CHASING CARS LYRICS - SNOW PATROL | EYES OPEN

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol is a quiet, heartfelt ballad that has stayed with listeners long after its release in 2006. Built around a simple melody and Gary Lightbody's tender vocal, the song turns a small, everyday image into a lasting statement about love, closeness and wanting time to stand still.

The track first reached a wide audience after it was featured in the season 2 finale of Grey's Anatomy, and it went on to become the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio. That journey, from a thoughtful album track on Eyes Open to a song heard everywhere, is part of why it still feels fresh today. Fans of enduring guitar ballads may also enjoy the Wonderwall lyrics by Oasis and the Fix You lyrics by Coldplay.

Image: Snow Patrol / SnowPatrolVEVO — "Chasing Cars" official video still

Chasing Cars Song Credits

Song: Chasing Cars

Singer: Snow Patrol

Album: Eyes Open

Lyrics: Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn, Nathan Connolly, Tom Simpson, Paul Wilson

Music: Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn, Nathan Connolly, Tom Simpson, Paul Wilson

Producer: Jacknife Lee

Label: Polydor / Fiction

Release Date: 6 June 2006 (United States); 24 July 2006 (United Kingdom)

Released as the second single from Eyes Open, the album version runs for 4 minutes and 27 seconds. Lightbody has called it the purest love song he has ever written, and the title phrase came from his father, who said he was like a dog chasing a car. The band behind the recording was Gary Lightbody on vocals and guitar, Nathan Connolly on lead guitar, Tom Simpson on keyboards, Paul Wilson on bass and Jonny Quinn on drums.

The song reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the band's first US Top 10, while also reaching No. 1 on US Adult Contemporary and No. 1 on Australia Digital Tracks. It spent 111 weeks on the UK Top 75, passed 1 million copies sold in the UK by October 2013, and reached 3.9 million copies sold in the US by January 2015. It was also the last song ever performed live on the BBC's Top of the Pops. Its success brought nominations for Best Rock Song at the 49th Grammy Awards in 2007 and Best British Single at the 2007 BRIT Awards. Two videos were made: the UK version, directed by Arni and Kinski, shows Lightbody lying on open ground as rain falls, while the US version, directed by Nick Brandt, shows him lying down in busy places. Listeners who enjoy sweeping, emotional singles may also like the Viva la Vida lyrics by Coldplay and the Take On Me lyrics by A-ha.

Chasing Cars Lyrics

The full lyrics are not published here yet; the song's credits, official video and FAQs are below.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official video from SnowPatrolVEVO below.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chasing Cars

When was Chasing Cars released?

Chasing Cars was released on 6 June 2006 in the United States and on 24 July 2006 in the United Kingdom, as the second single from Snow Patrol's album Eyes Open.

Who wrote Chasing Cars?

The song was written by Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn, Nathan Connolly, Tom Simpson and Paul Wilson, and produced by Jacknife Lee.

How big a hit was Chasing Cars?

It reached No. 6 in the UK and No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, topped the US Adult Contemporary chart, spent 111 weeks on the UK Top 75 and sold more than 1 million copies in the UK and 3.9 million in the US.

Why is Chasing Cars so famous?

Its fame grew after the Grey's Anatomy season 2 finale in May 2006, and its simple, sincere mood helped it become the UK's most-played song of the 21st century on radio.