Overdrive
Steve Miller Band Lyrics


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Well, the room is a cyclone
And you are in the eye
There ain't no movement
Things that could die
But the reelin' and the spinnin'
Of the rock and roll sides
Will all be gone before midnight
And die before sunrise

You better go to overdrive
Go to overdrive
If you know what it is
And you wanna stay alive
You better go to overdrive
Go to overdrive

Yes, the corner's full of monkeys
And your ear drum's full of lies
Time is out the window
And there's echoes in your sides
They've been burnin' down your walls
Ever since the peep of dawn
And now the dealer's in the fireplace
Tryin' to turn it on

You better go to overdrive
Go to overdrive
If you know that it's time
And you oughtta take a dive
You better go to overdrive
Go to overdrive

Go to overdrive
Go to overdrive
You know what it is
And you wanna stay alive
You better go to overdrive
Go to overdrive

Now the light road's gettin' restless
Cause he knows your overdue
But it's just another train ride
Bein' all the same to you
And the last shot's at your finger tips
Like that flicker in the grass
And the last cord hits the ashes
And you know you gotta pass

You better go to overdrive
Go to overdrive
If you know that it's time
And you oughtta take a dive




You better go to overdrive
Go to overdrive

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steve Miller Band's song "Overdrive" are about the reckless, chaotic nature of rock and roll, and the need to embrace it in order to truly experience and survive it. The room is described as a "cyclone," with the singer in the eye of the storm, surrounded by things that feel like they could die. But despite this ominous tone, the lyrics suggest that the true danger lies in not fully embracing the wildness and energy of rock and roll – the "reelin' and the spinnin'" that will all be gone before midnight.


The chorus encourages listeners to "go to overdrive" if they want to stay alive and truly understand what rock and roll is all about. It's a call to action, a reminder to fully immerse oneself in the music and let go of any fears or inhibitions. The verses are filled with vivid, almost surreal images: a corner full of monkeys, echoes in your sides, a dealer in the fireplace. These images add to the sense of chaos and unpredictability, while also emphasizing the importance of embracing the strange and unusual in rock and roll.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, the room is a cyclone
The environment around you is chaotic, constantly spiraling out of control.


And you are in the eye
But you feel like you are in the center of it all, calm and collected.


There ain't no movement
Nothing is progressing, everything is stagnant.


Things that could die
Possibly important things are on the verge of being lost forever.


But the reelin' and the spinnin' / Of the rock and roll sides
Despite the chaos, the thrill of the moment and the excitement of the music is present.


Will all be gone before midnight / And die before sunrise
But it is fleeting, it will all be over soon and will not last through the night.


You better go to overdrive / Go to overdrive / If you know what it is / And you wanna stay alive
The only way to keep going and survive through the chaos is to push yourself into overdrive mode, which requires a certain level of knowledge and understanding.


Yes, the corner's full of monkeys / And your ear drum's full of lies
The situation is full of nonsensical behavior and people not being truthful, which is causing confusion.


Time is out the window / And there's echoes in your sides
Time seems to have lost its meaning, and you are feeling the effects of the environment both mentally and physically.


They've been burnin' down your walls / Ever since the peep of dawn
The chaos and confusion are breaking down your defenses and wearing you down.


And now the dealer's in the fireplace / Tryin' to turn it on
The situation has devolved to the point where even those who are supposed to be helping are causing more problems.


Go to overdrive / Go to overdrive / You know what it is / And you wanna stay alive
Once again, the solution is to push yourself into overdrive mode to stay alive.


Now the light road's gettin' restless / Cause he knows your overdue
The person responsible for dealing with the situation is growing impatient because you are taking too long.


But it's just another train ride / Bein' all the same to you
To you, this chaos is just another situation to deal with, even if it's a difficult one.


And the last shot's at your finger tips / Like that flicker in the grass
The end is approaching and it's up to you to make the final move before it's too late.


And the last cord hits the ashes / And you know you gotta pass
The climax has been reached and now it's time to move on from this chaotic situation.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOZ SCAGGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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