Boston

Album: All The Stars And Boulevards (2005)
Charted: 34
Play Video
  • In the light of the sun
    Is there anyone?
    Oh, it has begun

    Oh, dear, you look so lost
    Your eyes are red when tears are shed
    The world you must have crossed, you said

    You don't know me, you don't even care
    Oh yeah, you said
    You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains
    Oh yeah

    Essential yet appealed
    Carry all your thoughts
    Across an open field

    When flowers gaze at you
    They're not the only ones
    Who cry when they see you
    You said

    You don't know me, and you don't even care
    Oh yeah, you said
    You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains
    Oh yeah

    She said, I think I'm going to Boston
    I think I'll start a new life
    I think I'll start it over
    Where no one knows my name

    I'll get out of California
    I'm tired of the weather
    I think I'll get a lover
    I'll fly 'em out to Spain

    I think I'll go to Boston
    I think that I was tired
    I think I need a new town
    To leave this all behind

    I think I need a sunrise
    I'm tired of a sunset
    Here it's nice in the summer
    Some snow would be nice, oh yeah

    You don't know me, and you don't even care
    Oh yeah

    Boston
    Where no one knows my name
    No one knows my name
    No one knows my name

    Boston
    Where no one knows my name Writer/s: Dan Layus, Jared Palomar, Josiah Rozencwajg, Justin South
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 14

  • Ben from Centennial, Co@ Ava: Sorry if I'm hurting your feelings. I'm sure you love the song so much, since you live there. Sure enough, I still like it, too. :)
  • Ben from Centennial, CoThis is a coincidence I had with Augustana when I first had my mission for college: to go to a place like Boston "where no one knows my name". Like the description said, in 2014, I was a "somebody feeling left out or unfulfilled" while in Berklee College of Music (Boston, accordingly). Even though "[they] don't know me and [they] don't even care" after Berklee accepted my admission, I found Boston not just a good place to visit, but also a very uncomfortable city, because of its people. So, after staying in Berklee for 7 months, I risked myself to "move on" and go back to where I belong, due to... well, I can't say. The point about the song I found was: Augustana once had a good point about going there. It was set as a goal to help raise a fund for college there and one of the songs I played during it. In case you don't know, I'm a pianist. Long story. Nowadays, I don't care about the city ever again.
  • Thomas from Chicago@ Kelly: The writer saw her later at a concert in Seattle. Money kept her home. She met a guy and moved to Washington. She still dreams of Boston and Spain and though they parted long before, she knew the song was about her and loved it. Still friends, they've not seen one another since. But she seemed happy.
  • Thomas from Beaverton, OrThe "tired of sunsets" lyric actually appears to me to be a double meaning. The aforementioned West coast/East coast difference but also the end vs a new beginning (dying vs living). While the "Cheers" ref is tongue in cheek it is part of a mind creating a fantasy of expectations of a new start.
  • Ava from Boston, MaThis is just one of those incredible songs I never get sick of listening to.
  • Rose from No Hope, PaLove the song. Very pretty. I'm very curious to know what happened to all those pianos.
  • Bob from Las Vegas, NvWats dis song about? Please tell me
  • Lori from Alexandria, VaSuch a haunting song...

    The sunrise and sunset images work very well. Clearly, they have literal meanings for two coastlines on opposite sides of the nation that are so extremely different from each other. Also, there's the symbolism of a sunrise as starting over and a new beginning. And, being "tired of sunset" refers to both the west coast's famous sunsets and the boulevard in Los Angeles.

    I always enjoy the wink at the old "Cheers" theme song -- the place "where everybody knows your name" -- to Boston as a city where "no one knows my name".
  • Mark from Worcester, MiSorry Kelly. That was a little more harsh than intended. I took the song as a grief induced stream of conscience. Ever been there when you're sad or angry? I'm going to do this and I'm going to do that etc etc etc In the end you do none of it. All you do is eat cake or ice cream and get on with your life.
  • Kelly from Wilmington, NcNote my sarcasm.
  • Kelly from Wilmington, NcI just wanted to know if there was more to the story. Glad I could be of entertainment to you.
  • Mark from Worcester, MiDon't worry about it Kelly. Of course she meets a lover and flys off to Spain. Then they come back and have 2.2 kids and live on Main St USA. They're currently putting up a white picket fence and are very very happy. She stays in touch with the writer and they remain good friends. I hear there's talk of making a TV movie.
  • Kelly from Wilmington, NcHas the writer of the song ever said what happens to the girl after they've met?
    Does she ever get to Boston? Or find that lover she wanted to fly out to Spain?
    Does anything happen between her and the writer?
    I mean, supposedly, according to the song.
  • Matthew from East Brunswick, NjAwesome song. I feel the same way.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.