It's not the road we used to know
They tore some buildings down
The traffic's like a pack of dogs

There's fewer trees, windows, fleas
There's concrete on the lawn
There's people here but you are gone

And I find still swimming through time
Afraid some days I've reached the shore

"Make yourself free"
Man said back to me
Now my heart is like an open door

And the road finally gave me back
But I don't think I'll unpack
Because I'm not sure if I live here any more

It's not my weight that makes me faint
Or the sugar in my blood
But the way these strangers stand so close

They say my name like a guessing game
"Is that really you?"
No, I don't think it ever was

In the spring
When the world's turning green
I only think about the fall
The frets on the board
My progression of chords
Oh, how I want this to resolve

And the road finally gave me back
But I don't think I'll unpack
Because I'm not sure if I live here any more

Now the road finally gave me back
But I don't think I'll unpack

Because I'm not sure if I live here
No, I'm not sure if I live here
No, I'm not sure if I live here
Anymore



Lyrics submitted by lovebite_

Track duration: 05:44

"Tourist Trap" as written by Oberst

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Tourist Trap song meanings
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47 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:First off, its "fewer trees, windows, leaves." Secondly, it's clearly about going home after and extended period of time.
    Flag URWrongon September 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:@ chasewalker: i think you're absolutely right on both corrections. sometimes people need to read the lyrics they write out and really think about how much sense they make.

    anyway, what a beautiful song. sorrowful and lovely.
    Flag Misseveruson March 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I pretty sure he says "and I'm fine, still swimming through time."
    Flag lla07on November 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I thought it was "there's fewer trees, windows for leaves"
    Flag fuckingmagicalon March 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it is "windows for lease" and someone already said "I'm fine still swimming through time."
    Flag chasewalkeron October 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:There was a girl I loved who left me -she is getting married in three weeks, and whenever he says "There are people here but you are gone" the words fill the ache of emptiness for just a moment
    Flag ImanCon September 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is a beautiful song. But I think that about any of his songs, don't I?

    Well, my favorite part is definately the part:
    "They say my name like a guessing game
    "Is that really you?"
    No, I don't think it ever was"

    It just is so simple and complex at the same time. He makes such grand meaning from a seemingly simple phrase. Its beautiful. and it matches how I feel so much. He's describing how people always thought they knew him, and he's the only one who really knew himself. Or maybe, like the first comment suggests, he is talking about his fans, which could be quite possible. It does seem to match. Either way, its perfect.
    Flag DreamGeniuson July 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i'm not saying he wasn't thinking of references to his hometown, but this is clearly about being newly clean off of dope
    Flag etherealgeniconon May 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's not the road we used to know: it's not the illusion you lived for years

    They tore some buildings down: you're brain's not the same anymore


    The traffic's like a pack of dogs: the thoughts from it are overpowering and consuming

    There's fewer trees, windows, fleas: there are fewer options in life now trees/progression, windows: ways to leave, fleas: feelings?

    There's concrete on the lawn: you're colder and more distant

    There's people here but you are gone: it seems there is human life but you can't quite comprehend that. (or there are random life forms but some one you loved is not the same person)

    And I find still swimming through time: whil trying to sort out what exactly happened

    Afraid some days I've reached the shore: you become scared that you've totally hit the bottom, or you can't delve deeper into yourmind...you've lost sanity in some way

    "Make yourself free": you realize it's your decision

    Man said back to me: you're not sure why, but that human instict came back

    Now my heart is like an open door: now you are so grateful that you can see what's in your head (perhaps at times over-exposing yourself to other people)

    And the road finally gave me back: you finally are clean

    But I dont think I'll unpack: but you still hold on to every painful moment/memory?

    Because I'm not sure if I live here any more: because you don't feel like you're ready to face reality, or you just don't feel like you belong

    It's not my weight that makes me faint: it's not the fact that your so skinny or you emotional baggage that makes you delicate.

    Or the sugar in my blood: or the [1)morphene 2)] knewly found health and vitamins

    But the way these strangers stand so close: it's the way that people you used to know try to delve into your business or life

    They say my name like a guessing game: people treat you like your alien

    "Is that really you?": they ask you are you really all still there

    No, I dont think it ever was: you realize that you weren't complete before and these people have no clue who you were are are now.

    In the spring: when the changes start showing
    When the world's turning green: and eveything starts looking beautiful

    I only think about the fall: you still keep thinking about your dope days, or when you hit some sort of bottom

    The frets on the board: [his guitar] letting out the pain/scars on his mind and body

    My progression of chords:how his feelings grew and he became a better person[, as well as, a better artist]
    Oh, how I want this to resolve: he wishes these feelings could just be put behind him, or dissapear

    And the road finally gave me back: he had thought the lifestyle swallowed him and he made it out
    But I dont think I'll unpack: but even though he appreciates it, he can't let go
    Because I'm not sure if I live here any more: becuase he's a completely differant person now

    Now the road finally gave me back: and right at this moment he's back he made it

    But I dont think I'll unpack: but he is still hesitant to leave it all behind

    Because I'm not sure if I live here: becuase he doesn't feel comfortable being clean yet

    No, I'm not sure if I live here: he's not comprehending how step 3 and step 7 of his life happened

    No, I'm not sure if I live here: he doesn't know whoe he is now.

    Anymore: because he's differant than before he started that shit
    Flag etherealgeniconon May 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:good point. and isn't it "i'm fine, still swimming..." not "i find"?
    Flag flippant thoughtson October 17, 2007   Link

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