"The Subway" is a song by the American singer and songwriterChappell Roan, released as a single through Amusement andIsland Records on July 31, 2025, as the third single from her upcoming second studio album. It is apop,alt-pop,dream pop, andpower popbreakupballad withjangle pop,shoegaze, and1990srock influences. Lyrically, the song deals with heartbreak and healing and is linked stylistically to Roan's 2022 single "Casual".
Roan has performed "The Subway" live since mid-2024, but had been hesitant to release a studio version, feeling that the track worked better live. Roan was spotted filming a music video inNew York City in July 2025, alongside teasers for the song's release in the form of various posters. On July 23, a preview of "The Subway" was released onYouTube and a teaser for the music video was shared on social media. The song's music video depicts Roan chasing her former lover when she leaves her. On November 7, 2025, "The Subway" was nominated at the68th Annual Grammy Awards in the categoriesRecord of the Year andBest Pop Solo Performance.
"The Subway" debuted at number three on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming Roan's highest-charting single to date in her home country. Outside of the United States, "The Subway" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top five of the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Following several live performances of the song, Roan was first approached by Isabela Yu ofElle Brasil about it in July 2024. At that time, she was unsure whether she wanted to release it as her next single. The singer thought it was "fun" to include the song in her set at theGovernors Ball Music Festival, as it fit the theme.[2] The following month, she discussed the song withBowen Yang ofInterview, comparing its prolonged rollout to that of her debut studio album.[3] In a September 2024 interview with Brittany Spanos ofRolling Stone, Roan revealed that she preferred performing the song live rather than releasing it as a single, as she already had two other songs prepared for release.[4]
On April 16, 2025, talking to theLas Culturistas podcast, Roan explained that the delay in releasing the studio version was due to fans' expectations following the live rendition. She noted she had yet to replicate the vocal performance in the studio and believed the song worked better live than as a recorded track.[5] Responding to the muted reception of her previous single "The Giver", which she also performed live prior to its release, Roan anticipated a similar reaction to "The Subway", emphasizing that a different response "does not always mean bad".[6] Lyrically, "The Subway" explores themes of "heartbreak and healing" and has been linked stylistically by Roan to her 2022 single "Casual".[7]
Roan premiered "The Subway" live for the first time during her set at the Governors Ball Music Festival 2024, held atFlushing Meadows–Corona Park.[19] The performance attracted attention for Roan's costume, in which she dressed as aNew York taxi.[7] Following the show, she changed herInstagram profile picture to theSubway logo.[20] Roan later performed the song during select dates of herMidwest Princess Tour, including shows inNorfolk andColumbia, as well as at herLollapalooza 2024 set.[21]
Advertisements for some kind of release on August 1, 2025, started being spotted in New York Cityc. July 23; later that day, a preview of the song was released onYouTube and a teaser for the music video was shared on social media.[22] On July 28, the release date was set for July 31.[23] On July 30, the music video was announced for release on August 1.[24]
"The Subway" has garnered acclaim from music critics. Shaad D'Souza ofPitchfork praised Roan as "one of pop's most distinctive writers", writing that the song "sounds totally fresh" despite having a "familiarity". D'Souza describes this combination of "familiarity and novelty" as being "Roan's real magic trick".[17] Paolo Ragusa ofConsequence also praised Roan's song writing, saying that "The Subway" traces "the sting of a breakup with more passionate, majestic songwriting". Ragusa notes that the song has more "subtlety" than is typical of Roan's music.[18] David Renshaw ofThe Fader similarly wrote that Roan "puts feeling ahead of the exuberance of her biggest hits".[25]
Several publications reported that, following the song’s release,tourism interest in the Canadian province ofSaskatchewan surged.[26][27][28] The province saw its first increase in U.S.Google Trends searches in two years, and its tourism board recorded over 50,000 combined social media and webpage interactions as of August 2025.[29] Roan vowed to perform in Saskatchewan, and Tourism Saskatchewan CEO Jonathan Potts explained that typically generating this level of publicity would cost "the better part of our budget".[26]
"The Subway" debuted at number 1 on theUK Singles Chart,[30] the highest charting debut of Roan's career in the UK, surpassing her previous record for "The Giver". This record made Roan the first artist to achieve two number ones on the UK Singles Chart in 2025; after "Pink Pony Club" charted at the position in March of that year.[31]
Roan was seen filming amusic video, believed to be for “The Subway”, on July 7, 2025, in New York City. She wore a red, "Rapunzel-esque" outfit while gazing out from above a fire escape.[32]
In the video, Roan, wearing a large red wig, walks through busyNew York City streets where she notices a woman whose face is obscured by large green hair. Upon making eye contact, Roan begins chasing the woman through the streets and into the subway. Sequences on the subway show Roan appearing to search for the green-haired woman, intercut with visions of her.
The narrative then shifts to an intimate fire escape scene overlooking the city, where Roan wears a shimmery hair bullet bra and skirt. In a later sequence set in a yellow taxi, Roan catches sight of what she believes to be the green-haired woman's silhouette. As she tries to exit, her long red hair becomes caught in the taxi door, pulling her away.
Throughout the video, flashbacks to the fire escape and subway carriage are shown alongside a dance sequence on a subway train, where Roan wears a jacket and skirt made from hair. Additional scenes depict Roan riding a bicycle through the city with her hair trailing behind and collecting debris, floating in theWashington Square Park fountain, and appearing in business attire with short hair while surrounded by swirling wind and rubbish.
The storyline culminates with Roan seeing the green-haired woman embraced by another red-haired woman, followed by Roan climbing a large pillar of green hair suspended over the city. The video ends with her sitting beside a fountain eating pizza, before cutting to a final shot of her waking up on the subway.[33]
Amber Grace Johnson directed the music video, shooting on 35 mm film.[34] Roan was styled by Genesis Webb, with hair by Lacy Redway and makeup by Andrew Dahling.[35]
The opening chase sequence features large textured red and green sculptural hair costumes created by French hair designer Charlie Le Mindu.[36]
A shimmer cone bra and skirt ensemble crafted from human hair, accented with rhinestone undergarments, was designed by Australian fashion designerConnor O'Grady. This look appears in the fire escape scene overlooking the city.[37]
A hair jacket and skirt, constructed from human hair bundles, lace closures and wigs, inspired byMaison Margiela's 2009 hair coats, was collaboratively designed by hairstylist John Novotny and designerTodd Thomas. This outfit is worn in the subway dance sequence.[38]
A grey oversized suit and tie designed by James Nguyen and AC Gottlieb is worn during the taxi scene in which Roan is dragged by her hair.[39]
