Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".[1] In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on 6- and 12-string guitars.
Driver
Leo Kottke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And snakes police the roads
And a truck weighed down with misery stops and unloads
And 18 broken passengers, their blood as thick as mud
Beg for water, for anything the driver waves good luck
The sun's been frying lizards hidden under rocks
And now it fries the refugees and turns their brains to chalk
And the driver's back at the border, what's he got to lose
The night wind screams across the freezing ground
There's no one left to tremble or to fear for him now
Their bones are scattered drifting like the snow
That falls each night and settles all around his soul
All around his soul
The lyrics to Leo Kottke's song "Driver" paint a bleak picture of desperation and suffering along the American/Mexican border. The first verse describes a scene where the roads are patrolled by snakes and a truck full of broken passengers, their blood thick from the harsh conditions, stops and unloads. The driver, seemingly unmoved by their condition, waves them goodbye with a wish for good luck.
The second verse continues the story of the refugees as they are exposed to the scorching heat of the sun. The imagery of their brains turning to chalk is a metaphor for their mental and physical breakdown. The last line of the verse mentions a new pair of shoes, which could symbolize a glimmer of hope and a new start for one of the passengers. However, the driver leaves them behind at the border, seemingly unaffected by their plight.
The final verse adds a haunting touch to the already somber lyrics, with the night wind screaming across the frozen ground and the bones of the refugees scattered like snow. The driver is left to carry the weight of the tragedy around his soul, as he was the one who left them behind.
Overall, the lyrics of "Driver" are a commentary on the harsh realities of the American/Mexican border and the struggles of those who attempt to cross it. It paints a picture of desperation and despair, with no real hope for those who are suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down there it's raining dust
The place is so dry that dust is falling from the sky like rain
And snakes police the roads
The roads are so deserted that snakes have taken over and are moving freely
And a truck weighed down with misery stops and unloads
A truck carrying people who are in a state of misery stops and drops its passengers off
And 18 broken passengers, their blood as thick as mud
The passengers are extremely weak and their blood is thick and sluggish due to dehydration
Beg for water, for anything the driver waves good luck
The passengers plead for water, but the driver waves them off as if wishing them good luck
The sun's been frying lizards hidden under rocks
The sun is so hot that even lizards who are usually hidden under rocks are being exposed and burned
And now it fries the refugees and turns their brains to chalk
The sun is now scorching the refugees and causing them to become dehydrated to the point where their brains are drying up
Eighteen men and women and one brand new pair of shoes
There are eighteen people and one new pair of shoes among the passengers
And the driver's back at the border, what's he got to lose
The driver is back at the border and has nothing to lose
The night wind screams across the freezing ground
The wind is howling loudly across the cold, frozen ground
There's no one left to tremble or to fear for him now
There is no one left to be afraid or worried for the driver
Their bones are scattered drifting like the snow
The passengers' bones are scattered, much like how snowflakes float and drift around before landing
That falls each night and settles all around his soul
This is describing how the driver's soul is weighed down by the guilt and pain of what he has done to the helpless passengers
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LEO KOTTKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
439tab
Agree, severely underrated song and songwriter. This is epic. It sends goosebumps up and down my skin.
michael bellach
gänsehaut ohne ende..unser leo hats drauf...
Simos Alexiadis
what an amazing guitar playing...vocal rendition...what a song...
Charles Boyer
This recording is one of the best ever made. The sonic subtleties and nuances are perfectly rendered...absolutely beautiful!
Vanilla Squeeze
Severely underrated song.
Adam McGahan
Amazing, amazing song. The first time I heard this was when I saw Leo live at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. The song made such an impact that I memorized as many of the lyrics as I could in the hopes of finding it, later. After the show, we were lucky enough that Leo came out of the dressing room to greet fans, so I was able to ask the man himself while the words were still fresh in my mind. I bought "Great Big Boy" that week, and it remains my favorite Leo album. Just the thing for an idyllic Sunday morning.
EnosEverything
Heard this on a radio programme years ago and always thought it was superb and so different from other tracks I'd heard from Leo's career such as Mudlark and Chewing Pine.. I love this and the other tracks I've heard from Great Big Boy..
wasnoteasy
haunting and beautiful.! wow!!!!!
michael bellach
der sinn des lebens sind solche klänge ..sehr sehr schön....gruss micha
Craig Mercer
It really is one of the great songs.