A Poem On The Underground Wall

The lyrics describe a man waiting in a nearly empty underground station with a crayon hidden in his pocket. When a train arrives, he does not board. Instead, after it leaves, he writes a short word on an advertisement and runs away. The mood shifts from tense waiting to a sudden rush of excitement, followed by his escape into the night.

Several images suggest that the crayon matters deeply to him. He holds it “safe” in his pocket, then grips it like a “rosary”—an object used in prayer—so it seems almost sacred or comforting. The train arriving from a “stony womb” makes the tunnel feel like a place of birth, while the train’s departure creates a brief opening for his action. His poem “reboundin’” across the tracks may suggest that the act feels powerful, as if his message echoes beyond the wall.

The song does not explain why he writes the word or what it is, so the act can be read in different ways: as playful expression, a private ritual, or a defiant mark in a public place. His laughter and pounding heart suggest exhilaration, but the darkness and hurried escape also give the moment an uneasy edge. The ending may offer shelter in darkness, or hint at his wish to disappear.