Kyoto
Phoebe Bridgers Bartees Strange Lyrics


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Day off in Kyoto
Got bored at the temple
Looked around at the 7-Eleven
The band took the speed train
Went to the arcade
Wanted to go but I didn't
You called me from a payphone
They still got pay phones
They 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

Lowkey sunset's been a freak show
On the weekend
So I've been driving out to the suburbs
To park at the Goodwill
Stare at the chemtrails
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
Twenty-five 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
Guess I lied
Guess I lied
Guess I lied
I'm a liar
I'm a liar
Who lies
Who lies
'Cause I'm a liar
I'm a liar
I'm a liar




Guess I lied
I'm a liar

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Phoebe Bridgers & Bartees Strange's song "Kyoto" are filled with emotional complexity and internal conflict. The song starts with the singer on a day off in Kyoto, Japan, feeling bored and aimless. They look around and realize they are in a 7-Eleven and not at the temple, where they thought they should have been. The singer then reflects about the band they are with taking the speed train and going to the arcade, but they didn't join them. Then they receive a phone call from someone who tells them they are getting sober, and they wrote a letter, but the singer doesn't want to read it.


The song then shifts to the singer's desire to see the world, but after flying over the ocean, they changed their mind. They are then shown driving out to the suburbs, parking in the Goodwill parking lot, and staring at the chemtrails with their little brother. They are then reminded of a phone call they missed on their little brother's birthday, and how they messed up by ten days, but at least they tried. The song then returns to the chorus, where the singer confesses, "I don't forgive you, but please don't hold me to it" and they repeat, "I'm a liar, I'm a liar, who lies, who lies, 'cause I'm a liar, I'm a liar, I'm a liar, guess I lied."


The song is an emotional exploration of guilt, shame, and the struggle to reconcile one's past actions. The singer is searching for meaning and purpose, wanting to see the world, but is conflicted on whether they truly want to or not. The phone call the singer receives about someone getting sober and writing them a letter is ambiguous and left to interpretation, but it marks a turning point in the song where the singer's emotional state becomes more urgent and conflicted.


Line by Line Meaning

Day off in Kyoto
Taking a break in Kyoto


Got bored at the temple
Feeling bored at the temple


Looked around at the 7-Eleven
Checked out the 7-Eleven nearby


The band took the speed train
Band members rode the fast train


Went to the arcade
Played at an arcade


Wanted to go but I didn't
Thought of going but didn't eventually


You called me from a payphone
Received a call from a payphone


They still got pay phones
Remarkably payphones still exist


They cost a dollar a minute
Call rates are quite high


To tell me you're getting sober
Said that you're trying to give up alcohol


And you wrote me a letter
Received a letter from you


But I don't have to read it
However, I have no obligation to read it


I'm gonna kill you
Might end up harming you


If you don't beat me to it
Unless you do it before me


Dreaming through Tokyo skies
Fantasizing while looking up at the Tokyo skies


I wanted to see the world
Had a desire to explore the world


Then I flew over the ocean
Flew across the ocean


And I changed my mind
Eventually changed my plans


Lowkey sunset's been a freak show
Sunsets have been quite unusual lately


On the weekend
During weekends


So I've been driving out to the suburbs
Have been driving to the suburbs


To park at the Goodwill
To park at the Goodwill store


Stare at the chemtrails
Gazing at the chemtrails


With my little brother
Together with my younger sibling


He said you called on his birthday
He said you called on his birthday


You were off by like ten days
Called ten days after his birthday


But you get a few points for trying
Still get some credit for the effort


Remember getting the truck fixed
Recalled getting the truck repaired


When you let us drive it
When you allowed us to operate it


Twenty-five felt like flying
Felt euphoric at the age of 25


I don't forgive you
I haven't forgiven you


But please don't hold me to it
Please don't pressure me about it


Born under Scorpio skies
Born while Scorpio was the zodiac sign


I wanted to see the world
Desired to explore the world


Through your eyes until it happened
Through your eyes until something occurred


Then I changed my mind
Then my decision changed


Guess I lied
Perhaps I told an untruth


I'm a liar
I have a tendency to lie


Who lies
Someone who often tells untruths


Cause I'm a liar
Since I have a habit of lying


Guess I lied
Perhaps I told an untruth


I'm a liar
I have a tendency to lie




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Marshall Vore, Morgan Nagler, Phoebe Bridgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@quibiburgers2481

coming here to express my love for this version of the song, hell yea it slams 💜

@badulaques1435

Amazing

@valenciansun

This singer is unique! And the jazzy arrangement is so interesting!

@mallory8238

This version is actually a bop when you come to think of it

@abb.4216

Ooh damn this song is fire 🔥 shout out to thaiboy digital #punisher is out now

@KurtPolly505

How is this remix not a cover?

@dragonsouleater1119

was literally just thinkin that. lol. punisher is so amazing !!!

@whizzardblizzard5696

At first, Im not sure .... but the chorus is okay I guess.

@joshuacosico7546

I love Bartees and Phoebe, but that bass line starting 1:18 sounds so off for some reason. Kills the rest of the song for me. Clashes with his awesome vox at the end, too.

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