Save a dream for me
Words hang in the air
Her demons take the dare

Above a lonely feather
Circles to the ground
The house don't make a sound

Turn this car around
Turn this car around
I'm goin' back

Green and gray and auburn
Sliding down the sky
The devil winks an eye

A figure in the doorway
Shouldering the blame
A saint without a name

Turn this car around
Turn this car around
I'm goin' back

I'm goin' back

The king and queen are loaded
Falling off to sleep
The ground begins to creep

Rockets in the tail lights
Red burns into night
Rolling out of sight

Turn this car around
Turn this car around
I'm goin' back


Lyrics submitted by svtdave

Turn This Car Around Lyrics as written by Tom Petty

Lyrics © Adria K Music

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Turn This Car Around song meanings
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    General Comment

    "Save a dream for me/ words hang in the air / her demons take the dare" -The character is about to 'take the dare' of something bad "save a dream for me" is referring to her knowing she's taking the wrong path - wishes she'd lead a different life

    "Above, a lonely feather Circles to the ground The house don't make a sound"

    -Paints the picture of a bad/lonely place

    "Turn this car around Turn this car around I'm goin' back"

    -In this part of the song the verse means I know I shouldn't be here, turn around and get me out of here

    "Green and grey and auburn Sliding down the sky The devil winks an eye A figure in the doorway Shouldering the blame A saint without a name"

    -Character's demons still get the best of itself(the devil is 'winning'). The figure in the doorway shouldering the blame is the drug dealer, He provided the goods but is only known as a dealer therefore is "a saint without a name"

    Turn this car around Turn this car around I'm goin' back I'm goin' back Yeah! Hey!

    -The narrator who has attempted to stay away, is now tempted and joins the 'queen'

    "The king and queen are loaded Falling off to sleep The ground begins to creep"

    -Both of them are now 'loaded'(this term is often used when high on heroin) They fall off to sleep as everything begins to move slow, another reference to being high on heroin.

    "Rockets in the taillights Red burns into night Rolling outta sight"

    -The narrator realizes what he has done and does his best to get out of the situation as fast as he can/trys to get as far away from it as he can.

    "Turn this car around Turn this car around I'm goin' back "

    -The final verse of the song has taken on a different meaning as is noted by the sad tone of "i'm going back.." The narrartor is once again tempted (perhaps by both the drugs and the girl)and heads back as he gives in to his demons

    I see this song being sung from the Man/Narrators perspective. He's in love with a girl who probably isn't good for him as she has her demons as well. The demons get the best of her and she heads off to use. He does his best to try to stay away, but eventually gives in. Everything is okay while they are high (King and Queen) but he realizes what he has done and figuratively speeds away. However at the end of the song he is once again tempted (i'm going back) and presumably gives in to temptation once again.

    -I've also seen this song as just from the narrators perspective - someone who gives into their demons and has had trouble walking the straight line as he is attempted over and over again. Either way i def feel this song is about temptation, wishing for something better and wishing theyd made better choices as the temptation will always be there.

    vipercwfon March 17, 2011   Link

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