John Callahan (born 1951 in Portland, Oregon), is a cartoonist, artist, and… Read Full Bio ↴John Callahan (born 1951 in Portland, Oregon), is a cartoonist, artist, and musician noted for dealing with macabre subjects and physical disabilities.
He released his first CD in 2006. The Independent of London calls his songs "Beautiful, but dark". He writes all the music and lyrics himself and is backed up by many notable musicians. A Dutch film crew recorded the studio sessions in which Callahan plays a simplified piano version of "Roll Away The Day". The album is produced by blues musician Terry Robb, with a special cameo appearance by Tom Waits.

Lost In The City
John Callahan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You left for good to Hollywood
I watched you thumb a ride
I felt alone
And to the bone
I swallowed my pride

The best of times, the worst of times
Hey, are you listening?

I sliced the shade
With razorblades
Now everything is glistening

How'd you ever get so
How'd you ever get so
How'd you ever get so lost in the city, anyhow?

The motel sign is burning fine
With several bulbs missing
I had a chat
With Felix the Cat
While I was pissing

If anyone could save you now
You'd call him your saviour
But just like me
They'd probably be
Out on good behaviour

How'd you ever get so

How'd you ever get so
How'd you ever get so lost in the city, anyhow?

Overall Meaning

In John Callahan's song "Lost in the City," the singer is reflecting on a past relationship and the partner's move to Hollywood. The beginning of the song describes the partner leaving, hitchhiking their way to Hollywood, and leaving the singer feeling alone and vulnerable. The singer acknowledges feeling a sense of pride and perhaps even resentment towards the partner for leaving them behind. However, the chorus reveals that the partner is "lost in the city" and the singer is left questioning how it all came to be.

The second verse describes the bleakness of the singer's surroundings, with a motel sign missing bulbs and a conversation with Felix the Cat while using the bathroom. The chorus repeats the question of how the partner got so lost, and suggests that even if someone could save them, they'd likely still be stuck in their situation. Through the lyrics, it seems as though the partner's move to Hollywood resulted in a sense of displacement and disconnection from a sense of self and perhaps even reality.

Overall, "Lost in the City" paints a picture of someone struggling to find their place in a new environment and ultimately feeling lost and disconnected from those around them. The song explores themes of disconnection, loneliness, and the struggle to find meaning and belonging in a new place.

Line by Line Meaning

You left for good to Hollywood
You permanently departed to Hollywood

I watched you thumb a ride
I observed you hitchhiking

I felt alone
I experienced loneliness

And to the bone
To the very core of my being

I swallowed my pride
I suppressed my arrogant attitude

The best of times, the worst of times
Times of both joy and hardship

Hey, are you listening?
Excuse me, are you paying attention?

I sliced the shade
I cut through the darkness

With razorblades
Using sharp objects

Now everything is glistening
Now everything is shining

How'd you ever get so
How did you become so