Ballad Of San Francisco

Caedmon's Call

.:: Ballad of San Francisco ::.

So I’m walking down the street somewhere outside of San Francisco
And I don’t really know my way around
I’d love to stay a day or two and get into some trouble
But tomorrow I’ll be in another town

There's at least one coffee bar for every single couple
And there's at least a couple in this place
Strange the things you notice when the walls are closing in
And the walls are closing in on me today

So where oh where can I find someone, anyone
‘Cause there’s no way out of here
But here is where I live and so I guess that means
The carrot’s gonna dangle for at least another year

I love anonymity and I love being noticed
Just the same as anybody else
Years ago I told you how I loved to be alone
These days I'd be perjuring myself

So where oh where can I find someone, anyone
‘Cause there’s no way out of here
But here is where I live and so I guess that means
The carrot’s gonna dangle for at least another year

It’s like you gave me up just like I gave up drinking coffee
So I guess I would’ve done the same
So now I know I’m lost somewhere outside of San Francisco
But I’m still glad that I came


Lyrics submitted by jarsonic

Ballad Of San Francisco song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is about delayed gratification...you may not be happy where you are in life right now, but God has a plan for you and it will all happen in his time.
    DefNX74205on June 20, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song applies to my life 100% right now, aside from it being about San Francisco. I mean litterally... I feel like i'm almost.. stuck here. and by myself. so, yeah. i'm gonna go.. get some coffee... or something.
    AntiAlias02on September 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentit's about temptation...
    Phrenchornon June 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentyep. it's all about delayed gratification alright.
    inkyubozon July 06, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis could be a song about a person (talking to God or maybe the person they're missing) that's feeling lonely in a strange town , but i think that there's a bit of a deeper motive to the writing of this song. throughout it, they're playing on the irony of human emotions and how fickle we are in our wants when all along God has the best in mind for us. many of the lyrics contradict one another; "don't really know my way around... tomorrow i'll be in another town" /"Here is where I live... for at least another year";"I love anonymity"/"I love being noticed ";"Years ago I told you how I loved to be alone (but) These days I'd be perjuring myself " does anyone else agree?
    smalltownsaraon February 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwell... there are more specific meanings to this song here: caedmonscall.net/songs/llol/…
    reytimon March 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwell... there are more specific meanings to this song here: caedmonscall.net/songs/llol/…
    reytimon March 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI heard them play this in concert, and Derek and Cliff kind of joked about it being a really light-hearted pop song without a lot of meaning.
    BadgerbyBirthon May 14, 2009   Link

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