you can hear, hear it comin'
like a train out of control
it surely leaves you wonderin'
exactly where your ticket goes
scream at the conductor
he's been deaf for 20 years
hear the other people laughin'
as it grinds to where it began

go to grab your nerve
you find that it's been missin'
see you've lost your faith
in everyone you know
well i surely hope
that you dont plan on winnin'
there's no payin more attention
won't until you care
you are seconds from the impact
and were movin way too slow

you say time will surely mold you
into somethin' you dont like
now your runnin' like a rabbit
stick your finger in the dyke
look around your room
you find the bed is peelin'
your effective skin is fallin' off your bones
well i must admit i know just how your feelin'

we must grab eachothers collar
must rise out of the water
to know as well as i do and
it's no fun to die alone

after all that i've been through
your the only one that matters
(climb to safety)
you never left me in the dark
here on my own
(climb to safety)
i can hear the water risin'
let me be your ladder
(climb to safety)
i promise you'll be dry
and never be alone

tell me love has always scared you
like the things under your bed
baby we can walk on water
like some junkies swore they did
you call me on the phone
you say that it is crucial
stick your fingers in your ears till they explode
mind his business and roll along as usual

we must grab each others collar
rise out of the water
to know as well as i do and
it's no fun to die alone

after all that I've been through
your the only one that matters
(climb to safety)
you never left me in the dark
here on my own
(climb to safety)
i can hear the water risin'
let me be your ladder
(climb to safety)
i promise you'll be dry
and never be alone

after all that I've been through
your the only one that matters
(climb to safety)
you never left me in the dark
here on my own
(climb to safety)
i can hear the water risin'
let me be your ladder
(climb to safety)
i promise you'll be dry
and never be alone

yeah yeah climb to safety
whoa whoa climb to safety (safety)
yeah yeah climb to safety


Lyrics submitted by idiotic, edited by crashzeus

Climb To Safety song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song has great lyrics and is a great cover for Panic.

    Like in many panic songs, (see Rock, for one) the water is the all-consuming substance that surrounds and subdues you. Here, it represents drug addiction. Grabbing each other's collar and rising out of the water-- we need each other to clear get beyond this. Stick your finger in the dike -- reference to old fable/story, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Brinker_or_the_Silver_Skates.

    Another theme in Panic songs is addiction--Another thought--Panic apparently changes the lyrics from "after all that I've been through" to "after all that I've been to." Makes me think of people beating their addictions by letting every thing else go, including other people, after all the shows they go to... Panic never leaves you in the dark (the venue lights always turn back on) or on your own (surrounded by many others) - Of course, this is just the creation of another addiction.

    beowulf44on May 03, 2007   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I'd have to agree with everyone this is one of my all-time favorite Panic songs!

    I really love the train metaphor. A close to derailing train really captures the intensity of fighting addiction, especially one as difficult as heroin. "Scream at the conductor, he's been deaf for 20 years" is really the addicted yelling at the intrinsic "self," as if he's having withdrawals and trying to scream to himself "STOP," but as anyone who's fought an addiction knows, mind over matter isn't easy. His mind is no longer listening to him. Half wants heroin, the other wants, and is fighting, to quit the drug. His every gear grinds trying.

    The way I mentally picture the song is a man with a needle about to shoot-up but trying so hard to not ("close to impact"). I debate with myself, as to whether the line "your reflective skin is fallin' off your bones" is commenting on the agony of withdrawal or the transition between addict to cured.

    As beowulf44 stated, water is defiantly the personified antagonist of this work. Water represents the addiction and Panic, the group as a whole, are trying to facilitate a way away from the water. "We can walk on water, like junkies swore they did" is an attempt at to easing the nerves, like saying "you can do it!" The junkies part confuses me a little, I'm not sure if it's referring to before they were junkies or if they're in denial. The line "mind his business and roll along as usual" is really "i guess this business will roll along as usual," which matters because it changes the tone from apathy to repetition, once again showing how long and grueling fighting addiction is and how important dedication is.

    THIS SONG IS AMAZING as is WIDESPREAD PANIC!!!

    jamaway2flyawayon July 15, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I totally agree with jamaway, climb to safety is definatly about heroin. This is one of the best meaning panic songs to me. I over came opiate addiction the same way jerry joseph did, cold turkey. "You scream at the conductor, He's been deaf for 20 years" is most definatly your conscience saying stop but your body wont listen. Panic is a great band because they have that dark side. Songs like c2s mean a lot to people who have gone through those dark times as well. Detoxing of Heroin is no shit. Doctors say worst experiene besides Chemotherapy. I know Jamaaway said this but now listen to the lyrics again and picture yourself the way Jerry explains it.

    chillywetH20on September 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    question to fellow spreadheads: what do you all think about the lines "stick your fingers in your ears till they explode, mind his business and roll along as usual"? I think it is about the woman he loves wanting to leave her husband

    shroomin721on June 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yea and he is just trying to ignore the bitch..haha..GREAT ONE DUDE

    phishhead03on July 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    thats an Excellent point! my sister has always thought this song is about tripping, but mayhaps i shall put this new angle to her.

    idioticon August 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    after all that i've been through your the only one that matters (climb to safety) you never left me in the dark here on my own (climb to safety) i can hear the water risin' let me be your ladder (climb to saftey) i promise you'll be dry and never be alone

    These lyrics are too damn good. If more people listened to Widespread, the world would be a much better place...

    MJWhit518on May 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree. Even as I've moved on from this kind of music, this song has stuck with me. I put it on whenever my friends are going through shit times.

    distopiandreamguyon December 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a song about heroin.

    BedspreadPicnicon January 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    CTS was one of the first panic songs I liked. I think it is because of the same lyrics MJWhite spoke of previously. In the beginning I think I was thinking of "never being alone" as in being with another person. now I can relate to this as always having my panic (people will come and go, but my music will never leave me alone)

    panicmommaon February 02, 2005   Link

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