The Approaching Curve

Album: The Sufferer & The Witness (2006)
Play Video
  • The music played with a calming frequency
    The speakers gently seeped with sounds
    Of ambient keyboards and light percussion
    Creating a seductive soundtrack to our midnight drive
    Through curtains of blackness
    The windows were cold to the touch
    Reflecting the icy conditions in our immediate extremity
    Salt stains and fingerprints littered the glass
    And streaks of melting snow cascaded down its length
    The music pulsed louder, yet gentle
    Like the far away squeal of a pot of boiling water
    The skyline was glowing faintly with vague hints of an impending dawn
    The car raced along a painfully straight stretch of road
    And she hadn't so much as turned the steering wheel
    Two degrees in the last twenty minutes
    Nor had we spoken

    As we were, so perfect, so happy
    They'll remember, only our smiles 'cause that's all they've seen
    Long since dried, when we are found, are the tears in which we had drowned
    As we were, so perfect, so happy

    "Why are you doing this?" she spoke as if not expecting a response
    Her voice penetrated the still air of our speechless drive
    So suddenly that my heart had jumped
    "I'm not doing anything," I said, but I didn't even believe that myself
    "This is what's best, for me, for you, for us," or maybe just for me I thought
    As a tear formed in the pit of her eye
    The music poured through the speakers and
    We were losing ourselves in the cadence
    She looked down momentarily and closed her eyes for
    A bit longer than a standard blink
    Then she was crying, then she was shouting, then I was shouting
    Now pouring confessions, having no answers, or solutions
    We barely even knew the questions

    As we were, so perfect, so happy
    They'll remember, only our smiles 'cause that's all they've seen
    Long since dried, when we are found, are the tears in which we had drowned
    As we were, so perfect, so happy

    Don't put me underground, I was meant for a life somewhere else
    Please, love, give me the wheel before both of our hearts you
    Will steal tonight (will steal tonight)

    As we were, so perfect, so happy
    They'll remember, only our smiles 'cause that's all they've seen
    Long since dried, when we are found, are the tears in which we had drowned
    As we were, so perfect, so happy

    Our cracking voices became part of the music
    The car pressed on faster through the night
    As our voices lowered, the cadence again overtook the air
    Up ahead there was a curve approaching
    She made no indications of slowing Writer/s: Brandon Barnes, Christopher Chasse, Joseph Principe, Timothy McIlrath
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

  • Nick from Iowa CityI think this song gains an interesting depth when taken in light of the lyrics in The Good Left Undone later in the same album. It seems that perhaps both songs are referring to the same relationship; one which the narrator cherishes, but knows is destructive to his partner, so he ends it. May or may not be related, but I found it intriguing.
  • Brad from Edmonton, AbThis song is about me and the mind readers present in all media, the fight the couple are having is between me and them.
  • Jordan from Exeter, United KingdomAnother interpretation of this song is that the car is a metaphor for the narrator's relationship with said girl. The relationship is travelling straight, which is fine for the narrator, but his girl wants more. However, at the first curve, the relationship crashes off the road.
  • Mirror from Melbourne, AustraliaThis seems like a song about a boy and a girl who did horrible things and loved each other and decided to end their lives together. I think that the boy was thinking about what would happen after they died.

    I love the song, music, lyrics, meaning and the way Tim talks like he is telling a story, narrating it, and only sings for the chorus.

    Definitely one of Rise Against's best and most original songs.
  • Wolfgang from Hawthorne, Cathe narrator is telling it as a story, , the conflict presented was hinted at, but never fully explained, it is left unresolved and the woman driving decides she does not want to live life the way it would leave itself, because she realizes life could never go back as it was, so she presses on and does not stop, the narrator cries out to God for help but it is left to the listener to decide wheter or not he answered
  • Sam from Two Rivers, WiI think that the road is his life and the girl is his conscience you know the thing that tells you what to do. And maybe he wants to kill himself or something i dont know thats my observation
  • Riley from Saskatoon, Skhey did u guys notice that when he says, "hearts you will steal tonight" it sounds like there is a woman singing along with him
  • Rich =] from Dunstable, United Kingdomi do believe they crashed because of the reasons already stated. I would just like to comment on how amazing the song is and how the first verse paints a beautiful picture that you can see so clearly in your head.
  • The Bert from Berlin, --I think that they crashed, too, because the text says "...thats all they've seen" wich sounds like noone does see them anymore. Another passage is "Long since dried, when we are found, are the tears in which we had drowned."
    If they get found they eighter got lost or died, and as they drowned i'd say that they are dead now.
  • Alex from Covina, Cai believe they crashed, because in the end as he says the last line, you can hear what is seemed to be a news helicopter and a man talking about an accident.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.