-Nick Johnson: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
-Nate Gangelhoff: Bass
-Jeff Matika: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
-Dan Elston-Jones: Drums
Red Line
Banner Pilot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but then it crashed somehow and we landed here.
In your doorway on a fall day, I try and salvaged what I can.
Say that if I could hit stop I'd rewind tonight.
But then I guess some things are just black or white in your eyes.
So goodbye never had a chance I realize.
It's been sparks in gasoline and we got lit up, ignite.
So so long. Alone and halfway gone.
I try and find my way but I get lost in thought
on neon streets in parking lots.
A long walk where I belong.
I try and find my way but I get lost in thought
on neon streets in parking lots (tonight).
Up there's where they say heaven lies.
Know it's just black clouds in a dirty sky.
I'd call you but it's risky because I make no sense on whiskey.
With all my jumbled thoughts strewn across the floor,
I know they all read wrong so I write some more.
Some failed tries, my pen dies.
All a waste of time I realize.
It's been sparks in gasoline and we got lit up, ignite.
I was part way through a dream when it blew up tonight.
So so long. Alone and halfway gone.
I try and find my way but I get lost in thought
on neon streets in parking lots.
A long walk where I belong.
I try and find my way but I get lost in thought
on neon streets in parking lots (tonight).
I guess everything falls apart.
Loose lips sing ships and hopeful hearts.
Tonight I'll sit here soaking.
Tomorrow morning I'll start drying out. [x2]
The song "Red Line" by Banner Pilot addresses the feelings of being lost, disconnected and the challenges of dealing with the consequences of bad decisions. The song refers to a specific moment in time, a "red line month in a stall out year," where events seem to escalate and spiral out of control, and choices have resulted in damaging consequences that lead to the singer feeling isolated and alone. There is a sense of regret, as the songwriter expresses a desire to rewind time but acknowledges that some things are simply black or white in someone else's eyes. The use of the metaphor of sparks in gasoline suggests that the situation was volatile from the beginning and ultimately led to an explosion of emotions that has left the singer feeling empty and lost. The neon streets and parking lots refer to the aimlessness the singer is feeling while trying to find their way through life.
The singer tries to deal with their emotions by attempting to write or call the person who they may have hurt or who they feel can help them, but they are aware that they may make things worse in their current state. The song highlights the consequences of failed communication and missed opportunities due to untimely decisions. The chorus reinforces the sense of loneliness and abandonment. The writer is halfway through a dream when it "blew up," which is a metaphor for the illusion of control being disrupted by the harsh realities of consequences.
Overall, the song "Red Line" delivers a narrative about a momentary lapse in judgment that has resulted in unexpected consequences, leaving the singer to struggle with feelings of regret, isolation, and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
A red line month in a stall out year,
It's been a difficult month among an already tough year.
but then it crashed somehow and we landed here.
But somehow, amidst the chaos, we ended up here.
In your doorway on a fall day, I try and salvaged what I can.
I'm trying to salvage what I can from our relationship, even if it seems hopeless.
Say that if I could hit stop I'd rewind tonight.
I wish I could go back in time and change what led up to this moment.
But then I guess some things are just black or white in your eyes.
But things seem to be simple and clear-cut from your perspective.
So goodbye never had a chance I realize.
I've come to realize that there was never a chance for us to say goodbye properly.
It's been sparks in gasoline and we got lit up, ignite.
Our passions and emotions led to an explosive situation.
I was part way through a dream when it blew up tonight.
I was in the middle of a dream when everything fell apart tonight.
So so long. Alone and halfway gone.
So now it's goodbye, and I'm left feeling alone and broken.
I try and find my way but I get lost in thought
I'm searching for a path forward, but my thoughts keep consuming me.
on neon streets in parking lots.
I find myself lost in thought and wandering through places that once held meaning for us.
A long walk where I belong.
Taking long walks is where I feel most at home, even if it's without you.
Up there's where they say heaven lies.
They say that heaven is up there, but I'm not so sure.
Know it's just black clouds in a dirty sky.
I know that it's just pollution and smog up there, nothing more.
I'd call you but it's risky because I make no sense on whiskey.
I'm hesitant to call you because I know that I don't make much sense when I'm drunk.
With all my jumbled thoughts strewn across the floor,
My thoughts are all jumbled and scattered, making it difficult to make sense of anything.
I know they all read wrong so I write some more.
I know that my thoughts and words come out wrong, so I keep trying to express myself through writing.
Some failed tries, my pen dies.
Despite my efforts, I still struggle to find the right words and my writing eventually falters.
All a waste of time I realize.
I come to realize that everything I've been doing to try and make sense of things has been a waste of time.
Loose lips sing ships and hopeful hearts.
It's easy to say something that can ultimately sink a relationship, even if all you had was hope.
Tonight I'll sit here soaking.
I'll spend tonight just wallowing in my emotions and feeling sorry for myself.
Tomorrow morning I'll start drying out. [x2]
But tomorrow, I'll try to start moving on from this and begin to heal.
Writer(s): JOHNSON NICHOLAS MARSHALL
Contributed by Avery N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.