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San Francisco Payphone
Catch 22 Lyrics


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One year ago today, I tossed away, a quarter that I should've saved. I faked a farwell fantasy and misbehaved. I never made an effort. My conscience went. After all the time I spent. The dollars that I dropped on you, I thought you'd say you miss me too. So here I am, a friend, the end, I meant to disregard that birthday card, nailed upon your wall he sent. I meant to turn my eyes from everything. I shouldn't see. An oath I took, you kissed my cheek. Cried yourself to sleep, but never would you admit to me.

(CHORUS) I always laughed when you laughed. Cried when you cried. Danced when you danced. I lied. San Francisco payphone. So far from home. So many friends, and I'm alone. I faked a farewell fantasy. I lied. You bother me. My conscience gone. This conversation's dragging on. There was once upon atime when you would miss me too. So here I am, a friend, the end, I meant to disregard that birthday card, nailed upon your wall he sent. I meant to turn my eyes from everything. Never made a promise. An oath I took, I kissed your cheek. Cried myself to sleep, I won't admit that you see. (CHORUS)

Overall Meaning

The song "San Francisco Payphone" by Catch 22 is about a broken relationship that the singer regrets not putting more effort into. The first verse begins with the singer admitting to throwing away a quarter that could have been used to call their ex-partner. They faked a farewell fantasy and misbehaved, not putting in any effort to save the relationship. The guilt from their actions caught up to them and caused their conscience to sink. The singer spent a lot of money on their partner, expecting them to miss them the same way, but to no avail.


The chorus reveals the singer's true feelings of regret and sadness. They always pretended to be there for their partner, even when they were lying. The San Francisco payphone represents the distance between them and their partner, and how they are now alone despite having many friends. The singer wishes they could go back in time and turn a blind eye to everything that led to the end of their relationship. They never made any promises to their partner, as they were always afraid of getting hurt. The second verse explains how the singer meant to ignore a birthday card from their partner's new lover, but couldn't bring themselves to do it. The guilt from their inaction caused them to lose their conscience once again.


Overall, the song is about regret and how sometimes it's too late to fix things. The singer wishes they had made more of an effort and had been honest with their partner. They regret the lies they told and how they misled their partner. The San Francisco payphone represents the distance between them and their partner, and how it's too late to make it right.


Line by Line Meaning

One year ago today, I tossed away, a quarter that I should've saved.
I wasted my money and made a mistake that I now regret.


I faked a farwell fantasy and misbehaved.
Instead of facing reality, I pretended to say goodbye and acted out of line.


I never made an effort. My conscience went. After all the time I spent.
I didn't put in the effort and now my guilt is getting to me, especially after all the time invested.


The dollars that I dropped on you, I thought you'd say you miss me too.
I spent money on you, hoping that it would make you miss me as well.


So here I am, a friend, the end, I meant to disregard that birthday card, nailed upon your wall he sent.
I'm still here, trying to be a friend, even though I intended to ignore the birthday card that someone else sent to you.


An oath I took, you kissed my cheek. Cried yourself to sleep, but never would you admit to me.
I made a promise to you, but you only expressed your true feelings by kissing me on the cheek and crying yourself to sleep.


(CHORUS) I always laughed when you laughed. Cried when you cried. Danced when you danced. I lied.
I pretended to be there for you, but it wasn't genuine and I was lying.


San Francisco payphone. So far from home. So many friends, and I'm alone.
I'm far from home, surrounded by friends, but still feel lonely and lost.


You bother me. My conscience gone. This conversation's dragging on.
Talking to you is difficult and my conscience isn't helping. This conversation is going on for too long.


Never made a promise. An oath I took, I kissed your cheek. Cried myself to sleep, I won't admit that you see.
I never made a promise to you, but I did make an oath and kissed your cheek. I cried myself to sleep but can't bring myself to admit it to you.


(CHORUS)
Repeating that I pretended to care about you and was not true to my feelings.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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