Driven

It sounds like its about the winding road of life, and the many obstacles and terrors that lie there. It also sounds like getting through tight spaces is in there too. Not a bad song

This song is the best live, in my opinion! I'm a believer that all songs, whether or not the writer intended them to be translated as such, have many different meanings to various people. I see the song as, he was going down a path, whether chosen by himself or another entity, and ended up running into obstacles he didn't see (black ice) and he was taken to somewhere that resembled a fools paradise. 'The grass isn't always greener on the other side.' He's afraid. Terrified. At the edge of a hole. Possibly symbolizing-- whatever you want! Depression, a rut, a route of no return. And now he finds that he's doing things he knows is wrong, stealing in and out dark alleys.. theives. ETC.! Through the experience, he's taking the reins, vowing to turn his life/ the situation around. He sees where he was going and tells himself to push through it and go along a better path, or at least down one unlike the previous path! That's how I see it! At least, that's what it means to me.

:) 29 DAYS TILL RUSH AT MSG!!!

On a side note, i think this song is amazing in it's musical composition, if you listen to this song while driving around, you feel the urge to just say "f*ck you" to the law and just drive as fast as you want...

And i love the play on words with "margin of terror"... just find it very interesting...

i agree that its about the winding road of life, but the main point of the song deals with being driven by outside influences on life, and wishing for complete control (but it's my turn to drive).

i think its about something, some nature, some force thats been forcing him to act a certain way. now he is taking things into his own hands, (but its my turn to drive), and doing things for himsilf, not for someone ro something else.

Could this song be about motorcycle or bicycle trips that he has taken? Neil has ridden in several countries..........just a thought.

aleen2112: no, that's waaaaaayyy off... although it's true that neil rides a lot, he would never write a song as shallow in it's meaning as that...

As for the actual meaning, i think you pretty much all touched on it indirectly, but missed the grand scheme of things. it's similar (thematically) to freewill, another song about them. it's about going through life blaming fate, god(s) or what have you when things go wrong. he's saying that he's through blaming others (being driven) and he's going to take control of his life and own up to his actions (it's his turn to drive).

The full band starts playing a hard steady driving beat - and lyrically expressing feelings of loss of control and outside forces dictating your path. Then a solo acoustic guitar rebelling - it's MY turn to drive ... to be in control.

The theme alternates between these and Alex's solo sounds so much like a vehicle careening out of control ... a life heading to a disastrous end because the one who should be in control is not.

And then ... "the road unwinds towards me, what was there is gone, the road unwinds BEFORE me, and I go riding on." Life and its tribulations come steaming toward the writer but no longer threatens ... and NOW life is not a threat but a road unwinding before him and he intends to take it.

Powerful stuff. Fantastic lyrics and a perfect driving bass line with the mad frantic guitar work of Alex. As always, I call on all to bow at the greatness that is Rush!

Great album. Possibly my favorite post-Moving Pictures disc.