San Francisco

Alkaline Trio

Choking on the thought of leaving
Drinking to keep from sobbing
4pm, 4 dollar pints - SFO - the time and price

With all my happiness aborted
The PA painfully starts boarding
I sink deep, 30 thousand feet
Into my window seat, electric chair

And I was drinking you goodbye
A heart floats in the bay
From sour home Chicago
I hear it beating far away

There's no telling what I'll do
If I don't return to you

Hopeful thoughts of soon returning
can't put out my stomach burning
Plastic wings and plastic smiles
Unsalted peanuts stretch my miles

Choking on the thought of leaving
Drinking to keep from heaving
5pm, 5 dollar pints - Hellbound Airlines - time and price
And I was drinking you goodbye

A heart floats in the bay
From sour home Chicago
I hear it beating far away
There's no telling what I'll do
If I don't return to you

I was drinking you goodbye
A heart floats in the bay
From sour home Chicago
I hear it beating far away
There's no telling what I'll do
If I don't return to you


Lyrics submitted by oofus

San Francisco Lyrics as written by Derek R. Grant Daniel Michael Andriano

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

San Francisco song meanings
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37 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    After watching The Making Of Goddamnit last night (I started to get back into Alkaline Trio and two days ago I realised I wanted Goddamnit so I bought the limited edition one yesterday) I found out the song was about when Matt went to visit a friend in San Francisco and, fell in love with the city.. He wrote the song whilst drinking in the airport :) Also; I'm in love with San Francisco even though I've not been there.. Great band! sorry for my bad spelling
    AbiWoodon May 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Funny thing is the first time I listened to this song was in an airport on my way to college leaving all my friends and a girlfriend behind. I didn't get a window seat though.
    castasideon April 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    my first Alk3 song.... had it stuck in my head for a good week. To stop that running through my head i bought From Here to Infirmary... and now i can't live without my daily dose of trio.... these boys are great!!!
    poeticademonicaon May 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    great 'homesick' song.
    LyricalPunkon May 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    one of my fave alk3 songs...
    Pretty in Punkon May 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    one of my fave alk3 songs...
    Pretty in Punkon May 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    A great song.... Its hard to decipher though. It could either be he's saying goodbye permanently to a gf b-cause she cheated or something and he doesnt want to come to grips with it, or he's leaving for a long time and misses her
    .one.last.try.on May 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I don't hink this is abou a person. The title suggests to me that it's about the place as no specific relationship or person. So my guess is, he's singing about San Francisco.
    VagueThatUpForMeon June 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    such an awesome song, the lyrics(as with all A3 songs) are so powerful. and i do think its about a girl, a girl that he loves but cant be with. and without her he is lost "There's no telling what I'll do/ If I don't return to you." and all he wants is to be with her, is that so much to ask.
    phobos258on July 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    it's obviously about san francisco. and matt skiba moved from chicago to berkeley which is just across the bay from san francisco.
    evilmprsson July 21, 2002   Link

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