I'm alone, sitting with my empty glass
My four walls follow me through my past
I was on a Paris train, I emerged in London rain
And you were waiting there, swimming through apologies

I remember searching for the perfect words
I was hoping you might change your mind
I remember a soldier sleeping next to me
Riding on the Metro

You wore white, smiling as you took my hand
So removed, we spoke of wintertime in France
Minutes passed with shallow words
Years have passed and still the hurt
Oh, I can see you now, smiling as I pulled away

I remember the letter wrinkled in my hand
"I'll love you always" filled my eyes
I remember a night we walked along the Seine
Riding on the Metro

I remember a feeling coming over me
The soldier turned, then looked away
I remember hating you for loving me
Riding on the Metro

I'm alone, sitting with my broken glass
My four walls follow me through my past
I was on a Paris train, I emerged in London rain
And you were waiting there, swimming through apologies, sorry

I remember searching for the perfect words
I was hoping you might change your mind
I remember a soldier sleeping next to me
Riding on the Metro


Lyrics submitted by numb

The Metro Lyrics as written by John Buckner Crawford

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Metro song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    OK, 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.

    KirkHon April 29, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Hmm, the original is much better than the covers though

    butterflykiss84on May 29, 2002   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I 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)

    tropicalthoughton January 23, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

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

    PaulMotherboxon April 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    awesome 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.

    v@camanon April 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

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

    shavo19on July 31, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the 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.

    Gutson September 22, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

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

    Drison March 04, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    alk3's cover = whoa better then systems cover. but the original owns them all.

    thats just me.

    take me i'm yourson May 08, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Berlin 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."

    kmk_natashaon March 26, 2005   Link

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