Kyoto
Glitch Gum Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Day off in Kyoto, got bored at the temple
Looked around at the 7-11
The band took the speed train, went to the arcade
I wanted to go but I didn′t
You called me from a payphone, they still got pay phones
It cost a dollar a minute
To tell me you're getting sober and you wrote me a letter
But I don′t have to read it

I'm gonna kill you
If you don't beat me to it
Dreaming through Tokyo skies
I wanted to see the world
Till I flew over the ocean
And I changed my mind

Sunset′s been a freak show
On the weekend so I′ve been driving out to the suburbs
To park at the Goodwill and stare at the chem trails
With my little brother
He said you called on his birthday
You were off by like ten days
But you get a few points for trying
Remember getting the truck fixed when you let us drive it
25 felt like flying

I don't forgive you
But please don′t hold me to it
Born under Scorpio skies

I wanted to see the world
Through your eyes until it happened
Then I changed my mind

Guess I lied
I'm a liar

Day off in Kyoto
Day off in Kyoto
Day off in Kyoto




Day off in Kyoto
Day off in Kyoto

Overall Meaning

Glitch Gum's song "Kyoto" is a contemplation of love, loss, and the changing of minds. The song is expressed in three distinct parts. In the first part, the singer finds himself bored at a temple in Kyoto and ends up at a 7-11. His bandmates leave for the arcade, but he stays behind. He receives a call from a payphone and learns his love interest is getting sober and has written him a letter. However, he doesn't want to read it. The second part of the song is more aggressive, with the singer proclaiming he will kill his love interest if they don't beat him to it. He then reflects on his desire to see the world through their eyes but changes his mind after flying over the ocean. Finally, the last part of the song is more reflective, with the singer driving out to the suburbs with his little brother to stare at the chem trails. He learns that his love interest called, but their timing was off, resulting in the singer holding onto some resentment. He then admits to being a liar and repeats "Day off in Kyoto" four times.


The first two parts of "Kyoto" work well together, with a growing tension underlying the singer's anxiety. The opening lyrics are curious yet aimless, with the temple and 7-11 serving as a backdrop for something more significant. The payphone call, sober talk, and letter introduce the stakes of the song, adding emotion to the singer's listlessness. The chorus of the second part, with its aggressive tone and violent imagery, seems to signal the singer's frustration with his inability to move on from his love interest. In the third part, that frustration gives way to reflection, the singer ultimately asking to be forgiven but admitting that he is a liar.


Line by Line Meaning

Day off in Kyoto, got bored at the temple
I had a day off in Kyoto and spent time at the temple, but eventually got bored.


Looked around at the 7-11
I checked out the nearby 7-11 store


The band took the speed train, went to the arcade
My friends went to the arcade after taking the speed train.


I wanted to go but I didn't
Although I wanted to go, I didn't join my friends at the arcade.


You called me from a payphone, they still got pay phones
You contacted me from a payphone and it surprised me that they still exist.


It cost a dollar a minute
It was expensive to make the phone call, costing a dollar per minute.


To tell me you're getting sober and you wrote me a letter
You revealed that you're getting sober and wrote a letter to inform me about it.


But I don't have to read it
I have no obligation to read the letter.


I'm gonna kill you
I'll be angry at you for something you did.


If you don't beat me to it
I want to take action against you, but you might do something first.


Dreaming through Tokyo skies
I had a dream of flying and seeing the Tokyo skies.


I wanted to see the world
I had a desire to travel around the world.


Till I flew over the ocean
However, flying over the ocean changed my perspective.


And I changed my mind
I changed my mind about traveling the world after flying over the ocean.


Sunset's been a freak show
The sunset has been unusual or interesting to me.


On the weekend so I've been driving out to the suburbs
During the weekend, I drove to the suburbs.


To park at the Goodwill and stare at the chem trails
I parked at a Goodwill store and observed the chem trails in the sky.


With my little brother
My younger brother was with me.


He said you called on his birthday
My brother told me that you called on his birthday.


You were off by like ten days
You called him ten days later than his actual birthday.


But you get a few points for trying
Despite getting the date wrong, you still deserve some credit for making an effort.


Remember getting the truck fixed when you let us drive it
I recall you fixing the truck so that we could drive it.


25 felt like flying
Being 25 years old was a special and exciting experience.


I don't forgive you
I haven't forgiven you for something you did.


But please don't hold me to it
However, I don't want you to keep reminding me about this and holding me accountable for my feelings.


Born under Scorpio skies
I was born under the Scorpio astrological sign.


Guess I lied
I realize that I might have lied or changed my mind.


I'm a liar
I acknowledge that I'm not always truthful.


Day off in Kyoto
I had a day off in Kyoto and didn't have much to do.


Day off in Kyoto
Another reminder that I had a day off in Kyoto.


Day off in Kyoto
Yet another reminder that I had a day off in Kyoto.


Day off in Kyoto
The final reminder that I had a day off in Kyoto.




Contributed by Elena A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Lee-fn4qu

Day off in Kyoto, got bored at the temple
Looked around at the 7-11
The band took the speed train, went to the arcade
I wanted to go, but I didn't
You called me from a payphone
They still got payphones
It cost a dollar a minute
To tell me you're getting sober
And you wrote me a letter
But I don't have to read it
I'm gonna kill you
If you don't beat me to it
Dreaming through Tokyo skies
I wanted to see the world
Then I flew over the ocean
And I changed my mind (Ooh)
Sunset's been a freak show on the weekend
So I've been driving out to the suburbs
To park at the Goodwill and stare at the chem trails
With my little brother
He said you called on his birthday
You were off by like ten days
But you get a few points for tryin'
Remember getting the truck fixed when you let us drive it
25 felt like flying
I don't forgive you
But please don't hold me to it
Born under Scorpio skies
I wanted to see the world
Through your eyes until it happened
Then I changed my mind
Guess I lied
I'm a liar
Who lies
'Cause I'm a liar



All comments from YouTube:

@iamNATFAN

me when i'm depressed: phoebe bridgers - kyoto (copycat killer version)
me when i'm okay: phoebe bridgers - kyoto
me when i'm hyper: glitch gum - kyoto (phoebe bridgers cover)

@spacadet.

this ^^^^

@fxri

@spacadet yes we know,
his comment just appears and i agree

but that is a dumbass reply

@spacadet.

@Jack exists sorry that it offended you for me to agree with someone else's comment.

@fxri

@spacadet but people have to click to see ur reply. i dont think stating the obvious is the kind of reply people care about

@fxri

you are just pointing out something that is seen before your comment is seen

5 More Replies...

@HIVEMINDTV

this actually goes so hard

@djalyx_

do a reaction!!

@apriljack3172

I just want you to know that I heard this on the hyperpop playlist before I listened to the original, I got so confused when I was listening to Punisher and Kyoto came on haha

@apriljack3172

love your music btw

More Comments

More Versions