Album: Thinkin' About You (1995)

Charted: 59

License This Song 

• On a bus to St. Cloud, Minnesota
  I thought I saw you there
  With the snow falling down around you
  Like a silent prayer
  And once on a street in New York City
  With the jazz and the sin in the air
  And once on a cold L.A. freeway
  Going nowhere
  And it's strange, but it's true
  I was sure it was you
  Just a face in the crowd
  On a bus to St. Cloud
  
  In a church in downtown New Orleans
  I got down on my knees and prayed
  And I wept in the arms of Jesus
  For the choice you made
  We were just gettin' to the good part
  Just gettin' past the mystery
  Oh, and it's just like you, it's just like you
  To disagree
  And it's strange but it's true
  You just slipped out of view
  Like a face in the crowd
  On a bus to St. Cloud
  
  And you chase me like a shadow
  And you haunt me like a ghost
  And I hate you some, and I love you some
  But I miss you most
  
  On a bus to St. Cloud, Minnesota
  I thought I saw you there
  With the snow falling down around you
  Like a silent prayer Writer/s: GRETCHEN PETERS
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

• Zachheart from Dallas, AzerbaijanTrisha Yearwood has been and remains one of my "all Time" favorite Female vocalist. Not just country! All time period.
  This song just moves me to tears. Like Trisha Yearwood, I had no idea it was about suicide. I interpreted it as a ghost of a failed relationship.
  She has given this song such power. It touches every emotion inside of me, everytime I hear it. It is, and will always be one of my favorite songs. I don't even think anyone else could come close to singing this song or given it the emotion behind it.
  Thank you Gretchen Peters for writing such a beautiful song. Thank you Trisha for singing it!
• Kate from Minneapolis, MnMy father completely a suicide nearly 5 years ago and due to the nature of it, we were unable to have an open casket funeral. Some people have told me that is all for the best, and think that I may have only had that image seared into my brain when I think of my father, but on the downside I never got the closure of knowing that he was dead, and I always expected to see him somewhere, and continued to look for him for years after his death. I like that someone wrote a song about this.

More Songfacts:

1979Smashing Pumpkins

"1979" by Smashing Pumpkins is about Billy Corgan entering adulthood. A more accurate year would be 1983, but 1979 was easier to rhyme.

BurnEllie Goulding

Ellie Goulding's hit single "Burn" was originally demoed by Leona Lewis for her 2011 Glassheart album. She scrapped the tune when the project was retooled to include more ballads.

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)AC/DC

AC/DC's "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" is titled after a phrase Roman gladiators said heading into battle: "We who are about to die salute you."

BlackbirdThe Beatles

Paul McCartney wrote "Blackbird" in Scotland after reading about race riots in the US, triggered when federal courts forced the racial desegregation of the Arkansas capital's school system.

Street HassleLou Reed

Lou Reed's 11-minute "Street Hassle" features a spoken part by Bruce Springsteen.

The G.O.A.T.LL Cool J

With his song "The G.O.A.T.," as in Greatest Of All Time, LL Cool J popularized that saying in hip-hop. He credits the boxer Muhammad Ali, who called himself "The Greatest," as inspiration.

Editor's Picks

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.