Chappell Roan Releases Long-Awaited Ballad “The Subway”
After much anticipation, Chappell Roan has finally dropped her long-awaited ballad, “The Subway”, on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Fans had been eagerly awaiting its official release ever since Roan debuted it during her Governors Ball set in 2024. The song, which Roan describes as a deeply personal journey, brings listeners into the emotional experience of running into an ex on public transit, an experience that triggers feelings of grief and nostalgia.
Roan shared her excitement on Instagram, reflecting on the year-long wait for the song’s release. “I’m very proud of this song & what a journey she has been on,” she wrote. “I first played it at Gov Ball when I was painted green as Lady Liberty… it didn’t really leave me the time to build the world the song deserved. But finally, we are here.”
The Story Behind “The Subway”
In “The Subway”, Roan tells the story of encountering her green-haired ex on a subway ride, a moment that brings back painful memories of their breakup. As the song progresses, Roan expresses her desire to move on, imagining a future where her ex is “just another girl on the subway.” However, she jokingly reveals an alternative plan—moving to Saskatchewan if she can’t get over the encounter.
Roan explained the challenges she faced in perfecting the song’s sound, saying, “I def ripped my hair out trying to figure out the puzzle of how this song should feel musically and visually and emotionally, luckily there are some to spare.”
Music Video Trailer: “The Subway” Takes Over New York’s Subway Scene
In addition to the release of the track, Roan has shared a trailer for the “The Subway” music video. The teaser, released on July 30, shows Roan crawling on the floor of a dark subway car, surrounded by women dancing under strobe lights. The subway car transforms into a dreamy club setting, blurring the lines between public transit and a night out.
The visual then transitions to Roan with long hair, sitting at the Washington Square Park fountain in New York City, eating pizza, before cutting to a subway scene where she is seen searching for someone who isn’t there.
Roan teased that the video, which she filmed all over New York City, would be officially released on Friday, August 1. This marks Roan’s first official music video since “Hot to Go!” in August 2023. The video promises to be just as intricate and emotionally layered as the song itself.
Roan’s Upcoming Shows and Album Progress
Following the release of “The Subway”, Roan will be performing at a series of pop-up shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Kansas City this fall. However, she has confirmed that she will take some time off after these performances to focus on finishing her highly anticipated sophomore album. Fans can look forward to more music and updates as Roan continues working on what promises to be a special follow-up to her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
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