190 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A

Passenger Seat Lyrics

I roll the window down
And then begin to breathe in
The darkest country road
And the strong scent of evergreen
From the passenger seat as you are driving me home

Then looking upwards
I strain my eyes
And try to tell the difference
Between shooting stars and satellites
From the passenger seat as you are driving me home

"Do they collide?"
I ask and you smile
With my feet on the dash
The world doesn't matter

When you feel embarrassed then I'll be your pride
When you need directions then I'll be the guide
For all time
For all time
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

190 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

this song is soo good. its like i wrote about how i felt with my ex. we used to road trip all of the time and drive everywhere and this hits dead on how we felt. it was just nice and quiet and we weren't afraid to ask each other the stupidest of questions. that feeling of acceptance is amazing and i really wish that i could have it back. a lot of people define love as the feeling you get when your heart pounds and you get the chills and everything. but that is just when you have a stupid little crush. those people have never experienced true love.

ben obviously has and described it here better than i could have imagined possible. its simple, to the point, and gets every single emotion across. i love how he places himself in the passenger seat and gives the control to the girl. i picture perfectly him slouched in the charir with his head resting on top of the door, straring out the window thinking about anything, not worried at all about saying the wrong thing. that love is a beautiful thing. this song makes me tear a little because of how insanely close i can relate to this song. the whole car scenario just hits a little too close to home...

This song sounds sad to me. I know a lot of people think it's got positive implications, but the notes just ring of depression in my opinion. I read somewhere that Gibbard has said his lyrics are almost always negative (or something to that effect). I don't think it makes this song bad, it just makes me think of it in a different way. To me the singer is thinking about their feelings for the driver, but knows the driver doesn't feel the same way, and the idea is that the happiness of the car ride will be over soon...

I agree completely. True love is when you can just be absolutely comfortable with each other. You can say whatever stupid thought comes into your head because you know they will accept you. This song is all about being wrapped up in that moment of love, when "the world doesn't matter" because all you care about are your emotions at that time. Everything about this song hits extremely close to home for me, and I hope I can find a love like this again.

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

this song doesn't mean anything

it's just about love in it's purest form: when you know its there on everyday tasks like getting driven home

hell of a song

wow..one word...breathtaking.

this song=the pure and simple form of LOVE. the crazy state of happiness that is so often hard to capture in today's songs. this song is just so incredibly personal, and i think anyone can relate to it. i think the relationship described here could be between bf/gf, parent/child, or even God/human. Seriously. this is definitely one of the top songs on their album transatlanticism. I LOVE YOU BEN GIBBARD!!!!!!

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

this song totally reminds me of drives home with my friends. When its just me and one of them sitting in silence for most of the ride after a busy evening. Just enjoying being near each other. That comfortable kind of silence you can only share with a few people. Great song

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

this song reminds me of the innocence and wonder of children. And i think the best lines are " When you feel embarrassed, i'll be your pride. When you need direction, i'll be the guide"

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

someone told me this song is magic, and it is.

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

I'm not saying this is the correct interpretation or anything but this is what I imagine when I listen to this song. A guy is driving his girlfriend home late at night and she's tired. She's been wanting to ask him something and now since they're alone it's the perfect time. She wonders out loud on the lines: "I strain my eyes and try To tell the difference between shooting stars and satellites." I think this is metaphorical and the shooting stars represents love while the satellites represent society. She's wondering whether anyone or anything will get in the way of their love when she asks "do they collide?" He answers her by smiling, assuring her nothing will ever get in the way of them. She feels more comfortable and realizes that the rest of society really doesn't matter and won't ever change their love. He then continues to tell her "when you feel embarrassed then I'll be your pride, when you need directions then I'll be the guide, for all time, for all time." He tells her that he will always be there for her and love her, forever.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

This song, to me, never sounds like a child and parent. I also agree that it is trying to capture a feeling, not a scenario. Therefore, in my opinion, the car has nothing to do with the meaning, that is just an example of where the feeling may take you; ie. driving with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner. I interpret the lyrics to convey the feeling of when you are IN love, not just loving someone. Therefore you can feel able to ask any question you want and be answered, or guide them and do everything you possibly can for them, for all time.

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

So blissfully and perfectly literal. Thank you thank you a thousand times, Death Cab.

Cover art for Passenger Seat lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

this song is breathtaking. It's simple and yet it brings you to a place you never thought you could go.