Bathgate started out in 1999, spending several years in a heavy metal band before turning to folk. While in Ann Arbor, Bathgate then formed the folk trio Ambitious Brothers with Michael Beauchamp and Karl Sturk, releasing a few records before breaking up in 2005.
In 2001, Bathgate launched his solo career, while continuing to experiment with different groups for several years. He self-released multiple EPs and albums including Twilight Unlimited in 2002, Create and Consume in 2003, and Silence Is For Suckers in 2005. He would often sell his records to local Ann Arbor music store Encore Records.
In 2007 Bathgate signed to Quite Scientific Records. April 2011 saw the release of his second nationally-distributed full length album, "Salt Year".
Website: www.chrisbathgate.org
In the City
Chris Bathgate Lyrics
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Cause in November I heard your name
Quit my job and stole a gun
That's why the liquors gone
That's why I'm bumming dimes
All my letters are loud and thin
I'm nothing at all
The days they drone
Days they drone
They're droning on and on
That's how the day is framed
That's how I know my name
People say it back to me
That's why my heart is cracked
Because they say to my back
As I'm sneaking out the side
In the city, In the city
I'm nothing at all
They days they drone
Days they drone
Yeah, they're droning on and on
The lyrics of "In the City" by Chris Bathgate are melancholic and seem to hint at the singer's inner turmoil. The first verse talks about the singer quitting his job and stealing a gun after hearing a name in November. This could suggest a relationship or a person he is compelled to look for. He prays on the rail, perhaps a train track, indicating that he is on the move. The lyrics then highlight his struggles: he is without liquor, he is rummaging for dimes, and his letters are insignificant. The use of the phrase "loud and thin" could imply the letters are full of emotions but ultimately lack substance. The chorus of the song, "In the city, In the city, I'm nothing at all," suggests that the city has swallowed him up, which leads to a sense of insignificance and detachment.
The second verse repeats the sentiment of the first verse: the days drone on endlessly; they frame the day and give him a sense of identity. The singer's name is something he is recognized by, spoken back to him like an echo, but it feels empty and hollow. The lyrics suggest that the singer is disheartened by the meaningless nature of his life in the city. He is sneaking out as people say things behind his back. The song ends with the chorus repeating itself, emphasis given to how the days drone on, and there is no escape.
Line by Line Meaning
To the rail I pray
I have nothing else to turn to, so I put my faith in something as mundane as public transportation
Cause in November I heard your name
I can't escape memories of you, even months later
Quit my job and stole a gun
I've reached a place where I'm willing to give up everything, including my own safety, to cope with my pain
That's why the liquors gone
I'm drinking to forget, but it only makes everything worse
That's why I'm bumming dimes
I've lost everything, including my dignity and self-worth, and I'm forced to beg for money
All my letters are loud and thin
I'm trying to make myself heard, but my words are empty and meaningless to those around me
In the city, In the city
I'm just another faceless person, swallowed up by the vastness of the urban landscape
I'm nothing at all
I feel utterly worthless and invisible
The days they drone
The monotony of my existence is suffocating
Days they drone
Every day feels like the same endless cycle of heartache and despair
They're droning on and on
I can't escape this feeling of hopelessness, no matter how hard I try
That's how the day is framed
The mundanity of everyday life only serves to highlight how much your absence hurts me
That's how I know my name
My identity has become inextricably linked to my pain and my longing for you
People say it back to me
Everyone around me can see how much I'm struggling, but no one can help me
That's why my heart is cracked
My grief and desperation are tearing me apart from the inside out
Because they say to my back
People only talk to me when I'm already gone, when it's too late to reach out and offer real help
As I'm sneaking out the side
I'm so used to running away from my problems that I can't even face them head-on anymore
Contributed by Elijah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.