Payphone by Maroon 5 discusses a failed relationship and the difficult acceptance of its end. The lyrics reflect a mix of regret and nostalgia, symbolized by the metaphor of being at a payphone trying to contact a lost love. It was a way of expressing the painful reality that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, some things just cant be fixed or reclaimed.
Key: G
Introduction:
C9
G
I'm at a payphone trying to call home
Em7
D4
All of my change I spent on you
C9
Where have the times gone baby
G
Em7
D4
It's all wrong, where are the plans we made for two
C9
Yeah, I, I know it's hard to remember
G
Em7
The people we used to be It's even harder to picture
D4
C9
That you're not here next to me You say it's too late to make it
G
Em7
But is it too late to try? And in our time that you wasted
D4
C9
All of our bridges burned down
G
Em7
I've wasted my nights You turned out the lights
D4
C9
G
Now I'm paralyzed Still stuck in that time when we called it love
Em7
D4
But even the sun sets in paradise
C9
G
I'm at a payphone trying to call home
Em7
D4
All of my change I spent on you
C9
Where have the times gone baby
G
Em7
D4
It's all wrong, where are the plans we made for two
C9
G
If happy ever after did exist
Em7
D4
I would still be holding you like this
C9
G
And all those fairytales are full of it
Em7
D4
One more stupid love song I'll be sick
C9
G
You turned your back on tomorrow Cause you forgot yesterday
Em7
D4
I gave you my love to borrow But you just gave it away
C9
G
You can't expect me to be fine I don't expect you to care
Em7
D4
C9
I know I've said it before But all of our bridges burned down
G
Em7
I've wasted my nights You turned out the lights
D4
C9
G
Now I'm paralyzed Still stuck in that time when we called it love
Em7
D4
But even the sun sets in paradise
C9
G
I'm at a payphone trying to call home
Em7
D4
All of my change I spent on you
C9
Where have the times gone baby
G
Em7
D4
It's all wrong, where are the plans we made for two