Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are
Meat Loaf Lyrics

The skies were pure and the fields were green
The world was beautiful and full of promise at the time

And the sun was brighter than it's ever been
The future seemed full of hope and potential

When I grew up with my best friend, Kenny
The singer had a close childhood friend named Kenny

We were close as any brothers that you ever knew
Their friendship was strong and they were like family

It was always summer and the future called
Their youth and optimism made every day feel bright and full of promise

We were ready for adventures and we wanted them all
They were eager for life and wanted to experience everything it had to offer

There was so much left to dream
They had a lot of aspirations and goals for the future

And so much time to make it real
They felt like they had plenty of time to achieve their dreams

But I can still recall the sting of all the tears when he was gone
The singer's friend Kenny passed away and it still hurts him to think about it

They said he crashed and burned, I know I'll never learn
The circumstances of Kenny's death are unknown and the singer may never know the full story

Why any boy should die so young
The singer questions why someone as young and full of life as Kenny had to die

We were racing, we were soldiers of fortune
The two friends were living life to the fullest and taking risks

We got in trouble but we sure got around
They may have gotten into some mischief, but they had a lot of fun along the way

There are times I think I see him peeling out of the dark
The singer sometimes feels like his friend is still with him in spirit

I think he's right behind me now and he's gaining ground!
The singer feels like his friend is still with him and pushing him to keep going

But it was long ago and it was far away
The memories of their time together are distant and in the past

Oh God, it seems so very far
The singer is reflecting on how much time has passed since those days

And if life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car
The singer is using a metaphor to contemplate the meaning of life

And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
Things from the past may seem more important or prominent than they really are

And when the sun descended and the night arose
The singer is describing a transition from day to night

I heard my father cursing everyone he knows
The singer's father was angry and lashing out verbally

He was dangerous and drunk and defeated
The father was struggling with his own issues and it was having a negative impact on his family

And corroded by failure and envy and hate
The father was eaten away by negative emotions and lack of success

There were endless winters and the dreams would freeze
The singer is describing a difficult and emotionally draining period of life

No where to hide and no leaves on the trees
The hardships of life left no space for escape or growth

And my father's eyes were blank as he hit me again and again and again
The singer experienced abuse from his father, who showed no emotion while doing so

I know I still believe he'd never let me leave, I had to run away alone
The singer felt like he had to leave home to escape the abuse and start a new life

So many threats and fears, so many wasted years before my life became my own
It took a long time for the singer to regain control of his own life after leaving home

And though the nightmares should be over
The singer still experiences trauma from his past experiences

Some of the terrors are still intact
The singer is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of his past

I'll hear that ugly coarse and violent voice
The singer still hears his father's voice in his head, which triggers negative emotions

And then he grabs me from behind and then he pulls me back
The singer feels like he is being held back by his past experiences

There was a beauty living on the edge of town
The singer met someone special who lived outside of the norm

And she always put the top up and the hammer down
She was someone who knew how to enjoy life and take risks

And she taught me everything I'll ever know
The singer learned a lot from this person and they had a significant impact on his life

About the mystery and the muscle of love
The person taught the singer about the power and complexities of love

The stars would glimmer and the moon would glow
The singer is describing a romantic and dreamy moment

I'm in the back seat with my Julie like a Romeo
The singer is in a romantic situation with someone he loves

And the signs along the highway all said "Caution! Kids at play!"
The singer and his love felt young and carefree in the moment

Those were the rites of spring, and we did everything
The singer is describing a time of youthful energy and exploration

There was salvation every night
The singer felt like he was finding purpose and meaning in life through these experiences

We got our dreams reborn and our upholstery torn
The singer and his love felt like they were experiencing life to the fullest

But everything we tried was right
The singer felt like he was making all the right choices at the time

She used her body just like a bandage
The singer's love used their physical connection to help heal emotional wounds

She used my body just like a wound
The singer's love sought comfort and healing from their connection

I'll probably never know where she disappeared
The singer's love left his life unexpectedly and without explanation

But I can see her rising up out of the back seat now
The singer still has vivid memories and thoughts of his past love

Just like an angel rising up from a tomb
The singer sees his past love as an ethereal and otherworldly figure

And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
The memories and emotions from the past can feel more significant and impactful than they actually are in the present