Driving East is an American pop punk band hailing from Fairfax, Virginia. … Read Full Bio ↴Driving East is an American pop punk band hailing from Fairfax, Virginia. Driving East formed in 2002 after numerous line-up changes. The union of Barrett Mullins, Nate Taylor, Aaron Hubbard, and Jon Jester makes up Driving East. They are currently signed to The Militia Group and have performed with bands such as Maroon 5, Acceptance, Fall Out Boy, and Cartel. They were also on the 2005 and 2006 Warped Tour. Their first full-length release, The Future of the Free World Is Riding On This One, was released in 2008.

Hey
Driving East Lyrics

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She puts on the dress that he took of the night before,
The summers through the main event of bottles on the floor,
And when the head starts swelling the shame sinks in,
She never even knew his name,
And when her hand stops shaking the blood is thin
And you'll do it again, you'll do it again

so hey, what do you say?

Would it make much difference anyway?
You can find another shoulder to cry on,
Cause it makes more sense being used
And girl what do you know?
Did he drop to hard and let you know
You can find another shoulder to cry on
Cause it makes more sense being used

she would answer everytime you called her on the phone,
And they could pass the present of the girls she thinks they want,
And with the face down that she's looking for
In a life she can't escape
And when the girl starts drinking
She won't stop shaking
And she'll do it again, do it again

so hey, what do you say?
Would it make much difference anyway?
You can find another shoulder to cry on,
Cause it makes more sense being used
And girl what do you know?
Did he drop to hard and let you know
You can find another shoulder to cry on
Cause it makes more sense being used

When your face to face with the demons you created,
And your searching for a message
In this mess that you've been making
But its safe to say,
You won't learn a thing from your mistakes,
You'll wind up on your knees,
Watch a week from now,
You'll end up going back for more

so hey, what do you say?
Would it make much difference anyway?
You can find another shoulder to cry on,
Cause it makes more sense being used
And girl what do you know?
Did he drop to hard and let you know

You can find another shoulder to cry on
Cause it makes more sense being used [2x]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Driving East's song "Hey" depict a woman caught in a cycle of destructive behavior fueled by a toxic relationship. The first verse describes the aftermath of a one-night stand with a man she never even knew. She puts on the dress he took off her the previous night, surrounded by empty bottles and the shame of what she's done. Despite the regret, the woman knows she'll "do it again" and repeats the chorus's plea to "find another shoulder to cry on" because it "makes more sense being used."

The second verse delves deeper into the woman's situation. She answers every call from her partner and tries to fit the mold of the girl she thinks he wants. But deep down, she knows her life is not what she wants, and the only way to escape is by drinking. The woman falls into a vicious cycle, shaking when she's not drinking and repeating the same mistakes.

The final verse hints at redemption but ultimately ends in resignation. The woman confronts her demons but can't find a message in the mess she's created. The lyrics seem to imply that the woman will continue to repeat the same mistakes and "wind up on [her] knees" begging for more. The chorus repeats, encouraging the woman to find validation in being used rather than addressing the root of her pain.

Line by Line Meaning

She puts on the dress that he took of the night before
She is wearing the same dress that he undressed her from the previous night

The summers through the main event of bottles on the floor
Drinking was the highlight of their summer, evidenced by the empty bottles everywhere

And when the head starts swelling the shame sinks in
Regret comes after the high of the drinking and partying

She never even knew his name
She is regretting what happened, especially because she does not even know the person she was with

And when her hand stops shaking the blood is thin
She has sobered up, and the reality of the situation is hitting her

And you'll do it again, you'll do it again
Despite the regret, she will undoubtedly repeat the same mistake

so hey, what do you say?
Asking for the opinion of others on her situation

Would it make much difference anyway?
Wondering if seeking advice would really change anything

You can find another shoulder to cry on,
She is suggesting that using someone else for comfort is an easier solution

Cause it makes more sense being used
She believes it is better to use someone else for temporary comforting rather than reaching a permanent solution

And girl what do you know?
Asking a rhetorical question, she does not believe others will truly understand her situation

Did he drop to hard and let you know
Is the person who she was with too rough and violent with her?

When your face to face with the demons you created,
Confronting the mistakes she has made and the consequences that have now come with it

And your searching for a message
Trying to put the pieces together and understand why this keeps happening

In this mess that you've been making
Realizing the situation is entirely of her own making

But its safe to say, You won't learn a thing from your mistakes,
Believing she will never be able to learn from her errors

You'll wind up on your knees, Watch a week from now
Predicting that she will be in the exact same predicament after a week's time

You'll end up going back for more
Despite the consequences and regret, she will keep repeating the same mistakes

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WADE BROWN, WADE, JR. BROWN, DAVID H. JR. JONES, JR., MICHAEL BRAD MARGERUM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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