It's getting close to sundown over the Sierra
Stranded on the freeway burning with desire
She was on the sidewalk looking for a night light
We talked about the real things
And drove into the fire
Headlights on the highway
The desert wind is howling
Rattlesnakes and romance
Is filling with the rain
Candy apple red dress
Bleeding when she kissed me
Heaven in a rag top
Take away my pain

[Chorus]
When your chips are down
When your highs are low
Joyride
Move across the night
Like a separate wind

Pulled up to a motel
"Vacancy" was buzzing
Pink and dirty neon
Settle on the hood
Wrap your arms around me
Come a little closer
Stumble in the twilight
And fell onto the floor
Loving Mona Lisa
Dreaming of the free world
Lipstick on the nightstand
And demons at the door

[Chorus]

When your hopes and dreams
Lose the will to go
Joyride
Reaching for the light
Knowing we can't win

There's something in the distance
A glorious existence
A simple celebration
A place you've never been before
Tell me that you wanna go

Reaching for the light
Knowing we can't win

When your chips are down
When your highs are low
Joyride

All your hopes and dreams
All you need to know
Joyride



Lyrics submitted by jeremygrim

Track duration: 03:34

"Joy Ride" as written by Brandon Flowers, Dave Brent Keuning, Mark August Stoermer, Ronnie Jr. Vannucci

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Joy Ride song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Hi there, as someone who has just passed their driving test i finally feel free (it was much harder for me to be able to take this testfor personal reasons, but I did it!) - i listen to this song when I drive. I never once thought it was about prosititution - Im female, and besides, though the lyrics are sexual they dont seem to be about prositution because there is no way the Killers would glorify this "when your chips are down - joy ride" if they meant pick up a hooker - sounds as though they would be recomending it to young naive fans, they wouldnt do this as they are religious and fathers - references to prositition could be made in other songs/albums but they would not glorify it, they would speak of it sadly or with hope for something better... Obviously its a happy song, its a joyride - sex is involved, but "move across the night - and freeway" thats about driving is it not! Yes there is sexuality in the song, but that often makes a song - but its not its entirety. Unless I dont understand men at all because Im suddenly thinking of love is the drug by roxy music - Im thinking as I type.

    Yes you could read irony into it, but I highly doubt it, The Mona Lisa was simply a woman with a beautiful smile - how can the song not just be about that glorious feeling of exciting possiblity of life when you are young free? "reaching for the light"

    Sometimes people just cant seem to remember that life and happiness are incredibly simple, and thats what this song is about to me. Its about having fun, simple as that - the poetry is effortless and reflective but it is not innuendo.

    It is sort of like station station by bowie of course. Apparently thats about hunting for drugs.

    IN the early 20th centuary there was much poetry and art created reflecting the state of mind achieved and found whilst one is travelling from place to place, in trains, planes and automobiles. I could reference the many examples but I cant remember precisely, Im sorry for that. There are paintings of people on trains - paintings of nomadic people living lonely lives on the road all sitting in silence in road side cafes etc. The world became new, exciting and so did people - but they were often lonely, always searching. I think after "human" this song is about joy and the good things to be found and searched for in life.


    Flag hunrahsunon July 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:They write a lotta songs about prostitutes/strippers/etc.

    I mean, dang.

    Topic of choice.
    Flag steelblue71on September 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that the prostitute angle is possibly right, but the one night stand angle could be right as well. If you read into it more deeply, 'Joy Riding' itself is pretty awful, there's nothing amazing about it and it usually ends in carnage - it sounds like it should be amazing but it's really not - like the prostitute angle.
    People who joy ride, I imagine, are trying to escape reality. 'When your chips are down, when your highs are low' In otherwords, when your life is awful - use something to escape reality. That could be a prostitute, but I think the reason for the prostitute is just having a really bad life.
    Flag gerbichhhon July 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i dont like this song, very skippable, particularly after the darker and more powerful human and spaceman
    Flag maximuspayne3on July 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:When your chips are down
    When your highs are low
    When your hopes and dreams
    Lose the will to go
    Joyride

    - When you are down, have no money and your expectations are low, pick up a prostitute from the streets and go to a cheap motel.
    Flag incesa123on November 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:When your chips are down
    When your highs are low
    When your hopes and dreams
    Lose the will to go
    Joyride

    - When you are down, have no money and your expectations are low, pick up a prostitute from the streets and go to a cheap motel.
    Flag incesa123on November 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is a joyride. No need to over analyze it. Drew2794 has it!
    Flag moodylupinon November 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is the kind of song that makes me feel good and want to go have fun. When your life gets boring and could use some excitement just go out and do what ever, have some fun. Whether its going out and driving fast down the interstate or whatever... just keep living and don't waste your life. "When your chips are down, and your highs are lows... Joyride"
    Flag drew2794on July 19, 2009   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:I think this song is time being spent in Vegas.
    the "when your chips are down and your highs are low" part would be about gambling and possible poker.
    saying that when the narrator isn't doing very good at the casinos then he goes and finds a prostitute
    Flag pd3452on May 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A place you've never been before
    Tell me that you wanna go

    I thought it was

    A place you've never been before
    Won't you kiss me?
    Tell me that you want it
    whoooooaaaa oohhhh ohhhhh whoaaa
    Flag bnormal320on May 07, 2009   Link

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