It was the first snow of the season
I can almost see you breathing in the middle of that empty street
Sometimes I still see myself in that lonesome bedroom
Playing my guitar and singing songs of hope for a better future

Life is only as good as the memories we make
And I'm taking back what belongs to me
Polaroids of classrooms unattended
These relics of remembrance are just like shipwrecks
Only they're gone faster than the smell after it rains

Last night while everyone was sleeping
I drove through my old neighborhood
And resurrected memories from ashes.

We said that we would never fit in
When we were really just like them
Does rebellion ever make a difference?

So long, Astoria, I found a map of buried treasure
And even if we come home empty handed we'll still have our stories
Of battlescars, pirate ships, and wounded hearts
Broken bones and all the best of friendships

And when this hourglass
Has filtered out its final grain of sand
I'll raise my glass to the memories we had
This is my wish and I'm taking it back
I'm taking 'em all back


Lyrics submitted by ADimeADexter

So Long, Astoria Lyrics as written by Kristopher Lee Roe

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

So Long, Astoria song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    this song rules. i love kris' songs about nostalgia. here he's looking back and remembering all the good and bad times he's had over the years being with the band and following his dream and such, i know its broad but its true and its the best i can do. kris and the ataris rule

    rbf737on March 13, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's about life and all it's memories it leaves us. Sidenote: The Goonies was filmed and based in Astoria, Oregon and then Kris makes The Goonies refernece.."So long astoria i found a map to buried treasure and even if we come home empty handed well still have our stories of battle scars, pirate ships and wounded hearts, broken bones, and all the best of friendships"

    Just for those who didn't realize...Long Live The Ataris, one of the best bands out there

    Pinstripermikeon March 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song just grows on you the more you listen to it. Kris is a fucking genius. One of the best written songs on the album "polaroids of classrooms unattended these relics of remembrence "deffentley a killer line,

    blinkminion March 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is aboutthe goonies. the goonies is one of kris's favorite movies. if you have every seen the goonies you should know what this song meant right when you heard it. and for those of you that havent seen the movie i suggest you go rent it or sumthing because the goonies is awesome! "this is my wish im taking it back im taking them all back" is a line from the actually movie, the goonies, and thats where kris got it from.

    cottoncandyon March 29, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't think the song is about the Goonies, rather inspired by the Goonies. I think it is about Kris' desire to make the best memories that he can. "Life is only as good as the memories we make" is one of the most incredible lines I have ever heard. "these relics of remembrence are just like shipwrecks only theyre gone faster than the smell after it rains" Another great one. ...Gone faster than the smell after it rains is an incredible comparison to your experiences only lasting for a minimal amount of time and why everyone needs a good memory or two, or two thousand.

    descendent528on March 29, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the album kicks so much ass it's not even funny, i gotta admit i was a little tired of the same sound you get from every punk band out there, so when the changed for this album, they made their own sound that no one else has, and it's absolutely amazing. After listening to blue skies for so long, i was starting to get sick of all the complaining about lost love and all, the whole nostaliga thing is SO much better than that. Anyway, this is by far my fav song in the whole damn world, goonies or no goonies. It makes me think about leaving everything and going on an adventure with your best friends, and having all the fun in the world. If only it was real, right??

    GloryGuy11on April 27, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The Goonies rock! I don't really care what it's based on though, this song fuking rocks! "Life is only as good as the memories we make, and im taking back what belongs to me" Best line in this song, i love it!

    lovinpunkrawk_101on June 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    When I heard this new CD coming out I was thinking about not buying it, since every single "punk" band and their mother be trying to do the same thing. But as soon as I heard this song. I was amazed. They've devolped a new sound and it's great. I really enjoy this first song most of all. I think it sets the tone for the whole album. I actually got teary-eyed after listening to this song and "In this diary" I don't know if it's accured to anyone else. But all these songs about memories and always remembering. It seems to me like they're saying that they're growing up as well. It's a big change from when they started out. My fav line: "We said we would never fit in when we were really just like them. Does rebellion ever make a difference?"

    strokedouton June 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    oh man. i love the goonies!! and i love kris even more for being inspired by the goonies and for referencing some lines from the movie that mouth said.

    annihilationismon June 15, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    one of my favorite songs by the ataris... he's talking about going back and thinking of when he was younger. and even though they have nothing to show, they'll always have the memories. this song has a few classic lines: "we said that we would never fit in, when we were really just like them. does rebellion ever make a difference?" and i also like "life is only as good as the memories we make..."

    alk3 adrienneon June 22, 2003   Link

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