The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Here I lay
Still and breathless
Just like always
Still, I want some more
Mirrors sideways
Who cares what's behind?
Just like always
Still your passenger
Chrome buttons, buckles and leather surfaces
These and other lucky witnesses
Now to calm me
This time won't you please
Drive faster
Roll the window down this
Cool night air is curious
Let the whole world look in
Who cares who sees anything?
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
Drop these down
Then put them on me
Nice, cool seats
There to cushion your knees
Now to calm me
Take me around again
Don't pull over
This time won't you please
Drive faster
Roll the window down this
Cool night air is curious
Let the whole world look in
Who cares who sees what tonight?
Roll these misty windows
Down to catch my breath and then
Go and go and go just
Drive me home and back again
Here I lay
Just like always
Don't let me
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go
Take me to the edge
Still and breathless
Just like always
Still, I want some more
Mirrors sideways
Who cares what's behind?
Just like always
Still your passenger
Chrome buttons, buckles and leather surfaces
These and other lucky witnesses
Now to calm me
This time won't you please
Drive faster
Roll the window down this
Cool night air is curious
Let the whole world look in
Who cares who sees anything?
I'm your passenger
I'm your passenger
Drop these down
Then put them on me
Nice, cool seats
There to cushion your knees
Now to calm me
Take me around again
Don't pull over
This time won't you please
Drive faster
Roll the window down this
Cool night air is curious
Let the whole world look in
Who cares who sees what tonight?
Roll these misty windows
Down to catch my breath and then
Go and go and go just
Drive me home and back again
Here I lay
Just like always
Don't let me
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go
Take me to the edge
Lyrics submitted by sawg, edited by kellylugosisdead
Passenger Lyrics as written by Chino Camilo Moreno Abran Cunningham
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"I did this song with Maynard from Tool. Basically, I told him I wanted to create a scenario of being in a car and being taken for a drive when you don't really know what's going on. I wanted him to create a lot of imagery. he wrote a majority of the of the lyrics and left blanks for me to fill in. it seems like you're being held captive, but enjoy what's going on." - Chino
I have heard many opinions as to the meaning of this song, such as giving fellatio while driving or being physically disfigured and being in the back seat on a ride, but I have a different opinion. I think it is about entrusting your life blindly into someone else's hands. Its like comparing it to a car ride where you dont know where you are going.
@DownedSystem Yeah reminded me when as a child i drove with my father on the German Autobahn and as there is no speed limit and i always wanted and loved him to drive fast. He only did it sometimes but it was amazing and one of the best feelings ever.
Here's my take on it: Being recently cheated on by a girl who had sex with the guy in the back of his car, it gives this song a completely different meaning. The way I see it is two people having sex in the car. Since most deftones songs are about sex, this comes as no surprise.
"Roll the windows down This cool night air is curious Let the whole world look in Who cares who sees anything"
Who cares if they get caught?
"Chrome buttons, buckles and leather surfaces These and other lucky witnesses"
Objects witnessing them having sex
"Drop these down and Put them on me Nice cool seats There to cushion your knees"
Getting comfortable
"This time wont you please drive faster"
This is a bit of a stretch, but I think when it says "drive faster" I don't really think it's about driving the car, I think it's about the sex getting faster.
"Roll these misty windows down To catch my breath again"
Heavy breathing and sweat causes the windows to get misty or foggy.
"And then go and go and go just drive me home Then back again""
Finish up and drive me home, then do this again.
Anyways that's my take on it. It really hits me since this is the exact way my girlfriend cheated on me twice.
that was one of the best possible meanings I read here.It really got me
I can imagine that the song will be a little bit ruined for you, because of the memories.. The b*tch.. ;)
@Lostangeles this is exactly what ive thought all these years
@Lostangeles just throwing this out there but I do believe this is the best description of the song, so much that I made an account to give it a like.. Lol, and prob years ago now but sorry that shit sucks, fucks with a person..<br />
This is someone completely under the control of others. But the person likes the experience, and doesn't want it to end. He doesn't want to have the responsibility of finding his own direction, so he just follows other, and let's them decide who he becomes. They give him things that look good, but don't necessarily have real value (chrome buttons, etc.). And that's pretty much the direction he's headed in, something that looks good but is fake and meaningless. Even if he knew this, he wouldn't care, because he is too intimidated by others to try to form his own identity. Even if he doesn't like who he's becoming, he'll still go on with it. He'll just want it to keep going so maybe he can see that in the end things will turn out okay. And even if he has doubts, he'll always go back. And if he tries to be his own person, he'll fail. He'll be under the control of others. He just wants it to end, but it won't. It can't.
"I did this song with Maynard from Tool. Basically, I told him I wanted to create a scenario of being in a car and being taken for a drive when you don't really know what's going on. I wanted him to create a lot of imagery. he wrote a majority of the of the lyrics and left blanks for me to fill in. it seems like you're being held captive, but enjoy what's going on." - Chino :)
I do believe it has sexual references though, but that's my opinion.
lol figured that everyone would be arguing about sex.. It's not about sex people. It's about addiction, LIKE the entire White Pony album is about.( save the song Digital Bath, which is about murdering a chick)
actually you are partialy right. Digital bath is about addiction, and murdering a chick. I dont believe its by eletrocution, more than provoking overdose.
Maynard's voice rocks and it perfectly compliments Chino's
My interpretation of the song is this: You are in the back of a hearse, you are for whatever reason dead..but..still able to see and think and hear. And youre on your way to the funeral to be buried, and obviously you dont want to go. You dont want to be put in the ground, so you beg and plead inside your box in your head, that this persom driving will just
I believe this song is about a controlling relationship. The words resonate deeply with me.
yeah, what that guy's opinion was makes sense. i think that goes perfectly with the fact that maynard helped write the song, which is totally awesome (i love tool and deftones). it wouldn't be as obvious as the other opinions.