Bixby Canyon Bridge
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I descended a dusty gravel ridge
Beneath the Bixby Canyon Bridge
Until I eventually arrived
At the place where your soul had died

Barefoot in the shallow creek,
I grabbed some stones from underneath
And waited for you to speak to me

And the silence; it became so very clear
That you had long ago disappeared
I cursed myself for being surprised
That this didn't play like it did in my mind

All the way from San Francisco
As I chased the end of your road
Cause I've still got miles to go

And I want to know my fate
If I keep up this way

And it's hard to want to stay awake
When everyone you need, they all seem to be asleep
And you wonder if you missed your dream

You can't see a dream
You can't see a dream
You just can't see a dream

And then it started getting dark




I truged back to where the car was parked
No closer to any kind of truth

Overall Meaning

The song "Bixby Canyon Bridge" by Death Cab for Cutie follows the singer on a journey to the place where a loved one had died. The song begins with a climb down a dusty path down the Bixby Canyon Bridge, which is a real bridge situated in California, and eventually leads to the place where the loved one died. The singer walks barefoot in the shallow creek and waits to hear the voice of the loved one, but finds only silence. The silence is a reminder that the loved one had long gone and the singer is upset with himself for being surprised.


The singer's journey to the place follows the end of the road where the loved one had gone, and it takes the singer all the way from San Francisco. The singer reflects on his journey and wonders what his fate will be if he keeps chasing the end of the road, because he still has miles to go. The singer is struggling to stay awake as he feels everyone he needs is fast asleep, and he wonders whether he missed his dream. The song concludes with the singer returning to his car without finding any sort of closure, any truth about the loved one's death, or any answer to his questions.


The song explores themes of grief, love, loss, and a sense of searching or chasing something that seems elusive and out of grasp. It reflects the emotions of someone trying to come to terms with the death of a loved one and the possibility of missed opportunities. The song's title comes from the real-life Bixby Canyon Bridge, which is an iconic landmark and has been featured in several works of literature and music including Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" and Kenneth Patchen's "The Bridge Went Up".


Line by Line Meaning

I descended a dusty gravel ridge
I walked down a steep and rough pathway made of dry earth and small rocks


Beneath the Bixby Canyon Bridge
Until I reached the bottom, passing underneath the bridge located in Bixby Canyon


Until I eventually arrived
After a while, I made it to the spot I was heading


At the place where your soul had died
Where your essence or spirit has disappeared for whatever reason


Barefoot in the shallow creek,
Remaining shoeless, I stood in a small, low-depth river


I grabbed some stones from underneath
I clenched some rocks found at the stream's bottom


And waited for you to speak to me
In contemplation, I anticipated to hear from you


And the silence; it became so very clear
The absence of sound became so apparent


That you had long ago disappeared
You vanished in the past


I cursed myself for being surprised
I expressed anger towards myself for feeling shocked


That this didn't play like it did in my mind
The way I had imagined things to happen in my head is different from the actual event


All the way from San Francisco
I came from San Francisco, presumably to get here


As I chased the end of your road
I followed your path to the very end


Cause I've still got miles to go
I still have a long way to travel


And I want to know my fate
I aspire to learn my destiny


If I keep up this way
Should I continue in this direction or path, what will my future be?


And it's hard to want to stay awake
It's challenging to remain alert and conscious


When everyone you need, they all seem to be asleep
The people who matter to you and could help appear to be dormant or inaccessible


And you wonder if you missed your dream
And you muse upon the idea of whether you lost the opportunity for your aspiration


You can't see a dream
You cannot observe your dream


You can't see a dream
Your dream is not visible


You just can't see a dream
It's impossible to have a tangible view of your dream


And then it started getting dark
The sun started to set


I trudged back to where the car was parked
I walked wearily back to where the automobile was left


No closer to any kind of truth
Still far away from discovering any form of truth or certainty




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BENJAMIN GIBBARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Frank


on I Will Follow You Into The Dark

This song sucks

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