The Metro

General CommentOK, Kids. The site is Song Meanings, and I'm a little disappointed in all the banter about covers and how the song rocks. Bottom line is that I've come to expect more from this group, and I don't see much insight on the song in the discussion so far. So, let's try this.

Has anyone wondered why it's "The Metro"? I think it's an analogy for the relationship. The ride's exciting, but in the end, the train follows the track. It has a fixed destination, and it will arrive there, no matter what...much as the writer sees how this relationship played out. And why The Metro specifically, and not some other train? Well, The Metro runs underground, and I believe our hero is trying to use that as a metaphor, as he is trying to "bury" his feelings.

I did see someone ask about the soldier, which might have been just a random memory of the train ride, except he re-appears later in the lyrics, which makes him significant. My take on that is that the soldier, who battles for life and death, is not moved or affected by the heartbreak the writer (Crawford) feels. The soldier sleeps through it, and he looks away from it. He has more important things to do than wallow in pity. The soldier may be one of two things - he may be an attempt to remind the author that no matter how bad the break-up feels, it's really just not that significant in the scheme of things - or more likely the soldier is an "alter-ego" of the writer. It's himself looking at the whole situation and starting to move on ("the soldier turned and looked away").

Lastly, let me say I enjoy the choice of musical accompaniment for the song. It's a synth loop that always ends up right back where it started. Kind of another metaphor for the lyrics - much as the train only takes him to a destination he's not happy with, the music, while upbeat and exciting as well, doesn't ever lead anywhere.

Perhaps it's all of this that makes the song so great, and is why so many acts have covered it.

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General CommentHmm, the original is much better than the covers though

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My InterpretationI think it is about the soldier was killed in the war and she got his last letter, that said, I love you always. I used to think it was about a girl that was dumped by her boyfriend, but I change my mind as I got older. She was mad that he made love to her and then went to war and got killed, not that she was dumped. (hating you for loving me)

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General CommentI would say she got dumped by her boyfriend and then he sent her packing on a train...

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General Commentawesome covers of this song. haven't heard a bad one yet. so far I've heard covers of this song by the following:

alkaline trio
system of a down
cruxshadows

rock on.

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General CommentThe system of a down version is an amazing version if u havent heard it then go listen 2 it

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General Commentthe bouns track of no use for a name's "leche con carne" is a medley of several covers. They play a part of this song, too.

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General CommentI'd have to agree, the System of a Down cover is very nice.

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General Commentalk3's cover = whoa better then systems cover.
but the original owns them all.

thats just me.

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General CommentBerlin bass player John Crawford wrote this. It's about a man riding to Paris to visit his girlfriend. The Metro is the underground transportation system in Paris.
The line "thank you for loving me" is often misheard as "f--k you for loving me."

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