The Distance
Cake Lyrics
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Engines pumping and thumping in time
The green light flashes, the flags go up
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
The fans get up and they get out of town
The arena is empty except for one man
Still driving and striving as fast as he can
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone
In her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine
He's haunted by something he cannot define
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force
In his mind, he's still driving, still making the grade
She's hoping in time that her memories will fade
Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's striving and driving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
'Cause he's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone
In her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
He's going the distance
The lyrics of Cake's song "The Distance" tell the story of a race car driver competing in a high-stakes race. The first verse describes the intense atmosphere of the starting line, with the engines pumping and thumping in time as the drivers eagerly await the green light. The second verse shifts to the driver who has yet to take his foot off the gas pedal, racing through the finish line as the crowd leaves and the arena empties out.
The chorus provides the main hook of the song, with the repetition of "He's going the distance" and "He's going for speed" emphasizing the driver's determination to win at all costs. The bridge reveals the driver's inner struggles, haunted by doubt and remorse despite his success on the track. The final verse repeats the chorus while adding further description of the driver's competitive spirit, as he continues to race and think of the person for whom he still burns.
The lyrics of "The Distance" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the high-pressure nature of modern life and the drive to succeed no matter the cost. The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo make it an instantly recognizable classic of '90s alternative rock, and it has endured as one of Cake's most popular songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line
Hesitantly waiting to begin the challenge
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The vehicles are ready and their motors are roaring
The green light flashes, the flags go up
The race has started as the flag indicates
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They're pushing their limits and risking everything to win the race
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
They carefully navigate and use their strength to get ahead of each other
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
They're using up their energy resources quickly despite being low on fuel
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
They're driving recklessly to make it through the corners
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
Their skills are highly effective and hidden behind a tough exterior
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
The race ends as the flags come down once they cross the finish line
The fans get up and they get out of town
The spectators leave the venue after the race is over
The arena is empty except for one man
Only one driver is left in the arena after the race
Still driving and striving as fast as he can
The driver is still pushing himself to go faster and perform better even after the race
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
The race has taken a long time and night has fallen
And long ago somebody left with the cup
Someone else won the race and took home the trophy a while ago
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
The driver is still racing, trying to improve his driving by sticking close to the corners
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
He's thinking of someone he cares about and wants to win for
'Cause he's going the distance
He's pushing his limits and putting in all his effort to achieve his goal
He's going for speed
He's aiming to go as fast as he can
She's all alone
The person he's thinking about has left and is not by his side
In her time of need
She is going through a difficult time and he wishes he could support her
No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine
He doesn't need any material rewards, recognition, or celebration for his accomplishment
He's haunted by something he cannot define
He feels uneasy and preoccupied with something that he can't quite understand
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
He's experiencing intense anxiety and regret
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force
These feelings are overwhelming him with great force
In his mind, he's still driving, still making the grade
He's mentally still racing and trying to improve his performance
She's hoping in time that her memories will fade
The person he's thinking about is hoping to forget some painful memories
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's still planning and refining his racing strategy despite the race being over
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's aggressively pursuing his goals and overcoming any obstacles he faces
He's going the distance
He's determined to succeed and won't give up until he achieves his objective
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gregory Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cristopherflores1288
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The green light flashes, the flags go up
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
The fans get up and they get out of town
The arena is empty except for one man
Still driving and striving as fast as he can
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone (all alone)
All alone in her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine
He's haunted by something he cannot define
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force
In his mind, he's still driving, still making the grade
She's hoping in time that her memories will fade
'Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's striving and driving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns
'Cause he's going the distance
He's going for speed
She's all alone (all alone)
All alone in her time of need
Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's racing and pacing and plotting the course
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse
He's going the distance
He's going for speed
He's going the distance
Ah no, so sad, alright
Oh no, oh no, no, no
@jays9869
The bass line on this song is so damn smooth.
@johnd4567
One the best bass lines ever
@marcelloribeiro2750
@@johnd4567 Totally agree ✌
@creepyco2844
Timestamp? I just wanna know what part you're talking about since idk anything about music lol
@gavix-sr2wt
CoolFool 504 Just the overall bass playing in the song is great there’s no specific part that’s only good
@trickhester7932
Like it dropped straight out of Beavis's mouth
@48mastadon
This guy looks just like he sounds.
@franknbeans2623
48mastadon He look like a man
@Brokenarrow129
He reminds me of Edward Norton!
@tate392
YES HE DOES!!!!