Roller Coaster
Blink–182 Lyrics
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Finding strength to call and ask her
Roller coaster, favorite ride
Let me kiss you one last time
Leave me standing here
Act like I'm not around
The coast will probably never clear
I had that dream
About you again
Where I wait outside
Until you let me in
And there I stayed
Lay beside me
And listen at the wall
We'll keep on lying
Until the summer comes
I had that dream
About you again
Where you drive my car
Right off a fucking cliff
And now I'm breathing deeply, walking backwards
Finding strength to call and ask her
Roller coaster, favorite ride
Let me kiss you one last time
Make me promise
That I will never tell
All I remember is
The way her bedroom smelled
I had that dream
About you again
Where I wait outside
Until you let me in
And now I'm breathing deeply, walking backwards
Finding strength to call and ask her
Roller coaster, favorite ride
Let me kiss you one last time
Goodnight, goodnight
The lyrics of Blink-182's song "Roller Coaster" depict a sense of longing and desperation to hold on to something that is slipping away. It starts with the singer breathing deeply and walking backwards, both actions that suggest trying to take control and maintain one's balance. The following line, "Finding strength to call and ask her," reveals that the control and balance sought after are related to a romantic relationship. The roller coaster is referred to as a favorite ride, possibly because it represents the ups and downs of this tumultuous relationship. The singer asks for one last kiss before the relationship ends.
The next verse describes a feeling of being left out and ignored. The singer is left standing there while the other person acts like they are not around, and the coast will probably never clear. In the second half of this verse, the singer has a dream about waiting outside until being let in, and there they stayed. This dream might represent the fear of not being able to let go of the relationship and constantly waiting for a chance to be with the other person.
The chorus repeats the first verse, but with an added line about making a promise to never tell and only remembering the scent of the other person's bedroom. The last line, "Goodnight, goodnight," indicates that this could be their final interaction.
Overall, "Roller Coaster" is a song about the complexities of holding onto a relationship that is slipping away, characterized by a roller coaster of emotions and the desperation to hold on to something that is ultimately out of one's control.
Line by Line Meaning
Breathing deeply, walking backwards
Taking a moment to gather courage before making a difficult decision
Finding strength to call and ask her
Summoning the courage to contact a former romantic partner
Roller coaster, favorite ride
Comparing the ups and downs of a relationship to an exhilarating theme park ride
Let me kiss you one last time
Desire to share one final intimate moment before ending things
Leave me standing here
Feeling ignored and alone
Act like I'm not around
Being intentionally ignored by the one you love
The coast will probably never clear
Feeling stuck in a state of emotional ambiguity
Can I please go home now?
Feeling overwhelmed and wanting to escape the situation
I had that dream
Reflecting on a recurring nightmare
About you again
The source of the nightmare is related to the former romantic partner
Where I wait outside
Being rejected and forced to wait outside of a loved one's home
Until you let me in
Hoping for reconciliation and acceptance
And there I stayed
Being stuck in a state of longing and unrequited love
Lay beside me
Desiring physical comfort and intimacy
And listen at the wall
Creating an intimate moment of shared silence
We'll keep on lying
Continuing to maintain an illusion of happiness
Until the summer comes
Delaying the inevitable end of the relationship
Make me promise
Implying there is something shameful or embarrassing to keep secret
That I will never tell
Asking for assurance that a secret will be kept
All I remember is
Memory of the relationship is fading
The way her bedroom smelled
The last vivid memory of the relationship
Goodnight, goodnight
The end of the relationship
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MALCOLM JAMES ALLURED, DAVID FREDERICK BARTRAM, ROMEO ALEXANDER CHALLENGER, RODERICK SINCLAIR DEAS, JAMES LEWIS RUSSELL FIELD, WILLIAM GEORGE GASK, AL. JAMES, TREVOR LESLIE OAKES
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