I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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 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
But 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
But it's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive
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 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
But 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
But it's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive
Lyrics submitted by orangeglacier
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It sounds like its about the winding road of life, and the many obstacles and terrors that lie there. It also sounds like getting through tight spaces is in there too. Not a bad song
This song is the best live, in my opinion! I'm a believer that all songs, whether or not the writer intended them to be translated as such, have many different meanings to various people. I see the song as, he was going down a path, whether chosen by himself or another entity, and ended up running into obstacles he didn't see (black ice) and he was taken to somewhere that resembled a fools paradise. 'The grass isn't always greener on the other side.' He's afraid. Terrified. At the edge of a hole. Possibly symbolizing-- whatever you want! Depression, a rut, a route of no return. And now he finds that he's doing things he knows is wrong, stealing in and out dark alleys.. theives. ETC.! Through the experience, he's taking the reins, vowing to turn his life/ the situation around. He sees where he was going and tells himself to push through it and go along a better path, or at least down one unlike the previous path! That's how I see it! At least, that's what it means to me.
:) 29 DAYS TILL RUSH AT MSG!!!
On a side note, i think this song is amazing in it's musical composition, if you listen to this song while driving around, you feel the urge to just say "f*ck you" to the law and just drive as fast as you want...
And i love the play on words with "margin of terror"... just find it very interesting...
i agree that its about the winding road of life, but the main point of the song deals with being driven by outside influences on life, and wishing for complete control (but it's my turn to drive).
i think its about something, some nature, some force thats been forcing him to act a certain way. now he is taking things into his own hands, (but its my turn to drive), and doing things for himsilf, not for someone ro something else.
Could this song be about motorcycle or bicycle trips that he has taken? Neil has ridden in several countries..........just a thought.
No, this song is not about that. Ghost Rider is. In that song he speaks about the trip he made.<br /> <br /> For me, this song is about someone that is very influenced by others, he's "driven" to places he didn't want to go, and situations he didn't want to live. <br /> But then, he gets to the determination that he has to drive his own life: "But it's my turn to drive". He has to take desitions, and not let others to take desitions for him.
aleen2112: no, that's waaaaaayyy off... although it's true that neil rides a lot, he would never write a song as shallow in it's meaning as that...
As for the actual meaning, i think you pretty much all touched on it indirectly, but missed the grand scheme of things. it's similar (thematically) to freewill, another song about them. it's about going through life blaming fate, god(s) or what have you when things go wrong. he's saying that he's through blaming others (being driven) and he's going to take control of his life and own up to his actions (it's his turn to drive).
The full band starts playing a hard steady driving beat - and lyrically expressing feelings of loss of control and outside forces dictating your path. Then a solo acoustic guitar rebelling - it's MY turn to drive ... to be in control.
The theme alternates between these and Alex's solo sounds so much like a vehicle careening out of control ... a life heading to a disastrous end because the one who should be in control is not.
And then ... "the road unwinds towards me, what was there is gone, the road unwinds BEFORE me, and I go riding on." Life and its tribulations come steaming toward the writer but no longer threatens ... and NOW life is not a threat but a road unwinding before him and he intends to take it.
Powerful stuff. Fantastic lyrics and a perfect driving bass line with the mad frantic guitar work of Alex. As always, I call on all to bow at the greatness that is Rush!
Great album. Possibly my favorite post-Moving Pictures disc.