What started as two guys with strong voices and one guitar became San Francisco's Train by 1994. It was in late 1993 that Patrick Monahan left Erie, PA, and met up with the Los Angeles band, The Apostles. Lead singer/guitarist Rob Hotchkiss and fellow guitarist Jim Stafford had basically disbanded by this time, but the chance meeting with Patrick Monahan proved fortuitous, as Hotchkiss extended an invitation to the crooning Monahan to become a two-man band. After making exhaustive appearances in low-key coffeehouses, they decided to form a full band and enlisted former Apostles members Stafford and bassist Charlie Colin. Colin brought along his good friend, drummer Scott Underwood, and Train were on their way.
Train settled in San Francisco to develop their sound in a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. In an unlikely scenario, executives from Columbia Records expressed an interest and, in a somewhat cooperative strategy, farmed the fledgling band out to the minors -- in this instance, Aware Records -- where they could grow naturally and unhurriedly. In 1997, they went on tour, opening for the likes of Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies, and Counting Crows. Train knew they had arrived when they sold out a performance at San Francisco's prestigious Fillmore venue. Their completed debut album was released the following year. Drops of Jupiter followed three years later, becoming a 2x Platinum hit on the back of its single of the same name. My Private Nation followed in 2003. Though the response was initially weak, the single "Get to Me" eventually caught fire, and Train had their latest Billboard chart hit. A holdover live album appeared in 2004 while the band returned to the studio to record My Private Nation's follow-up. The single "Cab" announced the band's return in late 2005, with the full-length For Me It's You following early the next year.
From November 2006, the band took a break from recording and touring to be with friends and family. Lead singer Pat Monahan released a solo album, Last of Seven, on September 18, 2007. The first single, "Her Eyes," was released in July.
On October 27, 2009, Train not only released proof that they were once again a band but also put their fifth studio album on the market, Save Me San Francisco. Dedicated to getting back to where they came from, the album revisited the roots rock sound that has made the band such a tour de force. The album is a tribute to the city that made them who they are today and pays homage to the city by the bay whom they owe so much.
The first single from Train's sixth studio album, "Drive By," was made available on iTunes on January 10, 2012, a week after Train played the halftime show at the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl in Miami. This upbeat pop/rock tune was the first song to be released from Train's sixth studio album. It was already familiar to some of their fans as the band had been performing the tune during their 2011 Summer Tour. Train's singles tend to gradually build momentum, but this song debuted at #60 on the Hot 100 in its first week as Triple A, hot AC, and pop radio all embraced the song with enthusiasm.
This album was followed by Bulletproof Picasso, Christmas in Tahoe, Train Does Led Zeppelin II, and A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat. Their album AM Gold was released on May 20, 2022.
http://savemesanfrancisco.com/
San Francisco
Train Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until I made some tender coin
And then I met some ladies from Marin
We took the highway to the one,
Up the coast to catch some sun
They left me with these blisters on my skin
Don't know what I was on,
But I think it grows in Oregon,
I drove into Seattle rain
Fell in love then missed the train
That could have took me right back home to you
I've been high, I've been low,
I've been yes, and I've been oh, hell no!
I've been rock 'n roll and disco,
Won't you save me San Francisco?
(Oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh
(Oh, oh, oh oh oh oh)
Every day so caffeinated
I wish they were golden gated
Fillmore couldn't feel more miles away
So wrap me up return to sender
Let's forget this five year bender
Take me to my city by the bay
I never knew all that I had,
Now Alcatraz don't sound so bad
At least they have a hella fine Merlot
If I could wish upon a star
I would hitch a cable car
To the place that I can always call my own
I've been high, I've been low,
I've been yes, and I've been oh, hell no!
I've been rock 'n roll and disco,
Won't you save me San Francisco?
I've been up, I've been down,
I've been so damn lost since you're not around,
I been reggae and calypso
Won't you save me San Francisco?
To tell you the truth
I miss everything, everything
It's a wild, wild beautiful world
But there's a wide eyed girl back there
And she means everything, everything,
I've been stop, I've been go
I've been yes and I've been oh, hell no!
I've been rock and roll and disco,
Won't you save me San Francisco?
I've been up, I've been down,
I've been so damn lost since you're not around,
I've been reggae and calypso,
Won't you save me San Francisco?
(Oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh
(Oh, oh, oh) save me San Francisco)
(Oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh
Won't you save me San Francisco
(Oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh
(Oh, oh, oh) save me San Francisco
(Oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh
Won't you save me San Francisco
"Save Me San Francisco" is a love letter to the city of San Francisco, told from the perspective of a wandering traveler who is desperate to return to his love. The lyrics paint a picture of a lost and lonely soul who has been on a journey of self-discovery, but ultimately realizes that he belongs in San Francisco with the girl he loves.
