Meaning of "San Francisco" by Gregory Alan Isakov

The lyrics of "San Francisco" by Gregory Alan Isakov delve into themes of longing, loss, and the passage of time. The mist filling the quiet room and the mention of San Francisco create a sense of nostalgia and perhaps a longing for a place that has changed. The line "What the hell was all that talkin' round, where is it now, sunny California?" suggests that the singer is reflecting on conversations and expectations that have now faded away.

The mention of waking up with someone, feeling their coat, and hitchhiking with them creates a sense of intimacy and connection, but the line "but I turned wrong" introduces a sense of regret and longing for a different outcome. The person being sung about seems to have moved the singer along through their "shepherd songs," perhaps inspiring or guiding them in some way.

The imagery of the still sun and the line "Funny thing, time" reflects on the nature of time and how it can feel stagnant or unchanging. The mention of someone who "made you mine" but also "rob you blind" explores the complicated nature of relationships and how they can both bring joy and cause pain.

The lyrics shift to the singer laying down in a new town, walking the ground, and observing the glass and houses filling the fields. This suggests a sense of displacement and the feeling of being a stranger in a new place. The mention of the moon seeing everything in the sanitarium may represent a sense of observation or scrutiny, and the line "Can I get through, like the moon gets through, across the sea treacherous" hints at a longing to overcome obstacles and difficulties.

The mention of California being cold after all the singer has known and been told juxtaposes the sunny California mentioned earlier in the song, perhaps reflecting a disillusionment or disappointment with the reality of the place. The mention of Sansom St. and the impact of the person being sung about making the weather come evoke a sense of emotional intensity and the power someone can hold over another.