I sat with the drunks and the speed freaks
and I watched all the drones strolling by.
We sat on the street with our beers and our weed
and we blew our smoke up towards the sky.

I said, "It's one hell of an evening"
with a smile and I kicked back my can.
They shooed us away so we walked down aways
and we did the same damn thing again.

Now, I got nothing to wait for
and I got nothing but time.
So I'll swim in these streams
and warm these poor beaten insides.
Gimme the key to the city
These midwest eyes are dead tonight.
This demon smile is aching to explode.

Let's gather our bones, our guts and our hearts
and scream so they'll hear us down in those parks.

Under those trees
where the pigs lurk and crawl
there are bonfires and parties
that are fucking them all.
They give it by the inch
and take it by the mile.
It's one for the beating and
it's two for the trial.

They got nothing to wait for
and we got nothing but time
So I'll swim in these streams
(Drown in these dirty streams)
(Till I die)

Gimme the key to the city

These midwest eyes are dead tonight.
This demon smile is aching to explode.
(Let's burn out here 1000 miles from home)

I ain't here to remember!
I ain't here to breakdown!

Gimme the key to the city

These midwest eyes are dead tonight.
This demon smile is aching to explode.
Let's burn out here 1000 miles from home.
I know what I got and
I love what I know.
Don't wait up!


Lyrics submitted by punkpirate

Key to the City Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © TUNECORE INC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Key To The City song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

2 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    how sick is the gimme gimme bit

    josh can flyon March 24, 2006   Link

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

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.