The song begins with the singer reminiscing about his time in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, but then quickly transitions into the present tense as he recounts his journey up the coast and his encounters with various people and places along the way. Despite his adventures, he longs for the familiarity and comfort of San Francisco, which he describes as his "city by the bay."
The chorus of the song is a desperate plea for San Francisco to save him, as he acknowledges that without the city and his love, he feels lost and adrift. The final verse reveals that the singer has been through a lot since leaving San Francisco, but that his true love and the city itself remain constants in his heart and mind.
Overall, "Save Me San Francisco" is a heartfelt tribute to a city that has played an integral role in the lives of many people, and a reminder that no matter how far we roam, there's truly no place like home.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to love the tenderloin
I used to enjoy the rough and tumble of the city until things changed.
Until I made some tender coin
I made some money and my perspective changed.
And then I met some ladies from Marin
I met some women from a more affluent area of the region.
We took the highway to the one,
We drove on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Up the coast to catch some sun
We headed north up the coast to catch some rays.
They left me with these blisters on my skin
I got a sunburn and they left me.
Don't know what I was on,
I don't know what I was under the influence of.
But I think it grows in Oregon,
Whatever I was on might have been grown in Oregon.
So I kept on goin' going on right through
I kept driving north.
I drove into Seattle rain
I drove into rainy Seattle.
Fell in love then missed the train
I fell in love and missed the train back home.
That could have took me right back home to you
That could have taken me back to you.
I've been high, I've been low,
I've experienced high and low moments.
I've been yes, and I've been oh, hell no!
I've experienced ups and downs.
I've been rock 'n roll and disco,
I've experienced different types of music.
Won't you save me San Francisco?
I want San Francisco to save me from my troubles.
Every day so caffeinated
Every day I'm running on coffee.
I wish they were golden gated
I wish things were easier.
Fillmore couldn't feel more miles away
Fillmore is far away and inaccessible.
So wrap me up return to sender
Send me back where I came from.
Let's forget this five year bender
Let's forget this five year period of excess.
Take me to my city by the bay
Take me back to San Francisco.
I never knew all that I had,
I never appreciated what I had.
Now Alcatraz don't sound so bad
Even a famous prison like Alcatraz seems like a decent option.
At least they have a hella fine Merlot
At least they have good wine.
If I could wish upon a star
If I could make a wish come true.
I would hitch a cable car
I would use the famous San Francisco mode of transportation.
To the place that I can always call my own
To the place where I feel like I belong.
I've been stop, I've been go
I've experienced different phases of my life.
I've been yes and I've been oh, hell no!
I've said yes and no to different experiences.
I've been rock and roll and disco,
I've experienced different kinds of music.
I've been up, I've been down,
I've experienced the highs and lows of life.
I've been so damn lost since you're not around,
I've been lost without you in my life.
I've been reggae and calypso
I've experienced different genres of music.
To tell you the truth
To be honest.
I miss everything, everything
I miss everything about you and our life together.
It's a wild, wild beautiful world
The world is a wild and beautiful place.
But there's a wide eyed girl back there
But there is a girl I love back there.
And she means everything, everything,
She means everything to me.
Won't you save me San Francisco?
I want San Francisco to save me from my troubles.
Save me San Francisco
Save me from my troubles, San Francisco.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DAVID KATZ, PAT MONAHAN, SAM HOLLANDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabby Morales
I love this song, it always gets me in such a good mood.
Stevie Schmidt
Same
Icarus' Wing
Me too in 2023
Niño A
Sameeeeeeeeeeeee
Kimberly Owen
I still love this video sooooooooooooooooo much - the ending is perfect - the homage to the Graduate is great - the song makes me want to sing (really loudly) and dance!!! This video makes me feel so good!!!! Thanks Train!!!
Rosimaire Severino
Amo a voz dele. !! 👏👏🇧🇷🇧🇪
Nina D'Angelo
Love this song. It always makes me want to go back to one of my fav cities - SF. Pat's voice is amazing on this and the lyrics are so catchy. Great ode to SF
Leonard Crawford Jr.
Classic feel good jam 🎉 Good energy from the crowd and the look on my manz face is definitely an all time classic expression!!
Kishen
I’ve been living in San Francisco for three years now! The best tribute song to the city! Thanks Train for the wonderful San Francisco track. I wish we had more beautiful songs on the most expensive yet the best city(SF) in the US.
Vinícius Vilhena
Train rocks, heard and love it! you guys are great! keep doing this amazing job!