Dan Smith stated in an interview with Guy Raz that this song was inspired by a poem written by his father about a women he saw on telegraph road while traveling in America
[Verse 1: Dan Smith]
Lady with your dogs, living in a doorway on Telegraph Road
What have you seen? What happened to you? What led you this way?
You find yourself in Berkley, the Golden Gate Bridge extends before your feet
Well, it's a complicated place, these hills, those millions who walk on through, but nowhere for you
[Chorus: Dan & Isla Smith]
And I guess that San Francisco's a lonely city
And you lost your life somewhere
Maybe on Broadway
Maybe some other street
And I guess that San Francisco's a lonely city
And you lost your life somewhere
Maybe on Broadway
Maybe some other street
[Verse 2: Dan Smith]
And maybe it's not this city that brought you to this day
Could have been Chicago, perhaps L.A.
What sights? What loves? What pains?
I wonder, lady, what's your hi-history?
Could have been some roses along the way
Or strange mysteries that led you to this doorway
Oh-ho, oh, with only your dogs for company
[Chorus: Dan & Isla Smith]
And I guess that San Francisco's a lonely city
And you lost your life somewhere
Maybe on Broadway
Maybe some other street
And I guess that San Francisco's a lonely city
And you lost your life somewhere
Maybe on Broadway
Maybe some other street
[Outro: Dan Smith]
So decades flew right on by
Fast-forward, now I'm singing my father's words about you
Luck brought me through your town, it's built on big ideas and power
But the streets are still lined with those who call 'em home and maybe always will
I wonder too your name, your face, your fate forever in my mind
Sat with your dogs up there on Telegraph Road
Telegraph Road 1977 & 2024 was written by Dan Smith.
Telegraph Road 1977 & 2024 was produced by Dan Smith & Charlie Barnes & Mark Crew.
Bastille released Telegraph Road 1977 & 2024 on Fri Oct 25 2024.
Dan Smith:
When I was 13, my dad gave me a book of poems he wrote when he was travelling across America with my mum, and in it was a verse about homelessness in San Francisco that I decided to turn into a song. It’s always been something I’ve wanted to pick up again and this album felt like the per...