Passenger Song
Great Lake Swimmers Lyrics
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Doesn't have subtlety
Has twice the gravity
Get in and go and your one with the now
Turns inconsistently
Arcs in a symphony
Make your mind sharp and aware of the holes
Fall through them steadily
Slip through them readily
Watch and watch spiraling out of control
It's beyond all that anyway
Time is dead anyway
Passenger song on the dark radio
Wheels in your other head
And holes in your other mind
Lights on the screen and then shut by the door
Voice their inner frames
The eyes have jar all the same
Follow the path until it falls away
Hurry it's dangerous
Some say it's glamorous
Charge through the past and the future of now
Come to it sparingly
With what you are carrying
Notes on the pages and notes in the bars
And chasing without it scars
It might make you see the stars
Show me and told me then show me to bed
Collapsing anyway
The edge is starting to fray
Oh right, you are right, you are right, you are right
Left from the interstate
‘Cause you can hardly wait
One thing I'll say for the less traveled way
Doesn't have subtlety
Has twice the gravity
The lyrics to Great Lake Swimmers' "Passenger Song" describe the experience of living in the present moment, without concern for the past or future. The first verse talks about the "less traveled way" having "twice the gravity," suggesting that living in the moment has a stronger pull. The idea that this way of living "turns inconsistently" and "arcs in a symphony" implies that it can be unpredictable, but still beautiful.
The second verse encourages the listener to "follow the path until it falls away," suggesting that one should live in the moment until it is no longer possible to do so. The lines "Charge through the past and the future of now / Come to it sparingly / With what you are carrying" suggest that the listener should leave their baggage behind and approach the present moment with openness.
The chorus, "Passenger song on the dark radio / Wheels in your other head / And holes in your other mind / Lights on the screen and then shut by the door," paints a picture of someone driving alone at night, with their thoughts and memories providing the soundtrack. The final line, "Left from the interstate / ‘Cause you can hardly wait," suggests the excitement and urgency of living in the moment.
Overall, "Passenger Song" is a call to focus on the present, to let go of the past and future, and to embrace the uncertainty and beauty of the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
One thing I'll say for the less traveled way
The unconventional path has its advantages
Doesn't have subtlety
It's straightforward and direct
Has twice the gravity
It holds more weight and significance
Get in and go and your one with the now
Live in the present moment and seize the opportunity
Turns inconsistently
It's unpredictable and sporadic
Arcs in a symphony
Follows a musical flow and rhythm
Make your mind sharp and aware of the holes
Stay alert and attentive to potential pitfalls
Fall through them steadily
Experience failures and obstacles but persist through them
Slip through them readily
Overcome challenges with ease and grace
Watch and watch spiraling out of control
Observe the chaos and disorder that surrounds us
It's beyond all that anyway
It transcends the mundane and trivial
Time is dead anyway
Time is relative and has no true measure
Passenger song on the dark radio
A song for those on a journey through the unknown
Wheels in your other head
Thoughts and ideas that are constantly spinning
And holes in your other mind
Gaps in knowledge and understanding that need to be filled
Lights on the screen and then shut by the door
The fleeting nature of entertainment and distraction
Voice their inner frames
Expressing thoughts and emotions through artistic expression
The eyes have jar all the same
Visual perception can be deceiving and contrived
Follow the path until it falls away
Stay committed to the journey until the end
Hurry it's dangerous
Rushing can lead to danger and mistakes
Some say it's glamorous
Others may envy and romanticize the journey
Charge through the past and the future of now
Embrace the lessons of the past and the potential of the future
Come to it sparingly
Approach it with caution and mindfulness
With what you are carrying
With the baggage and experiences you have accumulated
Notes on the pages and notes in the bars
Musical notes and written words that tell a story
And chasing without it scars
Pursuing your dreams can lead to pain and scars, but it's worth it
It might make you see the stars
Achieving your goals and aspirations can bring great rewards and satisfaction
Show me and told me then show me to bed
A desire for guidance and reassurance through the journey
Collapsing anyway
Despite the struggles and obstacles, it's worth it to strive towards your goals
The edge is starting to fray
The journey can be taxing and exhausting
Oh right, you are right, you are right, you are right
Reaffirming the validity and truth of the path
Left from the interstate
Taking a detour from the conventional, mainstream path
‘Cause you can hardly wait
Eager and excited to see and experience the unknown
Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.