So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
My hands wrapped around your stick shift
Swerving on the 405, I can never keep my eyes off this
My neck, the feeling of your soft lips
Illuminated in the light, bouncing off the exit signs I missed
All we do is drive
All we do is think about the feelings that we hide
All we do is sit in silence waiting for a sign
Sick and full of pride
All we do is drive
And California never felt like home to me
And California never felt like home
And California never felt like home to me
Until I had you on the open road and now we're singing
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Your laugh, echoes down the hallway
Carves into my hollow chest, spreads over the emptiness
It's bliss
It's so simple but we can't stay
Over analyze again, would it really kill you if we kissed
All we do is drive
All we do is think about the feelings that we hide
All we do is sit in silence waiting for a sign
Sick and full of pride
All we do is drive
And California never felt like home to me
And California never felt like home
And California never felt like home to me
Until I had you on the open road and I was singing
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Swerving on the 405, I can never keep my eyes off this
My neck, the feeling of your soft lips
Illuminated in the light, bouncing off the exit signs I missed
All we do is drive
All we do is think about the feelings that we hide
All we do is sit in silence waiting for a sign
Sick and full of pride
All we do is drive
And California never felt like home to me
And California never felt like home
And California never felt like home to me
Until I had you on the open road and now we're singing
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Your laugh, echoes down the hallway
Carves into my hollow chest, spreads over the emptiness
It's bliss
It's so simple but we can't stay
Over analyze again, would it really kill you if we kissed
All we do is drive
All we do is think about the feelings that we hide
All we do is sit in silence waiting for a sign
Sick and full of pride
All we do is drive
And California never felt like home to me
And California never felt like home
And California never felt like home to me
Until I had you on the open road and I was singing
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Lyrics submitted by KiraKira, edited by rosemary13
Drive Lyrics as written by Tim Anderson Ashley Frangipane
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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This is probably my favorite Halsey song, not just because of her bombastic voice or soundscape, but because the lyrics struck a chord with me. In her relationship, all they do is drive and enjoy each other's company, even though they both know they have feelings for each other. They are both scared to make the first move, waiting for a sign. Perhaps they were both so distracted by their thoughts and feelings that they missed their sign/exit, and now they're stuck driving down that road again with no deviation from their path.
"It's so simple, but we can't stay" It's simple to say the words "I love you" to each other, but they both know it wouldn't work out.
"Over-analyze again" Overthinking relationships (is this friendship? more? one-sided?) is easy, and it's easy to become impatient when one or both people are doing this.
"Would it really kill you if we kissed?" Impatience and frustration is inevitable in a slow-burning relationship. Halsey is expressing a need for this person to just take a risk and make a move. It would make her vulnerable, but there's a chance it would resolve the tension and she could feel at home again.
In my opinion it sounds like she's talking about a sexual relationship.
I am going to have to agree with the first interpretation, however, I understand the second but I get the impression that the ah ah ahs they're singing is ah ah ah as in it's not right for them to have these feelings or potentially taboo.