Driven
Rush Lyrics


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Driven up and down in circles
Skidding down a road of black ice
Staring in and out storm windows
Driven to a fool's paradise

It's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive
Driven to the margin of error
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole

Driven day and night in circles
Spinning like a whirlwind of leaves
Stealing in and out back alleys
Driven to another den of thieves

But it's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive

Driven to the margin of error
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole

Driven in
Driven to the edge
Driven out
On the thin end of the wedge
Driven off
By things I've never seen
Driven on
By the road to somewhere I've never been

Driven on
Driven in
On the thin end of the wedge
Driven out
Driven to the edge

It's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive

The road unwinds towards me
What was there is gone
The road unwinds before me
And I go riding on

It's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive

Driven to the margin of error
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole





Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole

Overall Meaning

The song "Driven" by Rush is an emotionally powerful and thought-provoking piece that touches upon themes of control, powerlessness, and the human condition. The lyrics depict the singer being driven in circles, skidding on black ice, and staring out storm windows, driven to a fool's paradise, as he struggles to maintain control over his own life. The repetition of the line "It's my turn to drive" underscores his sense of agency and his determination to take control, but also highlights the tenuousness of his grip on the situation.


Naturally, the idea of being "driven" is central to the song, and there are numerous ways in which this theme is explored. The singer is driven "to the margin of error", "to the edge of control", "to the margin of terror", and "to the edge of a deep, dark hole". These are all metaphors for the mental and emotional states that one can experience when one feels pushed to the brink. The feeling of being "driven to the margin of terror" is particularly evocative, as it suggests a level of fear and anxiety that is almost overwhelming.


Despite the bleakness of the song's themes, there is a note of hopefulness in the closing lines. The road unwinds before the singer, and he goes riding on, taking control of his situation and moving forward. The repetition of the chorus is also significant, as it suggests a cyclical nature to the singer's struggles. He may be driven by forces beyond his control, but he is also capable of taking control himself. In the end, it is his turn to drive.




Line by Line Meaning

Driven up and down in circles
Going back and forth aimlessly


Skidding down a road of black ice
Losing control on a slippery path


Staring in and out storm windows
Looking through the window amidst chaos


Driven to a fool's paradise
Being taken on a false journey to an unrealistic dream


Driven to the margin of error
Approaching the point of no return


Driven to the edge of control
Pushing oneself to the limit of restraint


Driven to the margin of terror
Reaching a point of extreme fear


Driven day and night in circles
Continuously whirling round and round


Spinning like a whirlwind of leaves
Rotating like a storm of foliage


Stealing in and out back alleys
Sneaking around dark, narrow passages


Driven to another den of thieves
Forced to a location with dishonest intentions


Driven off by things I've never seen
Compelled to flee from the unknown


Driven on by the road to somewhere I've never been
Motivated by a path that leads to an unfamiliar destination


On the thin end of the wedge
At the point of fragmentation or separation


The road unwinds towards me
The path ahead unfolds before me


What was there is gone
What existed before has disappeared


The road unwinds before me
The path ahead extends without end


And I go riding on
And I continue driving forward


Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
Forced to the brink of an unknown abyss




Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

21st Century Guerrilla Fishing

lyrics:
Driven up and down in circles
Skidding down a road of black ice
Staring in and out storm windows
Driven to a fool's paradise
But it's my turn to drive
Driven to the margin of error
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
Driven day and night in circles
Spinning like a whirlwind of leaves
Stealing in and out back alleys
Driven to another den of thieves
But it's my turn to drive
Driven in
Driven to the edge
Driven out
On the thin end of the wedge
Driven off
By things I've never seen
Driven on
By the road to somewhere I've never been
It's my turn to drive
The road unwinds towards me
What was there is gone
The road unwinds before me
And I go riding on
Songwriters: Alex Zivojinovich / Gary Lee Weinrib / Neil Elwood Peart



All comments from YouTube:

paul elliott

Magnificent in every way, which is Rush all over
Since Neil’s death I’ve been listening to their later albums more and more; I liked these a lot when they came out but I love them all now
So many delights and a legacy unmatched
RIP Professor

PHILLIP DOWNEY

Holy crap . I can’t believe I never heard this song . This is raw . Driven . Wow . I thought Counterparts was an amazing return to my style of Rush . Time to listen to this album . I probably will listen to this song another 5 times tonight .

Achille Prz

Hear it on different stages live album. Super!

Charles S

Alex's drop D cord sucks you right in !!

Ernest

Test for Echo is a good album Kind of gets forgotten about now. I love this song too.

Mark

T4E was the first Rush concert I ever attended. They put on a great show, will be sorely missed.

Kent Mains

Rush was getting back to the basics on this album and it was excellent.

dnasty312

R Diaz Is Counterparts not a most excellent hard rock album?

Kai

R Diaz Nothing was "lost" on Counterparts and, with all respect toward Neil, it was a poor decision on his part to seek help from someone who was strictly jazz and to try and reinvent his playing. If anything, something was lost on this album. I don't think traditional grip was his scene. This is all a matter of opinion though

N.S.I. entertainment

@dnasty312it most certainly is. Better than TFE in my opinion

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