Snow Patrol fans are only now realising what 'Chasing Cars' means after 19 years

Daily Record

23-05-2025

Snow Patrol fans are only just realising the meaning behind their hit song "Chasing Cars", which was released 19 years ago. It turns out some people have been ignorant for years
When it comes to bands who have a string of huge hits, Snow Patrol is probably up there with some of the best. From "Chocolate" to "Run" to "Open Your Eyes" - the band has endless popular tracks to their name. However, one of their most famous songs is loved by many, even though some people don't appear to know what it means. The Northern Irish Scottish rock band actually first came together in 1994 in Dundee, and comprises Gary Lightbody (vocals, guitar), Nathan Connolly (guitar, backing vocals) and Johnny McDaid (piano, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals). Lightbody is the band's only remaining original member decades later.
Even though the band has been making music for decades, it turns out there are still some facts people don't actually know about them, including the meaning behind their hit "Chasing Cars". The song, released in 2006, was reported to be the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio back in 2019.
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Despite this, a lot of people still don't know what the lyrics really mean, and the topic recently came up on social media platform Quora. One person wrote: "What is the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol about?"
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Naturally, the question encouraged a variety of responses, with many fans quick to offer their ideas. All sorts of thoughts were put forward.
One wrote: "I absolutely adore this song. I think it's a pretty basic love song actually. It's about a young man trying to express his love for his partner. They sing 'those three words are not enough'. You have to assume he's talking about the words 'I love you' right?
"I love the lyrics 'forget what we're told, before we get too old'. To me, that means that they should not waste their youthful love no matter what. Perhaps their parents, or other elders, have tried to discourage them from being together.
"And the chorus simply asks whether his lover will just stay with him in their love, and shut out everything else. The reference to the 'garden bursting into life' is, I think, just a reference to how beautiful love can be.
"I don't think there are really any real hidden meanings in this song. I think it's just a beautiful love song from one person to another."
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One more added: "I think what the song is implying is that it's about a guy who is trying to persuade a woman to be his girl."
However, despite being a love song, the band have previously confirmed what the term "Chasing Cars" actually means. You may be surprised to learn what the answer is.
What does Chasing Cars mean?
Lead singer Gary Lightbody actually composed the song, though it's still credited to all then-members of Snow Patrol, including Jonny Quinn, Nathan Connolly, Tom Simpson and Paul Wilson.
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According to reports, Gary Lightbody is said to have written the song after becoming sober following a binge of white wine. He is claimed to have been sitting in the garden of song producer Jacknife Lee's Kent cottage.
Previously speaking to Rolling Stone, he said: "It's the purest love song that I've ever written. There's no knife-in-the-back twist. When I read these lyrics back, I was like, 'Oh, that's weird.'
"All the other love songs I've written have a dark edge."
The phrase "Chasing Cars" was also said to be inspired by Gary's father, and it refers to a girl Gary was infatuated with when he was younger. "You're like a dog chasing a car. You'll never catch it and you just wouldn't know what to do with it if you did," he said.