I Just Drove By
Kimmie Rhodes & Willie Nelson Lyrics
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To a little house on the older side of town
Back when things were never hard I used to play there in that yard
And I just drove by to see if things had changed
Cokes were just a nickel then and across the street at the five and ten
A lot of things were cheap and square and strange
And the life that we had might have been but it was one we loved believin' in
And I just drove by to see if things had changed
I need to know that life is still a place worth livin' in
There it is just like it was a place where there was always love
And I just drove by to see if things had changed
In a world that seen it's better days it's good to know some things remain the same
Though standing still is not times way
Take to heart while in it's spring oh love is just a fragile thing
And I just drove by to see if things had changed
I wondered now if love is still...
I just drove by to see if things had changed
Kimmie Rhodes's song "I Just Drove By" is a song that encapsulates a wave of nostalgia. The lyrics are about an individual who returns to a place of personal significance after a long time, a house that they once used to play in when they were a child. The tone is melancholic, as the singer wants to know if things have changed in that small town, it's as if the individual wants to recapture the essence of a simpler time. The lyrics conjure up the imagery of a life filled with innocence and naivety. The coke was just a nickel, and things were cheap and square and strange. It alludes to the fact life had fewer complications. The singer wonders if things like love are still the same as it was back then. It's a longing to go back to a better life that may or may not have existed.
The song's central theme is one of change and the resurfacing of memories. As the singer drives by the house, it is a reminder of how much has changed since the days when things were simpler. That house is a symbol for the nostalgia, and the singer wants to capture that time again. Life is ever-changing, and people move on, but the memories remain. The lyrics can be interpreted as people's longing to hold onto the past as a way to commiserate with their current reality. The song's message is not to forget our past, as it's what shapes and molds us into who we are and what we value.
Line by Line Meaning
I always go the other way but my car drove me down today
Although I don't usually come this way, my car somehow brought me here today.
To a little house on the older side of town
I've arrived at a small, old house located in a part of town that's been around for a while.
Back when things were never hard I used to play there in that yard
When life was easy, I would often play in this yard.
And I just drove by to see if things had changed
I came back just to check if anything has changed over the years.
Cokes were just a nickel then and across the street at the five and ten
Back then, you could buy Coke for just five cents and there was a store across the street called the five and ten (a store where everything cost either 5 or 10 cents).
A lot of things were cheap and square and strange
There were many odd things that were inexpensive and had a square shape.
And the life that we had might have been but it was one we loved believin' in
Although our life may not have been perfect, we still loved living it and believing in what we did.
I wondered now if love is still the way it was back then
I questioned if love is still similar to how it was in the past.
I need to know that life is still a place worth livin' in
I crave the knowledge that the world is still a place worth living in despite all of its challenges.
There it is just like it was a place where there was always love
There's the same old place where there was once always an abundance of love.
In a world that seen it's better days it's good to know some things remain the same
Even though the world has gone through difficult times, it's comforting to know that some things have not changed.
Though standing still is not times way
Even though things might seem constant, time never stands still.
Take to heart while in it's spring oh love is just a fragile thing
It's important to recognize that love is fragile and we should treasure it while it's still strong.
And I just drove by to see if things had changed
I came back simply to see if anything has changed since I was last here.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KIMMIE RHODES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind