Passenger

Deftones' song 'Passenger' from their album 'White Pony' is a powerful track that combines the band's signature alternative metal sound with evocative lyrics that suggest a sense of surrender and the thrill of a nocturnal journey. The song features a collaboration with Tool's lead singer Maynard James Keenan, adding a layer of depth to the vocal delivery. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is content with being a passenger, relinquishing control and enjoying the ride provided by another. The repeated plea to 'Drive faster!' indicates a desire to escape, to feel the rush of adrenaline, and to break free from the stillness of life.

The imagery used in the song, such as 'chrome buttons, buckles and leather surfaces,' adds a tactile quality to the experience, suggesting a luxurious or at least a very specific setting that the passenger is in. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for life's journey, where the passenger is seeking more intense experiences, or it could be a literal car ride that represents a temporary escape from reality. The open invitation to 'Let the whole world look in' shows a disregard for the judgment of others, emphasizing the importance of the moment and the liberation felt during this ride.

The song's atmosphere is one of both relaxation and anticipation. The passenger is 'still and breathless,' suggesting a calmness or perhaps a feeling of being trapped in stasis, yet there's an underlying current of wanting more, of not being satisfied with the status quo. The repeated request not to 'pull over' and to take the passenger 'to the edge' speaks to a human desire to push boundaries and experience life fully, even if it means taking risks or facing the unknown.