You take the skyway, high above the busy little one-way
In my stupid hat and gloves, at night I lie awake
Wonderin' if I'll sleep
Wonderin' if we'll meet out in the street

But you take the skyway
It don't move at all like a subway
It's got bums when it's cold like any other place
It's warm up inside
Sittin' down and waitin' for a ride
Beneath the skyway

Oh, then one day, I saw you walkin' down that little one-way
Where, the place I'd catch my ride most everyday
There wasn't a damn thing I could do or say
Up in the skyway

Skyway
Skyway (sky away)



Lyrics submitted by punkynoisething

Track duration: 02:06

"Skyway" as written by Paul Westerberg

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Skyway song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I read somewhere that "Skyway", along with "Answering Machine", represented Paul's fears that technology actually put barriers between people.

    The song brings up images of two famous star-crossed lovers: Romeo and Juliet. At the start, this Romeo is looking upwards towards Juliet but in this case, they can't talk because there is a barrier between them.
    In the end, like the other couple, there is a misunderstanding. In Paul's case, it is caused by a lack of communication whereas Shakespeare's is by miscommunication. This is what prevents them from being together.
    Flag elwyn5150on April 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is a metaphor but it's a metaphor for the band's and Paul Westerberg's success. It's about staying true to yourself and not selling out to get what you want.

    The girl he sees on the skyway represents the goal he is trying to achieve. When he tries to meet her by going on the skyway he misses her because she decided to take the street. If he would have been in the street he would have met up with her.

    He changed his normal routine to meet this girl and it backfired.

    What he is saying is that if you wait and be true to yourself success will happen.

    The Replacements were on the verge of becoming a successful rock band at this point in their career and Paul was deciding if they should keep doing what they have been doing all along to become successful or should they change it up. At that point to change would be to sell out. Alas, The Replacements never got the recognition or success they deserved.

    Bands like Soul Asylum and Goo Goo Dolls used their sound and style to become popular and make money.
    Flag robsunon May 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Could it be a metaphor? Maybe it's some girl he works with and sees every day, but he's too shy, or whatever, to talk to her. She might as well be "up in the skyway" because either way he's not going to ask her out.
    Flag ratanxon April 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yea skyways are elevated sidewalks really. they connect most buildings in minneapolis in one way or another.
    Flag Monkertrolon February 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:JIM ROME'S FAVORITE BAND IS THE REPLACEMENTS. HE HAS AN AWESOME PAUL WESTERBERG STORY. VAN SMACK IS THE MAN CALL THE JUNGLE TO GET HIM TO TELL HIS STORY
    Flag UNCWDMBfanon September 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:JIM ROME'S FAVORITE BAND IS THE REPLACEMENTS. HE HAS AN AWESOME PAUL WESTERBERG STORY. VAN SMACK IS THE MAN CALL THE JUNGLE TO GET HIM TO TELL HIS STORY
    Flag UNCWDMBfanon September 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song makes me a bit sad when I listen to it. Maybe because of the music... the words are kindy ambiguous. I can't tell what he's feeling. Great song though. Love this band.
    Flag CautionarySongon August 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:dunno I feel one of them's dead and ......... still in love in the afterlife!?!?? sumthing like that pretty little song tho....... lol just an opinion
    Flag KishorelovesKishoreon April 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is very sweet and kind of sad. He passes the same girl every day and thinks about her, but can never say anything to her.
    Flag NvrEndr5on March 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about irony really. What we call sod's law in England. Like what Joefeenus said, the one time he takes the skyway, she takes the bus. Although I think the song's story can be interpreted as a metaphor for those many times when a love just wasn't meant to be for whatever reason such as bad timing.
    Flag Fauxpoeton February 28, 2005   Link

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