Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “To: Chicago (feat. Andy Jackson)” by The Spill Canvas
To: Chicago by The Spill Canvas is a reflective and lonely ode to an unfamiliar city. The song explores the feeling of being alienated and isolated while on a journey. For the narrator, Chicago is a place of exploration and discovery, a city devoid of bonds yet filled with possibilities.
The lyrics examine how the narrator feels alienated yet compelled to keep searching for what the city offers. Despite the isolation he feels within its confines, the narrator is fascinated by what Chicago can offer and is searching for a place he can call home. He is hoping to find what he is looking for, but is still adrift in this unknown place.
The song is further emphasized by its melancholic, yet comforting melody. By exploring the dark corners of the city, the narrator feels a longing for companionship and a sense of belonging. A fabled land of second chances and finding freedom in a fresh start.
The music video depicts a ghostly, grey landscape, in juxtaposition with the vivid and colourful displays of the city’s inhabitants. The imagery captures the allure and the mystery of this unknown and unfamiliar place which contrasts heavily with the narrator’s vulnerable and isolated state.
To: Chicago is a thoughtful examination of the idea of being an outsider in an unfamiliar environment. While the prospect of starting anew in an unfamiliar place can be attractive, it can also be filled with loneliness and uncertainty. The narrator’s quest for belonging and purpose is both a desperate call for hope and an exploration of imagined possibilities.