotel Cafe Tour, she traded sets with the likes of Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, and Erin McCarley. Plus, her addition of "I'll be Home for Christmas" to their holiday compilation, Winter Songs, rounded out the Sony/Epic release.
2009 saw the independent release of her newest LP, Fascinator. A culmination of more than a year's work, the thirteen song offering retains the piano driven spirit of the Bird EP but delves deeper into instrumentation and arrangement, with lyrics that hypnotize. Produced by Al Sgro (Meiko, Gary Jules) and mixed by Darrel Thorp (Beck, Radiohead), Fascinator's mature realization is proof that Holly Conlan's journey is far from over.
Winter
Holly Conlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The time has come,
I need you to pack up and go home.
I've been praying hard for winter,
Harvesting proof of why I should be alone.
And don't you know that I screamed the truth till I lost my mind?
And don't you think there should be an end somewhere close behind?
Ocean, ocean, can you feel me?
I know you can,
Why would I mean that much to you?
Lifetime, lifetime, you're enough time.
To find the heart, find the arms I belong into.
And don't you know that I screamed the truth till I lost my mind?
And don't you think that there should be an end somewhere close behind?
Winter, I know better than this.
Winter, I know better than this.
And don't you know that I screamed the truth till I lost my mind?
And don't you think there should be an end somewhere close behind?
The lyrics of Holly Conlan's song "Winter" speak of the end of a relationship, specifically the transition from autumn to winter as a metaphor for the change. The opening lines, "Autumn, autumn, wake up slowly. The time has come, I need you to pack up and go home. I've been praying hard for winter, harvesting proof of why I should be alone" describe a desire for solitude and the end of the previous season. The singer is ready for a new start, represented by the arrival of winter.
The second verse, "Ocean, ocean, can you feel me? I know you can, why would I mean that much to you? Lifetime, lifetime, you're enough time. To find the heart, find the arms I belong into" speaks of the loneliness that the singer feels, as if they are reaching out to the vastness of the ocean, hoping to find someone or something to connect with. The lyrics indicate that there is still hope for finding love and a place to belong, even though it may take a lifetime to achieve.
The chorus repeats the lines "And don't you know that I screamed the truth till I lost my mind? And don't you think there should be an end somewhere close behind?" which can be interpreted as a cry for closure or resolution. The singer may be tired of holding onto the pain of the past relationship and is looking for a way to move on. The song ends with the lines "Winter, I know better than this. Winter, I know better than this," which could indicate a newfound understanding of the process of letting go and moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
Autumn, autumn, wake up slowly.
The season of autumn is fading away slowly.
The time has come, I need you to pack up and go home.
It's time for autumn to end so that winter can begin.
I've been praying hard for winter, Harvesting proof of why I should be alone.
The singer is looking forward to winter as she believes it will justify why she should be alone.
And don't you know that I screamed the truth till I lost my mind?
The singer has been speaking the truth loudly and clearly until she became mentally exhausted.
And don't you think there should be an end somewhere close behind?
The singer is questioning when the struggle will end.
Ocean, ocean, can you feel me?
The singer is calling out to the ocean, hoping it can sense her emotions.
I know you can, Why would I mean that much to you?
The singer believes the ocean can understand her because it has its own deep emotional nature.
Lifetime, lifetime, you're enough time.
The singer feels she has enough time in her life to find the person she belongs with.
To find the heart, find the arms I belong into.
The singer is seeking to find someone she can truly love and find comfort in their arms.
Winter, I know better than this.
The singer believes she has learned from her past mistakes and will be better prepared for the winter season.
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.