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

The chrome buttons buckle on leather surfaces
These and other lucky witnesses
Now to calm me
This time won't you please
Drive faster

Roll the windows 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
Just don't pull over
This time would you please
Drive faster

Roll the windows 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
Take me to the edge



Lyrics submitted by sawg

Track duration: 06:09

"Passenger" as written by Chino/cheng Moreno

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Passenger song meanings
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194 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song is what GIRLFRIENDS are for. Remember? If ya got one, than USE her. I've had enough of this crappy music...
    Flagged SweetCheeks2on December 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: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)
    Flag PTCGAZon December 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Well, yesterday I dropped acid and got a really large tattoo on my back. The second album I listened to while i was being tattooed was White Pony. Passenger has come to represent the ink I now carry with me as part of my body. It was burned in with searing white heat and mad visualisations behind my tightly shut eyelids. That's my passenger... {it was also awesome that following this was Change...}
    Flag termiteon October 15, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Translation:"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.
    Flag TatumMichelleon August 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This reminds me of a potential relationship that never quite came to fruition or really transpired at all. To me, this person singing the song seems like they've never been in control of the relationship really. We've all been told that how people should be equals but you see that is rarely the case and why people have conflict. One always has more power at a ceratin time and than the roles reverse. I suppose that the one's where one person always remains in control and has the upper hand are the ones that last, as sad as that sounds. They established their roles and submitted to them. On a personal note, this song brings me back to a time in this unfulfilled partnership where we were driving together. And you know the feeling when a relationship is starting to begin. Both people went to turn the knob at the same time. Had I sat back and been the passenger in that very moment, things could of been different. But two people with two strong personalities, just can't get it together or really going ever. And I knew at that moment, things would never been the same. Point is, people don't always need to be in control or they have to be or feel in complete control, or it's doomed from the start.
    Flag Passionedbeatsworld1on March 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:As a female, it's always made me think of having sex in a car (namely, riding someone in the car. ie; double entendre). Having had a lot of car sex in my younger years, the most memorable being on cold late nights after a long drive deep into the country.. seems fitting.

    Also, to me, shows how a car itself can be sexy. or the idea of a car/sex in a car... however you want to look at it. but, again.. could just be the way I relate to it.

    None the less, amazing pairing w/ Maynard. Brilliant. Beautiful. Powerful.
    Flag RubyTuesday17on October 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Okay- The FIRST thing that I have to say is that I personally think that having Maynard James Keenan in the song added a beautiful touch. His voice is a voice that has touch millions, myself included.

    SECOND- I think the song is about being lost. Not knowing where you are going, how you got to the point you are at in the first place. You just don't care. You want to lose it all. It doesn't matter who you hurt, who you see or what you do.

    "Let the whole world look in
    Who cares who sees what tonight"

    You're just along for the ride. Exploring things you have never explored before. The fact is- you just DO NOT CARE!


    This song is amazing, and for what it is worth, Maynard James Keenan and Deftones are some of the most sensual and beautiful musicians out there.

    <3
    Flag ReasoningLoston July 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:personally, as i relate to the song i think its about drugs, or even overdosing

    "here i lay
    still and breathless"

    could be overdosed or too drunk to move

    " still i want some more"

    addicts always do

    "Who cares what's behind
    Just like always
    Still your passenger"

    who cares what I've done in the past to acquire more drugs? still, still i'm a slave ( passenger) to you allmighty drugs

    "Chrome buttons, buckles and leather surfaces
    These and other lucky witnesses"

    everyone thinks they're the shit, and they're life is great when they're fucked up.......lucky witnesses

    "Now to calm me
    This time won't you please
    Drive faster"

    drive faster, i want my fix NOW

    I could go on but I think I made my point, this is how I, as a recovering drug addict, relate to this song

    regardless of what it truly means, its a fucking awesome song, rock on peeps, rock on
    Flag oldschool2011on July 23, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:From what's actually been said in the past by the band members, the song is about having sex in the back of a fast moving car. The thrills surrounding it and that rush of adrenaline you get from it. Nayr's comment couldn't be more correct. Maynard's voice gives it that abstract feel to the song. You would get the feeling that Maynard are talking to each other. But I get the feeling that Chino makes the external statements of the car for example: "chrome buttons, buckles and leather surfaces" (Line 9) and Maynard vocalises the thoughts in chino's mind. Could suggest that Maynard is a sexually famished conscience telling Chino that he wants more. It could also be suggested that Maynard is almost the adrenaline within Chino. Adrenaline personified. It's generally a very "in the moment" sort of song, it doesn't have reflection (not saying that's a bad thing) But it's very much "we're here, let's do this." kind of feel. I like that a lot.
    Flag RosettaXStonedon April 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:OMFG. Why cant it just be about them riding in a cool car at night with the windows down??? Oh yea!!! he SAID thats what its about. Stop overanalyzing.
    Flag Emilyaeon February 04, 2011   Link

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