drive
Britta Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it's too late
who's gonna tell you things
aren't so great
you can't go on
thinking nothing's wrong
who's gonna drive you home tonight
when you fall
who's gonna hang it up
when you call
who's gonna pay attention
to your dreams
who's gonna plug their ears
when you scream
you can't go on
thinking nothing's wrong
who's gonna drive you home tonight
who's gonna hold you down
when you shake
who's gonna come around
when you break
The song “Drive” by Britta Phillips is a melancholic reflection on the end of a relationship. The lyrics are written in a series of questions, which are possibly addressed to an ex-partner. The first verse asks who will be the one to tell you when it’s too late and things aren’t great. The second verse asks who will pick you up when you fall, who will hang up when you call, who will pay attention to your dreams and who will plug their ears when you scream. The recurring line “who’s gonna drive you home tonight” serves as a powerful reminder that the singer is no longer in a position to offer support and must face the consequences of their actions.
The underlying theme of the song is the loss of emotional support and the realization that the relationship is over. The sense of isolation and abandonment is highlighted by the repetition of the phrase “you can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong”. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship and is looking for someone to turn to for comfort and guidance, but nobody is there.
In summary, “Drive” is a poignant song about the end of a relationship and the sense of loss and isolation that comes with it. The lyrics are simple but effective, and the melody perfectly captures the melancholic mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
who's gonna tell you when
it's too late
Who will be honest with you and tell you when it's too late to fix a problem?
who's gonna tell you things
aren't so great
Who will be honest with you and tell you when something isn't going well?
you can't go on
thinking nothing's wrong
You can't continue to live in denial and pretend that everything is fine.
who's gonna drive you home tonight
Who will be there to support you and help you get through tough times?
who's gonna pick you up
when you fall
Who will be there to help you get back on your feet after a setback?
who's gonna hang it up
when you call
Who will take the time to listen to you when you need to talk?
who's gonna pay attention
to your dreams
Who will support you and encourage you to follow your dreams?
who's gonna plug their ears
when you scream
Who will be patient and understanding enough to listen when you are upset and need to vent?
who's gonna hold you down
when you shake
Who will be there to comfort and support you when you are feeling vulnerable?
who's gonna come around
when you break
Who will be there to help you pick up the pieces and start over when you experience a major setback?
Contributed by Asher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TARDIB
This is hauntingly gorgeous. Never thought the original could be matched
@Spacerboy
One of the best covers in history!
@przemysawmachut7869
That "mhmhm" somewhere in the middle is etherical outstanding....
@auguy55
Just heard this version for the first time on pandora. God damn this just slaps. Chills
@tomaszhubertchwilkowski7980
Chills = dreszcze
@TheTransatlanticExchange
Fantastic, pitch-perfect and evocative cover of a great song from "The Cars." Britta Phillips has a terrific voice and a very wide vocal range. Britta has a huge catalogue of music and was the singing voice for a very daring, unprecedented cartoon for its time, "Jem and the Holograms,." "Jem" ran for three years in the late 80s. She sang over 100 short songs for this cartoon series about two rival 80s female rock bands which can be seen on YouTube and where her incredible range can be heard. These songs have stood the test of time and actually are fantastic in their own right. The cartoon would always end on a life-threatening cliffhanger, leaving you having to watch the next. For this reason and others, it appealed to both boys and girls, and is something that hasn't been seen before or since. It's definitely worth looking up on YouTube. Thanks for uploading this wonderful song.
@jademurphy5813
Always loved Britta Philips voice and this song,perfect match
@normaabrego1502
Britta phillip excelente, desde niña la escuchaba en JEM ❤️❤️❤️❤️queeeeeeeee voz 👏👏👏👏👏
@holohulolo
This version is so haunting and so much more intimate. I have to say I've first heard of the original version probably many years ago and I couldn't even recall when or where. When this song started playing I knew I know this song. I went to search and listen to the original again, and honestly I think the original is still great but I guess I still like this version more. I will now remember when and where I heard this version of the song.
Also, I can't believe this was released in 2016, I like that it still kinda has that 80s vibe to it, while being distinctly different from the original. What an excellent cover.
@christinecannan9781
Thank you KEXP 90.3 in Seattle for introducing me to this version.. No longer living in PNW but this version is just the right vibe. Still streaming in SoCal🤘🏽