Drive All Night
The Kings of Nuthin' Lyrics


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A city looks better from the rearview
A galaxy of stars that you just drove right through
A spaceship of a car inside the vacuum of my mind
A meditation engine runs on gasoline, caffeine, and time.

Don't ask me why 'cos I can't tell
I'm driven to drive and I'm bound to go straight to hell
Trying to reach someplace that for some strange reason I can't find
All I've got within my reach is an atlas, a compass, and time

We're like a bunch of bugs, all buzzin' around a light
Which ever way whether wrong or right
But there's a place somewhere between the place that we're born and where we die
I'm gonna get there if I have to drive all night

A city looks better from the rearview
A galaxy of stars that you just drove right through
A spaceship of a car inside the vacuum of my mind
A meditation engine runs on gasoline, caffeine, and time.

We're like a bunch of bugs, all buzzin' around a light
Which ever way whether wrong or right
But there's a place somewhere between the place that we're born and where we die
I'm gonna get there if I have to drive all night

God bless this land of freedom and industry
An interstate's interchangeability
And every highway's comfortable familiarity
A place for pace, our automotives, no matter what those motives might be

We're like a bunch of bugs, all buzzin' around a light
Which ever way whether wrong or right




But there's a place somewhere between the place that we're born and where we die
I'm gonna get there if I have to drive all night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Kings of Nuthin''s song Drive All Night are about the desire to escape the mundanity of everyday life and to search for something greater. The song is about someone who is constantly on the move, driving through cities and across highways, in the hopes of finding a destination that is just out of reach. The singer acknowledges that they might be headed towards their destruction, but they are compelled to continue on their journey. The metaphor of a car as a spaceship emphasizes the feeling of being untethered from reality and the search for something more significant.


The lyrics create a vivid image of the sensation of driving; the bright lights of the city whizzing past, the feeling of being on a never-ending journey. The song suggests that in a society where everyone is just another "bug" hoping to reach some destination, the true meaning of life can be found in the journey itself. The lyrics also touch on themes of restlessness, isolation, and the search for a deeper connection to the world around us.


In conclusion, Drive All Night by The Kings of Nuthin' is a song about the restless search for meaning and purpose that drives many people to keep moving, despite the rootlessness and potential futility. It is an ode to the open road, and the sense of adventure and freedom that comes with it.


Line by Line Meaning

A city looks better from the rearview
Looking back at cities you've already been to can give you a better appreciation of them.


A galaxy of stars that you just drove right through
When you drive at night, it's like going through a galaxy of stars.


A spaceship of a car inside the vacuum of my mind
When you're driving, you can feel like you're in a spaceship traveling through the vacuum of space, especially when you're on a long, desolate road with nothing in sight.


A meditation engine runs on gasoline, caffeine, and time.
Driving can be meditative and help clear your mind, and the car runs on the fuel of gasoline, caffeine (if you're drinking coffee while driving), and time spent on the road.


Don't ask me why 'cos I can't tell
The singer doesn't really know why they have the urge to drive all night; it's just something they feel compelled to do.


I'm driven to drive and I'm bound to go straight to hell
The singer feels like they have to keep driving and they recognize that it might be a destructive habit.


Trying to reach someplace that for some strange reason I can't find
The singer has a destination in mind, but they're not quite sure how to get there or why they feel like it's important to go there.


All I've got within my reach is an atlas, a compass, and time
The singer doesn't have much in terms of tools to help them find their destination except for a map, a compass, and time on the road.


We're like a bunch of bugs, all buzzin' around a light
People can be like insects, drawn to something shiny or bright without really knowing why.


Which ever way whether wrong or right
People can be led in different directions, whether those directions end up being good or bad.


But there's a place somewhere between the place that we're born and where we die
The singer has a belief that there is a destination that's important for them to reach, and it's somewhere between birth and death.


I'm gonna get there if I have to drive all night
The singer is determined to reach this important destination, even if that means driving all night.


God bless this land of freedom and industry
The singer is thankful for the freedom they have to travel and the industry that's been built to support driving as a means of transportation.


An interstate's interchangeability
Interstate highways are designed to be easy to navigate and allow drivers to switch routes easily.


And every highway's comfortable familiarity
While driving on a highway, there can be a sense of comfort in knowing what to expect and seeing things you recognize along the way.


A place for pace, our automotives, no matter what those motives might be
Driving provides a place to go at our own pace, and regardless of why we're driving, the car helps us get there.




Contributed by Adalyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@psychomiko77

So glad to see all of you on stage....one of the best moments in my life!

@JAG13777

Can't stop listening to this song!!

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