405 {Acoustic}
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics


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I took the 405 and drilled a stake down into your center
And stated that it's never ever been better than this
I hung my favorite shirt on the floorboard
Wrinkled up from pulling, pushing, and tasting, tasting

You keep twisting the truth
That keeps me thrown askew
Misguided by the 405 'cause it lead me to an alcoholic summer
I missed the exit to you parents' house hours ago
Red wine and the cigarettes
Hide your bad habits underneath the patio, patio

You keep twisting the truth
That keeps me thrown askew





You keep twisting the truth
That keeps me thrown askew

Overall Meaning

In "405 (Acoustic)" by Death Cab for Cutie, the lyrics tell a story of a relationship falling apart due to miscommunications and secrets. The singer takes the 405 - a highway in California - to meet their significant other, but the relationship has deteriorated so much that there's a sense of finality to this meeting. The singer makes it clear that they've arrived at their destination, using a stake as a metaphor. But then the singer backtracks, contending that things have never been better than this. This conflicting combination of finality and hopelessness adds to the tension of the song.


As the song continues, the singer reveals that they're struggling to trust their partner, who "keeps twisting the truth." The 405 has led them to an "alcoholic summer" that's left them lost and disoriented. The singer "missed the exit" to their partner's parents' house, signifying that they've reached a point in the relationship where they're no longer interested in pleasing their partner's family. The alcohol and cigarettes have become a refuge for them, hidden "underneath the patio."


Overall, the song explores the feeling of being lost in a relationship that's come to a dead end. The 405 serves as a metaphor for the singer's attempts to reach their partner, but the lyrics suggest that it's a futile gesture. The repeated refrain of "You keep twisting the truth / That keeps me thrown askew" highlights the main issue at the heart of the song: a lack of trust.


Line by Line Meaning

I took the 405 and drilled a stake down into your center
I drove down the 405, feeling like I had a deep connection with you, staking my claim on your heart and soul.


And stated that it's never ever been better than this
I'm so convinced that this relationship is the best thing ever, and nothing could make it any better.


I hung my favorite shirt on the floorboard
I carelessly tossed my favorite shirt on the car floor, too wrapped up in you to care about anything else.


Wrinkled up from pulling, pushing, and tasting, tasting
The shirt got wrinkled from all the physical contact as we explored our feelings for each other, tasting each other in every sense of the word.


You keep twisting the truth
You're not being completely honest with me, and it's causing me to feel lost and disoriented.


That keeps me thrown askew
Your dishonesty and lack of transparency are causing me to feel disoriented and off balance.


Misguided by the 405 'cause it lead me to an alcoholic summer
I thought the 405 would lead me to something good, but instead it led me to a summer of drinking and self-destructive behavior.


I missed the exit to you parents' house hours ago
I'm so lost and disoriented that I can't even find my way to your parents' house, a place I should know how to get to by now.


Red wine and the cigarettes
I drown my problems in alcohol and cigarettes, desperately trying to numb the pain of this failed relationship.


Hide your bad habits underneath the patio, patio
You're trying to hide your own bad habits, pretending like everything is okay while putting up a facade for the world to see.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BENJAMIN GIBBARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Frank


on I Will Follow You Into The Dark

This song sucks

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