San Francisco
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The lyrics to "San Francisco" by Alkaline Trio depict the feeling of desperation and sadness that comes with leaving someone and something behind. The singer of the song is struggling to come to terms with his departure from Chicago and his loved one as he boards a plane to San Francisco. He is drinking to ease the pain of leaving, and the lyrics mention the price and time of his drinks as if to indicate how time is running out and how much he will miss his home. The depiction of the airplane ride as an "electric chair" reinforces the sense of anxiety and dread he feels about leaving.
The imagery of a heart floating in the bay refers to a sense of separation and distance from his home and loved one. The feeling of uncertainty about what he will do if he does not return to Chicago serves as a metaphor for the fear and unease that comes with leaving a familiar place and loved ones behind. The lyrics show how much the singer is struggling with the thought of leaving and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Choking on the thought of leaving
Feeling overwhelmed with emotions about the idea of leaving San Francisco.
Drinking to keep from sobbing
Using alcohol to cope with the sadness and tears that come with leaving.
4pm, 4 dollar pints - SFO - the time and price
Drinking at a bar in the San Francisco airport before the flight, noting the time and price of the drinks.
With all my happiness aborted
Feeling like all the joy and contentment from the trip has been taken away by the impending departure.
The PA painfully starts boarding
The announcement calling for boarding of the plane is a difficult reminder of having to leave.
I sink deep, 30 thousand feet
Descending to cruising altitude on the plane, feeling the weight of the journey setting in.
Into my window seat, electric chair
Sitting in the window seat of the plane feeling trapped and isolated, like in an electric chair.
And I was drinking you goodbye
Using alcohol to help numb the pain of leaving a loved one behind in San Francisco.
A heart floats in the bay
Symbolic imagery of a heart left behind in San Francisco, floating in the bay, a representation of the leaving of loved ones.
From sour home Chicago
Referring to the place of origin, Chicago which is now associated with negative feelings due to the leaving of San Francisco.
I hear it beating far away
Feeling the presence of loved ones in San Francisco despite the distance, represented through hearing the beating of the heart far away.
There's no telling what I'll do
Feeling unsure of how one will cope with the pain of leaving, emphasizing the emotional turmoil that comes with departure.
If I don't return to you
Implies a need to return to San Francisco, to reconnect with loved ones and to find the lost happiness and joy.
Hopeful thoughts of soon returning
Thinking positively about a speedy return to San Francisco, hopeful for a chance to reconnect with loved ones.
can't put out my stomach burning
Despite the hopeful thoughts, the pain and burning feeling in the stomach from the separation remains, and cannot be easily ignored.
Plastic wings and plastic smiles
Referring to the idea of artificiality and superficiality in air travel, where everything is made of plastic and everyone is putting on a fake smile.
Unsalted peanuts stretch my miles
Noting the small and insignificant things that seem to stretch out the journey, making it feel longer and more arduous.
5pm, 5 dollar pints - Hellbound Airlines - time and price
Drinking on the plane, noting the time and price of the drinks, emphasizing the feeling of being trapped in a kind of hell.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JasonPratt90210
I remember listening to this when i was a teenager before i started drinking loved it so much. Joined the military became an Alcoholic went on many adventures and ultimately hit a rock bottom. Got sober for almost 2 years now. Still love this music feels like ive come completely full circle. Natalie where ever you are thank you so much for showing me this album back when I was a Dishwasher at the resturant and talking about warped tour. You have no idea then impact that had on me in and the experiences ive had because of that small butterfly effect. Peace and love
bryan humbert
one of my favorite friggin bands, never gets old
Brandon Buckingham
My favorite alkaline trio song. So nostalgic
theweavwithadoubleu
Same man. I remember seeing these dudes at a small coffee shop in Chicago's south suburbs like 20 years ago. Still living them!
Brian The Wolf
Timeless classic
ThaProjektKidd
Crazyyy seein you here 🖤
BrotherMajid
this song is so good especially from the 1998 era
BippityboppityBOO
Still good in the 20-shit era too
Tim Lundin
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.
Mr. Moriarti
Thank you