I'm really sorry, Steven, but your bicycle's been stolen.
I was watching it for you 'til you came back in the fall.
I guess I didn't do such a good job after all.
I was feeling really sorry, Steven, and I spent all morning grieving.

And everybody's saying that you'll take the news gracefully.
Somehow, I don't think I'll be getting off that easily.

I meant her no harm when I left her unlocked outside the Orange Street Food Farm.
I was just running in, didn't think I'd be that long.
I came back, she was gone and all that was there was some bored old dog,
Leashed up to the place where your bicycle had been.
I guess we'll never see poor Madelline again.

Let this be consolation, Steven, that all the while you were in England,
I treated her with care and respect and gave her lots of love,
And I was usually pretty good 'bout locking her up. Where has she gone?
Well, I bet she's on the bottom of the French Town Pond, rudely abused on some heshner's joy ride.
So I wrote you this song in the hopes that you'd forgive me even though it was wrong,
Being so careless with a thing so great and taking your poor Madeline away.


Lyrics submitted by gyroscope

Apology Song Lyrics as written by Colin Meloy

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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The Apology Song song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    i live in the town in which this took place and visit the orange street food farm often as well as the frenchtown pond this is all in missoula Mt

    kappelchickenon October 12, 2006   Link

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