Chappell Roan drops “The Subway”, a heart-wrenching ballad with a Manhattan-shot music video.
Chappell Roan has officially released the long-awaited studio version of “The Subway”, a track fans have eagerly awaited since she began performing it live last summer. The song is now available via Amusement, Island Records, and Universal Music Canada.
Co-written and produced by Daniel Nigro, “The Subway” is a deeply emotional ballad that navigates the painful aftermath of missed connections—both literal and symbolic. The lyrics reflect Roan’s vulnerability and poetic storytelling, brought to life through her signature dramatic flair. One unforgettable line echoes throughout the track: “I made a promise, if in four months this feeling ain’t gone, well f*ck this city, I’m moving to Saskatchewan!”
In anticipation of the release, fans noticed red-themed visuals and posters across New York, as well as a viral video of a moving truck in Saskatchewan. These served as hints that the long-rumored single was about to arrive. 
To accompany the release, Roan launched a limited edition 7” copper vinyl featuring “The Subway” on Side A and an unreleased demo titled “I Hate It Here” on Side B. The physical release sold out quickly.
Roan also debuted a cinematic music video for the track, directed by Amber Grace Johnson and shot entirely on 35mm film in Manhattan. In the video, she explores iconic New York spaces, shedding her signature red hair as she moves through heartbreak and transformation, haunted by visions of her past and future selves.
Roan shared, “The cliche of ‘the girl that got away’ barely scratches the surface for me with this song. I wrote it as I was stumbling around New York with a broken heart and I kept envisioning us on every street, fire escape, coffee shop, park and yes… the subway.”
Roan also announced a string of fall pop-up shows in New York, Kansas City, and Pasadena, with $1 from each ticket going toward organizations that support trans youth.
