This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Waiting on a Sunday afternoon
For what I've read between the lines
Your lies
Feeling like a hand in rusted chains
So do you laugh at those who cry?
Reply
Leaving on a Southern train
Only yesterday you lied
Promises of what I seemed to be
Only watched the time go by
All of these things you said to me
Breathing is the hardest thing to do
With all I've said and all that's dead for you
You lied
Goodbye
Leaving on a Southern train
Only yesterday you lied
Promises of what I seemed to be
Only watched the time go by
All of these things I said to you
For what I've read between the lines
Your lies
Feeling like a hand in rusted chains
So do you laugh at those who cry?
Reply
Leaving on a Southern train
Only yesterday you lied
Promises of what I seemed to be
Only watched the time go by
All of these things you said to me
Breathing is the hardest thing to do
With all I've said and all that's dead for you
You lied
Goodbye
Leaving on a Southern train
Only yesterday you lied
Promises of what I seemed to be
Only watched the time go by
All of these things I said to you
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
this song is incredible...how could anyone say the lyrics are 'lacking'??? the lyrics are great! i mean, he uses a lot of great metaphors like 'southern train', 'rusted shame', 'sunday afternoon'...what's great is that while he writes down a vision of his own, almost anyone can relate to it...whether it's about escaping a relationship, problems with addiction, whatever...it's clear to me that the song is simply about personal freedom - learning to let go of certain things to make way for other things which are more valuable to your life; and big time kudos to robert deleo for writing the music - man what an unforgettable melody and an abolutely perfect choice of chords - you da man rob!! i will never get over how great this song is
@lp91 The lyrics are not lacking at all. It's like watching a good movie that has sparse visuals. The meanig is still there.
@lp91 The lyrics are minimalist but effective.
Lead singer Scott Weiland wrote this song about his relationship troubles and his growing heroin addiction. When he wrote it, he thought about what kind of a liar he had become towards his fiancé, Janina Castaneda, and how he had promised to stay off drugs when they went to Atlanta to record Stone Temple Pilots' second album, Purple. He didn't keep that promise, but in phone calls, would tell Janina that everything was OK.
The song is written from Janina's perspective, with Weiland imagining her seeing right through his lies.
What a great classic song... I remember back in middle school rockin to this song... Even after ten years this song is still a hit in my book! I know you will agree.
It's a great song, i love it to death, but the lyrics are lacking, as is common in most stp songs. not that i dont love the band, you guys rock, but its nothing earth-shattering, simply good, solid rock.
True but it's just a smidge about 3 minutes, and its got those electric guitar licks/riffs in there too.. only so much lyrics u can fit. I do kinda wish this song had more lyrical content tho. But yeah the rock is good n solid :D
Basically I think this song is about Scott lying to his wife or girlfriend when he would be on the road. Saying things like he sober but really is not and other lies. Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong
actualy your 100 percent right
WingJank is bang on. struggles with heroin, keeping it secret from his girlfriend, it all makes sense. what made him think that someone who gets so much media attention could get away with his habit? maybe he did know but just kept shootin it anyway. drugs can do that. not that i'd know :P i love Robbie's bass and how it compliments his bro's lead to a tee.
Well actually think its about what i read on wiki and i am practically plagiarizing that. way to go champ
To me, it reminds me of how you lie in a relationship to keep it alive. But in the end it always manages to crumble apart. Or it could be about someone who justs lies to keep someone around not realizing how much better that person deserves. Whatever it is, its a great song and I'm glad to see that after all these years its still a really good song.
I never watched the music video until just now-- except for maybe when it came out when I was two-- but now I understand why I called it "The Pinocchio Song." Haha wow. Good times. Great Song.
Tedious song.
Yes about chasing the dragon...
Will be a classic for a long time. Thanks Scott. RIP.
simply - it makes up for the lacking in lyrics in any other possible way. its suuuch a feel good song.