After graduating from UCLA in 2002, Bareilles performed at local bars and clubs. She issued two demos of mostly live tracks in 2003: The First One in April and The Summer Sessions in October.
In January 2004, Bareilles released her first studio album, Careful Confessions. She signed a contract with Epic Records' A&R executive Pete Giberga on April 15, 2005. The remainder of the year and early 2006 was spent writing and reworking songs for her upcoming album.
Her debut major-label album Little Voice came out on July 17, 2007.
City
Sara Bareilles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the bars filled with perfume and hitching a ride
A place you can stand for one night and get gone
It's clear this conversation ain't doing a thing
Cause these boys only listen to me when I sing
And I don't feel like singing tonight
All the same songs
In these deep city lights
Girl could get lost tonight
I'm finding every reason to be gone
Nothing here to hold on to
Could I hold you?
The situation's always the same
You got your wolves in their clothes whispering Hollywood's name
Stealing gold from the silver they see
But it's not me
In these deep city lights
Girl could get lost tonight
I'm finding every reason to be gone
Nothing here to hold on to
Could I hold you?
Calling out somebody save me I feel like I'm fading away
Calling out somebody save me I feel like I'm fadingâ?¦
I'm fading
In these deep city lights
Girl could get lost tonight
I'm finding every reason to be gone
Nothing here to hold on to
Could I hold you?
The song City by Sara Bareilles is about feeling lost in a city, specifically Los Angeles. The lyrics depict a feeling of disconnection and loneliness, centered around the nightlife and the people in it. This is illustrated through the opening lines; "There's a harvest each Saturday night, At the bars filled with perfume and hitching a ride, A place you can stand for one night and get gone". These lyrics suggest that the nightlife in the city is fleeting, and anyone can come and go easily.
Bareilles then goes on to describe a conversation with some boys who only listen to her when she sings, but she doesn't feel like singing tonight. This represents a sense of being marginalized or not being taken seriously. The lyrics "In these deep city lights, girl could get lost tonight, I'm finding every reason to be gone, Nothing here to hold on to, Could I hold you?" show a desire for connection and validation, but there is nothing in the city holding her there.
Furthermore, the lyrics suggest that the city is full of people trying to make it big, and often they will do whatever it takes to get there. The line "You got your wolves in their clothes whispering Hollywood's name, Stealing gold from the silver they see, But it's not me" represents realizing that she doesn't want to be like them and is searching for something genuine.
Overall, the song is about feeling disconnected and disenchanted with the city's nightlife and the people in it. It talks about the desire to connect with someone and get away from the fickleness and inauthenticity of the city.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a harvest each Saturday night
Every Saturday night, there's a wide range of opportunities to meet new people.
At the bars filled with perfume and hitching a ride
Bars are booming with customers, including women who want a ride or are very attractive.
A place you can stand for one night and get gone
The environment is such that you can leave right after one night if you want.
It's clear this conversation ain't doing a thing
Talking to these guys is pointless.
Cause these boys only listen to me when I sing
She gets more attention when she sings.
And I don't feel like singing tonight
She doesn't feel like singing today.
All the same songs
She's tired of singing the same songs every night.
Girl could get lost tonight
The city is so big that one could get lost and stay lost.
I'm finding every reason to be gone
She's finding reasons to leave town.
Nothing here to hold on to
There's nothing she's interested in doing or that gives her a reason to stay.
Could I hold you?
She needs someone to hold her and make her feel better.
You got your wolves in their clothes whispering Hollywood's name
People are pretending to be someone they are not and are just interested in fame and fortune.
Stealing gold from the silver they see
People are preying on each other to get ahead in the city.
Calling out somebody save me I feel like I'm fading away
She feels helpless and alone.
I'm fading
She's losing hope and feeling overwhelmed.
Could I hold you?
She wants someone to hold her and provide emotional support through this difficult time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SARA BAREILLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind