After moving to Atlanta for college, Kays continued to develop her skills as a singer, songwriter, and performer. She started writing her own music at the age of seventeen and regularly performed at open mic nights. Her talent caught the attention of online audiences through covers she posted on social media platforms, which helped her cultivate a devoted fan base.
In 2018, Kays independently released her debut EP titled "A House Too Big," featuring self-published singles. She initially shared her music on YouTube and expanded her presence to platforms such as TikTok, where she has amassed over 1.9 million fans on her sarakaysmusic account.
In 2020, Kays signed a contract with Atlantic Recording Corporation, marking a significant milestone in her career. Her first single released under the label, "Remember That Night," went viral on TikTok towards the end of 2020. The song achieved chart success in the Netherlands and Flanders in 2021, further elevating her profile.
In early 2021, Kays made her national television debut with a performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, showcasing her growing recognition in the industry.
On August 6, 2021, she unveiled her EP "Struck By Lightning," a collection of seven tracks that has been referred to as a mini-album or album. Sara Kays' musical journey showcases her evolution from a young street musician to a rising star in the American music scene.
Backseat Rider
Sara Kays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We met for the first time at the bus stop
We sat side by side
Third seat from the back, we talked the whole ride
Six years later you bought your first car
And you told me to wait outside
Then you pulled and somebody else
So I sat in the backseat, it didn't bother me
But after five weeks of sitting in silence behind her
While you talked of movies I've never seen
I realized that's how we used to be
But now my best friend is the driver
And I'm the backseat rider
Maybe it's my fault
Spent summer break away and forgot to call
Or maybe you forgot
Around this time last summer, we sat in the parking lot
And you told me when you got your first car
That you and I would go for a drive
But now we're here and somebody else
Is sitting in the passenger's side
So I sat in the backseat, it didn't bother me
But after five weeks of sitting in silence behind her
While you talked of movies I've never seen
I realized that's how we used to be
But now my best friend is the driver
And I'm the backseat rider
I gave you back the clothes that you used to borrow
You dropped me off at home, said you'll see me tomorrow
And I sit in the backseat, it didn't bother me
But after five weeks of sitting in silence behind her
While you talked of movies I've never seen
I realized that's how we used to be
But now my best friend is the driver
And I'm the backseat rider
I gave you back the clothes that you used to borrow
You dropped me off at home, said you'll see me tomorrow
Sara Kays’s song “Backseat Rider” is a sad reminder of how friendships can change over time. The song tells the story of two friends who grew close while sitting in the backseat of a school bus, and how their dynamic has shifted as they’ve grown older. The first verse explains how the two friends met, sitting next to each other on the bus and talking the whole ride. Over the course of the song, it’s revealed that six years later, the friend who used to take the bus buys his first car, but now has another person in the front seat. Sara Kays’s sad realization is that she’s been relegated to the backseat, no longer the person he talks to, but a mere passenger.
In the second verse, Sara Kays wonders if it’s her fault that the friendship has faded away or if her friend just forgot about her. She remembers when they sat in a parking lot and he promised they would go for a drive once he had his own car, but now someone else is taking her spot. She speaks of the disappointment she feels when she realizes that she’s not a part of his life anymore. The chorus is repeated twice and it has a melancholy tone to it. Sara Kays accepts that she’s become a passive onlooker in her own friendship. She’s not angry, just resigned to the fact that things have changed.
In conclusion, “Backseat Rider” is a beautifully written song that captures the feeling of longing for something that has changed beyond repair. It’s a common emotion that most people have experienced at some point in their lives, making the song relatable to many.
Line by Line Meaning
You lived down the block
We were neighbors and we lived close by to each other.
We met for the first time at the bus stop
Our first meeting was quite incidental, we both met at a bus stop.
We sat side by side
On the bus, we both occupied nearby seats.
Third seat from the back, we talked the whole ride
The seats on which we were seated were on the third row from the back, and we chatted all through the journey.
Six years later you bought your first car
After six years had passed, you finally bought a car.
And you told me to wait outside
You instructed me to wait outside while you went to fetch the car.
Then you pulled and somebody else
As you drove up with the car, I couldn't help but notice that there was someone else with you.
Was sitting in the passenger's side
The person who was with you was seated in the front passenger seat.
Maybe it's my fault
Perhaps I'm to blame for the current situation.
Spent summer break away and forgot to call
During the summer break, I was away and I forgot to give you a call.
Or maybe you forgot
Or maybe you forgot about me.
Around this time last summer, we sat in the parking lot
Last summer around this time, we had a meeting at the parking lot.
And you told me when you got your first car
At that meeting, you told me that when you bought your first car, we could go for a ride together.
That you and I would go for a drive
You said that we could take a ride together.
But now we're here and somebody else
Between then and now, someone else has taken my spot.
Is sitting in the passenger's side
The person occupying my spot is now seated in the front passenger seat.
I gave you back the clothes that you used to borrow
I returned the clothes that I had borrowed from you in the past.
You dropped me off at home, said you'll see me tomorrow
You dropped me off at home and said that we would meet up again the following day.
So I sat in the backseat, it didn't bother me
I didn't mind sitting in the backseat, it was okay with me.
But after five weeks of sitting in silence behind her
However, after sitting quietly in the backseat for five weeks while she was in the front, it finally got to me.
While you talked of movies I've never seen
Meanwhile, you kept discussing movies that I had never seen before.
I realized that's how we used to be
It dawned on me that this was actually how we used to be before now.
But now my best friend is the driver
Now, you have a new best friend who is with you in the car.
And I'm the backseat rider
And I am the one relegated to the back seat.
Lyrics © SARA KAYS SONGS, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sara Kays, Steven Martinez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Georgia Pall
Therapy is expensive but listening to Sara Kay is free and even better.
xExpresso
Yedss
Rio
I can't even get a therapy
Émilie Nasrallah
what do mean? She unleashed all the feelings I was trying so hard to repress haha
wolsi
@Émilie Nasrallah but makes me feel better when listening to her songs
Émilie Nasrallah
@wolsi hahaha true
BChillin
It's so crazy how spot on Sara gets with this emotions/experiences in her songs, it's all stuff we've all felt, such talent :)
Star
Ikr! I've always thought these emotions were indescribable but she just did it so perfectly
Kinleigh Neider
I haven't REALLY felt it yet but her songs really express it
Razor Tooth
True