Destination Unknown

I like how people can pull what they want from this song, but personally I think this song deals with existentialism. You were born, you always questioned, why am I here? what will I do? for what reason? what does it exactly mean to be alive? is this a personal feeling, or mutual? Stuff like that we all think sub consciously throughout our lives, we all approach it differently, some through science, others religion, or for others just putting it off and ignoring it. I saw Missing Persons perform live last night, this was the second to last song they played for the night, (they played walking in la last), but Dale went on a rant for what seemed like 20 minutes before actually playing the song. She spoke mostly about her personal trials and tribulations, politics, current world affairs, the individual and your importance, sticking it to the man, and numerous other topics. But even though she was drunk she was making sense. I don't know who personally wrote this particular song but she seemed to have a deep personal connection to it and my guess is she wrote the lyrics. She also spoke about religion and how we must be humble and not give in to the rat race and all the greed in the world, because God could snatch it away from you in an instant. Anyways I love this song and whenever I question the big picture and why the fuck we are here, I just listen to this song and it makes me know and feel better that others are in the same situation. IMO one of the best songs from the new wave era, its intelligent, well written and catchy. Something that many bands lack to do in their music.

this songs about making responsible, independent decisions cause one day one might wake up and say were the fuck did the last ten years of my life go!

This is a very cool song. It describes about living your life carefree and just not worrying about where you end up. Some things happen that years ago you couldn't imagine yourself being in this certain point or place. It makes me just want to randomly buy some plane tickets to some country and not even caring where it is. Just take it easy.

Old skool. :) ;)

Dale was scared of death because her brother Brian had just died. She can’t process the anxiety and other emotions from this event so all she can come up with is doing the same kinda stuff she usually does “carry on with what I know.”

In an interview with Dale Bozzio published Jan 2025 on YT on channel 'Professor of Rock' with video id: rnv_I6jPgBo at 20:30, Dale spoke about Destination Unknown: "I wrote that because I fell off the window and I thought I was going to die". She later referenced her mother and brother dying on her birthday. She was attacked in a hotel room and fell 3 floors on to concrete, broke bones, concussed, temporarily blinded and was on life support for 11 months

Dale definitely had a lot of input on their lyrics. One of the best new wave-era songs with surprisingly unselfish lyrics. I think music and musicians from the 80s tend to get pigeonholed into a "me first", capitalist/reagonomics, self-centered schtick. I do NOT think this song is that at all. There's a lot of uncertainty and self doubt in it....but ultimately perseverance which she gets through before the end. Catchy lyrics and melody..... a great song.

Facepalm

When I saw the name Song Meanings, I knew immediately they were not secretly on a mission to educate people about my clueless, subjective conjecture. Save that pollution for the appropriate social media-dumpster as well as the probable nonsequitur of biased, blubbering blatherskite as well as the easily offended tearful pleas. Your feigned outrage is irrelevant; especially if you weren't even born yet. Scores a perfect 10 on my generation's Dont Give A Shit list. You lazy little assholes act like u cant even Google better than an old fart like me, lol

Unless its your song, nobody gives a credible shit about your impetuous, unqualified opines. In spite of our generational values' contrast from 1982 til present time, you should have enough sense in your head to not have to be told that legitimate interpretations of song meanings, if any, truly belongs to those who created it. And I meant all the aforementioned in the nicest way possible.

NOW STFU AND PAY ATTENTION, GODDAMMIT:

From Dale's 2014 interview about the album "Missing In Action"

"Coping with the death of her brother has led Bozzio to bring up one of Missing Persons' biggest hits, which back in 1982 seemed like a slice of lightweight new wave pop, but now it has taken on much heavier meaning. "I wrote 'Destination Unknown' about this exact situation," she says, "knowing that someday I would pass away. It was just the way it was going to be. I wouldn't have a chance to say 'yes' or 'no.'"

https://www.yahoo.com/music/blogs/music-news/still-destination-unknown-missing-persons-dale-bozzio-221416855.html

My comment wins.