The Passenger by Siouxsie and the Banshees Lyrics Meaning – A Journey Through Urban Nightscapes
Lyrics
And I ride and I ride
I ride through the city’s backside
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, they’re bright in a hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight
I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city’s ripped backsides
And everything looks good tonight
Singing, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Get into the car
We’ll be the passenger
We’ll ride through the city tonight
We’ll see the city’s ripped backsides
We’ll see the bright and hollow sky
We’ll see the stars that shine so bright
Stars made for us tonight
Oh, the passenger
How, how he rides
Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He looks through his window
What does he see?
He sees the sign and hollow sky
He see the stars come out tonight
He sees the city’s ripped backsides
He sees the winding Ocean Drive
And everything was made for you and me
All of it was made for you and me
‘Cause it just belongs to you and me
So let’s take a ride and see what’s mine
Singing, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He sees things from under glass
He looks through his window inside
He sees things he knows are his
He sees the bright and hollow sky
He sees the city sleep at night
He sees the stars are out tonight
And all of it is yours and mine
And all of it is yours and mine
So let’s ride and ride and ride and ride
Singing, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Singing, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Singing, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (I am the passenger)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (and I ride and I ride)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Singing, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (I am the passenger)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (and I ride and I ride)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Cruising through the neon-lit arteries of the city, ‘The Passenger’ by Siouxsie and the Banshees serves as an ethereal soundtrack to the nocturnal urban experience. Beyond its rhythm that emulates the pulse of the metropolis, its lyrics evoke a visceral visual tour de force, encapsulating the essence of late-night wanderlust.
Though a cover of Iggy Pop’s original, Siouxsie and the Banshees infuse ‘The Passenger’ with their unique post-punk flair, transforming the song into a hypnotic chant that reverberates with the freedom and detachment of the cosmopolitan drifter. The darkly poetic words become an incantation, an ode to the allure of the city and the liberation found in observing its changing landscapes.
The Urban Odyssey: Exploring the Metaphorical Metropolis
This is no ordinary transit. Siouxsie’s rendition of ‘The Passenger’ takes us on an odyssey, a metaphorical tour of the city ‘through the city’s backside’ and ‘over the city’s ripped backsides.’ It’s a deeper exploration of the unnoticed and the gritty, away from the pristine and curated images of urban life — a celebration of its raw and often overlooked beauty.
By choosing to ‘ride and ride,’ we embark on a continuous journey. There’s a sense of infinity in this movement, reflecting the relentless pace of city life. The imagery is powerful and stark, painting a picture that’s as real as it is symbolically rich — the constant thrum of energy beneath the surface of the cityscape.
The Celestial Canopy: A Sky Alive with Possibility
Repeatedly, the lyrics draw our eyes to the ‘bright and hollow sky,’ an invocation that heightens the contrast between the firmament and the urban frontier. There’s an existential undercurrent to the description — it’s as if the sky, the canvas of the universe, is simultaneously brimming with stars and yet devoid of depth, perhaps mirroring the dual nature of urban existence.
Here, the sky isn’t just part of the scenery; it’s a character in its own right, full of life and motion, ‘the stars come out tonight.’ It represents the endless opportunities and dreams that city life promises — each star a story, a hope, a distant but attainable light in the dark expanse of the urban night.
Shattering the Glass: The Passenger’s Perspective
What does it mean to be ‘the passenger’? There is a veil of protection, the ‘under glass’ experience of being within yet apart from the world outside. Siouxsie’s delivery conveys a voyeuristic quality, where the observer remains untouched by the scenes they witness. It is a commentary on detachment in an overstimulated environment.
Such detachment may act as a shield, encapsulating the individual from the harsher realities of life. In the safety of this cocoon, ‘the passenger’ can project their own impressions upon the urban canvas, less a participant and more a curator of their private gallery of passing images.
Decoding ‘The Passenger’: A Symbolic Exploration
Peeling back the layers of ‘The Passenger,’ one uncovers a trove of symbolism. The song becomes an allegory for personal autonomy within the collective urban journey. ‘Everything was made for you and me’ suggests an undercurrent of shared ownership, the idea that the city belongs to its inhabitants, to mold as they see fit.
Moreover, ‘it just belongs to you and me’ underscores a sense of universality. Despite the city’s sprawling nature, it possesses an intimate connection with its residents, each one influencing and influenced by the very fabric of the urban landscape. They’re not merely passing through the city; they are the city.
Memorable Lines: Echoes of the Urban Soul
Certain lyrics in the song linger long after the last note has faded, serving as haunting echoes of the urban soul. Lines like ‘And everything looks good tonight’ deliver a sense of ephemeral beauty — an appreciation for the moment, untainted and alive, resonating with anyone who’s ever felt the pulse of the city.
Other lines, such as ‘All of it is yours and mine,’ mingled with the hypnotic repetition of ‘la, la, la,’ act as a mantra reinforcing the communal and personal claim over the urban experience. It’s a powerful declaration of presence and belonging — asserting that within the city’s vastness, there is a place for each individual narrative.
