Passenger
Grateful Dead Lyrics


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Firefly, can you see me?
Shine on, glowing, brief and brightly
Could you imagine? One summer day
That same night be on your way
Do you remember? Hearts were too cold
Seasons have frozen us into our souls
People were saying the whole world is burning
Ashes have scattered too hard to turn

Upside out or inside down
False alarm, the only game in town
No man's land, the only game in town
Terrible, the only game in town

Passenger, don't you hear me?
Destination seen unclearly
What is a man deep down inside?
But a raging beast with nothing to hide

Upside out or inside down
False alarm, the only game in town




No man's land, the only game in town
Terrible, the only game in town

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Grateful Dead's song "Passenger" suggest a contemplation of life's ephemeral nature and how, regardless of our circumstances, we are always ultimately heading towards an unknown ending. The opening verse, "Firefly, can you see me? Shine on, glowing, brief and brightly," evokes the image of a firefly, which symbolizes the fleeting beauty of life. The second line, "Shine on, glowing, brief, and brightly," adds to this imagery by describing the firefly's ephemeral glow. The singer is addressing the firefly, asking it to illuminate their own brief time on earth.


The next verse, "Could you imagine? one summer day, That same night be on your way," speaks about the suddenness and unpredictability of death. The singer is asking if it is possible to comprehend that one day we could be alive, and then in the same night, we could be dead. The following verse suggests the idea of being frozen or stuck in a particular emotional state. "Seasons have frozen us into our souls/ People were sayin' the whole world is burning/ Ashes have scattered too hard to turn." The singer is expressing the sense that they and others have become trapped in their own inner climates and that the world is collapsing around them.


The chorus of the song, "Upside out or inside down/ False alarm, the only game in town/ No man's land, the only game in town/ Terrible, the only game in town," echoes the theme of the unpredictability of life. The lyrics convey that the situations can be ambiguous, and we may not always know what to do or where to go. The chorus also underscores the existential questions suggested in earlier verses, asking: who are we at our core, and what part of us will be left when we inevitably die.


Line by Line Meaning

Firefly, can you see me?
Asking for attention and recognition, hoping to be seen and acknowledged.


Shine on, glowing, brief and brightly
Acknowledging the fleeting and transient nature of life, and asking to make the most of it while it lasts.


Could you imagine? one summer day, That same night be on your way
Reflecting on the unpredictable and unexpected events of life, and how quickly things can change.


Do you remember? Hearts were too cold
Recalling a past where emotions were suppressed and numbed, perhaps out of fear or pain.


Seasons have frozen us into our souls
Metaphorically expressing how time and life experiences have changed and hardened one's inner self.


People were sayin' the whole world is burning
Observing a world in turmoil and chaos, where many feel overwhelmed and hopeless.


Ashes have scattered too hard to turn
Acknowledging the painful aftermath of a destructive event, and how it's difficult to move forward or make things right.


Upside out or inside down
Feeling disoriented and unsure, as if everything is turned upside down and out of control.


False alarm, the only game in town
Realizing that life can be unpredictable and scary, and how sometimes we may feel like we're living in a world of false hope or illusions.


No man's land, the only game in town
Feeling isolated and alone, as if no one else truly understands or cares about our struggles and pain.


Terrible, the only game in town
Describing a situation that is unpleasant or difficult, and acknowledging that there may be no easy solution or way out.


Passenger, don't you hear me?
Calling out to someone who may feel lost or overwhelmed, and offering a sense of empathy and understanding.


Destination seen unclearly.
Admitting that the future is uncertain and unpredictable, and that we may not always know where we're headed or what lies ahead.


What is a man deep down inside, What a raging beast with nothing to hide.
Reflecting on the duality of human nature, and how each person may have both light and dark aspects within them.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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