Chappell Roan explains heartbreaking meaning behind 'The Subway' lyrics

4 August 2025, 13:41

Chappell Roan 'The Subway' lyrics meaning. Picture: @chappellroan via Instagram, Island Records

By Sam Prance

What are Chappell Roan's 'The Subway' lyrics about? Where is Saskatchewan? Here's what she's said about the song and who inspired it.

Loading audio...

Chaplains assemble! Chappell Roan has released 'The Subway' and she has opened up about the meaning behind it.

Ever since Chappell Roan first performed 'The Subway' at the Governor's Ball in 2024, fans have been desperate for her to release the single. In the months since, the song has become a standout part of Chappell's live shows with fans living for Chappell's incredible live vocals and how devastating, cathartic and euphoric the song is.

Now, 'The Subway' is finally out on streaming. What are Chappell's 'The Subway' lyrics about though? Here's what she's said about the bittersweet song and why she waited to so long to release it.

Read more: What are Chappell Roan's 'The Giver' lyrics about? The queer meaning explained
Read more: Chappell Roan says it hurts that people "hate" her instead of her music

Chappell Roan accidentally goes on match battle with a stranger on TikTok live

In 'The Subway', Chappell sings about a painful breakup in which she can't get over he ex. Chappell opens: I saw your green hair / Beauty mark next to your mouth / There on the subway / I nearly had a breakdown / A few weeks later / Somebody wore your perfume / It almost killed me / I had to leave the room.

In one of the song's most heartbreaking lyrics, Chappell sings that she'll have to move cities to avoid being reminded of her ex: I made a promise, if in four months this feeling ain't gone / Well, f--- this city, I'm movin' to Saskatchewan.

However, the song then ends with Chappell celebrating and lamenting the fact that she's let go of her ex by singing: She's got a way, she's got a way / And she got, she got away.

Where is Saskatchewan?

In 'The Subway', Chappell sings specifically about a relationship in New York. As for Saskatchewan, it's a Canadian providence that's miles away from New York. Chappell uses Saskatchewan to emphasise how distressing the split between her and her ex is. She needs to move far away just to feel normal again.

Chappell Roan - The Subway (Official Music Video)

Ahead of the song's release, Chappell opened up about what the song means to her in her fan newsletter. She wrote: "This song encompasses everything I love about New York City with the hope, heartbreak and healing that it has to offer us all.” Speaking at Bonnaroo in 2024, Chappell said: "To me it kind of feels like 'Casual''s cousin."

As for why Chappell took so long to release the song, she told Vogue: "I just wasn’t ready to put it out yet. It was just too painful. I was just too angry and scared—just about my life—to put it out.”

Chappell then said: “I was having a hard time getting over this one person, and I just could not get over them. When I was writing, I was constantly trying to be like, we’re done, we’re done, we’re done, we’re done. The feelings are still there, even though we’re done.”

Chappell Roan - 'The Subway' lyrics

VERSE 1
I saw your green hair
Beauty mark next to your mouth
There on the subway
I nearly had a breakdown
A few weeks later
Somebody wore your perfume
It almost killed me
I had to leave the room

CHORUS
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over, it's never over (Ah)
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over (Ah)
It's never over

POST-CHORUS
'Til I don't look for you on the staircase
Or wish you thought that we were still soulmates
But I'm still counting down all of the days
'Til you're just another girl on the subway

VERSE 2
Made you the villain
Evil for just moving on
I see your shadow
I see it even with the lights off
I made a promise, if in four months this feeling ain't gone
Well, f--- this city, I'm movin' to Saskatchewan

CHORUS
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over (Ah, ah-ah)
Oh, 'til it's over
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over (Ah, ah-ah)
It's never over

POST-CHORUS
'Til I can break routine during foreplay
And trust myself that I won't say your name
But I'm so counting down all of the days
'Til you're just another girl on the subway

OUTRO
She's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
And she got, she got away
She got away, she got away
And she's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
And she got, she got away
She got away, she got away
She's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
She's got a way, she got, she got away
She got away, she got away
She's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
And she got, she got away
She got away, she got away