Reviews for The Approaching Curve Lyrics

This is one of the greatest pieces of rhetoric I have ever seen. I dont think the story going on in the song has much to do with the meaning. Yes, the story of two people committing suicide is there, but I don't think the song was written to tell a story. Notice how when anything but music is described, Tim makes it seem stressful using words such as "painful" and "extremity." However, when Tim describes the music, he shows that it is the characters' only source of calmness. Only when they are about to die does the "cadence overtake the air" merging chaotic life and music/calmness. He is trying to convey that music is the only source of calmness in life. Its how people can momentarily escape from their problems.

the song is about a boy breaking up with a girl during a car ride ... why are you doing this ... she asks about why does he breaks up with her , then they are shouting at themselfes, and they get so much obstructed by arguing, that when a guy see a curve, she notice the curve too , bud shes pissed at him, shes affected, so she made no indications of slowing.

Okay,this was what I thought all these years from when I was 8-12 (My current age :) Was this was about a father who'es wife tries to kill him after sleeping with another women and getting her pregnet and birthing the child.The father then decides to take his new child and another one of his children (A teenage girl),out of town with his new lover.The teen is so confused and angry at her father that he cheated on the mother and thinks since she's the child of her,she is not loved.So she pushes the father out of the car and drive into a ditch with the lover and child....It makes sence in my mind!

Allright...I knew this was a breakup song. That's obvious. But when I first heard it I never really truly paid attention to the actual spoken parts but when I did I realized not only is Tim is a god with any sort of writing (I wish I could write like this) but it's THE MOST unique thing Rise Against has ever written. Who else would come up with putting descriptive writing into a song and not sing it, but speak it? It's so vulnerable, so emotional and so...tangible. I love it. One of the most heartfelt songs I've heard from these guys. It's amazing. Ab-so-lutely a-mazing. And my god, Tim's been with quite a few crazy girls. Driving them both into death? Man that's intense. I would never want my relationship with my bf to end like this. I think if you're in a situation where this song describes it, then you shouldn't be in it. =\ anyway, great volcals, great lyrics, I love the guitar (as always with RA. Can't argue with Zach...except maybe Chris XD) All in all my review out of five stars would have to be about 10. ;)

I think you all thinking about it in the wrong way- what i personally think it's about is; they got in a fight and the guy wants to end it and the girl still loves him, and she gets so emotional that she doesn't know what's going on, then the didn't see the curve, and they then died

I like this song... the lyrics is a good story about a dead/suicide.... starts with this guy who enjoys a nice moment in the car, but then he notice that the girl who's driving is upset... the reason.. in the second part it appears that he is breaking up with her.... as the music goes by, the chorus reflects that the relationship wasn't real, smiles outside at first, then tears...
the final part is the best of the story, obviously because is when he realizes that she is going to take their lives on the road... and hence the title: "there is a curve approaching ... but she made no indications of slowing...." the end.

The first time I heard this song, I thought it was the guy who was trying to die. "Why are you doing this? she spoke as if not expecting a response."
She didn't expect an answer because there wasn't one. She was asking herself why she was giving up. She asked him if he was ready.
He only began to regret it towards the end.
The two went to their deaths as lovers, not murder/suicide.
The 'cadence' was the peace of their final moments together.
Their acceptance of their fate.

"The music blared with a calming frequency.
The speakers gently seeped the 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 streets with melted 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."

Well, I think this song is actually painting the picture of a suicide/murder. But that's the thing with literature; (and music, in this case)It can have many meanings and many perspectives from which it can be deciphered. One of the reasons I love this song, it's so vividly descriptive that it can be compared to literature. But yeah, I listened to this song many times, at first only because I loved the sound of Tim McIlrath's voice. (:D) But I grew interested in the sophisticated lyrics I was hearing and it really drew me in. The imagery in this song is amazing to start with.. it creates the feeling that you're there in the car with them. But any well thought out grammar can do that.. what's more intriguing here is the situation being described. At first I couldn't really tell if it was metaphoric or physically suicidal. But I listened to it more and judging by the directness of the lyrics, and how he describes the tear welling in her eye at that exact moment etc. hints more towards an actual physical situation. It's also describing a breakup but the breakup is occuring in the physical car and the girl is upset to the point of ending their lives. Very deep song, lovely lyrics. It's so inspiring how Rise Against can throw their instruments together and Tim can just talk for the majority of a song and still have an amazing song with a perfectly clear picture painted. Well done Rise Against<3

Although you could look at the lyrics in this song as a murder/suicide description I believe it has a different meaning.

I believe that the car is a metaphor for the thoughts of the girl, while everything outside of the car is a metaphor for the guys thoughts.

"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"

These lines reflect that he feels that the relationship is taking a same "painfully" predictable course and that she , due to the fact that she is driving, is causing the drive/relationship to take this course. He is frustrated with nothing happening.

The lines "The windows were cold to the touch, reflecting the icy conditions in our immediate extremity."

Keeping with the metaphor it shows that the guy is upset, and not wanting what is in the relationship (Cold and dark), and the girl is happy with the relationship (Warm and light with music)

Then at the end of the song the lines

"Up ahead there was a curve approaching.
She made no indications of slowing"

show that the relationship is going to end because the guy's feelings are reflected in the fact that the road curves and takes a new direction. The girl however refuses to change what she is doing therefore when he (the road) changes course, she (the car) does not and that results in a crash (end of the relationship)

This song is a break-up and accident/death song. They had a fight (man and girl) and she was crying and so depressed that she just had an accident (Up ahead there's a curve approaching, she made no indications of slowing).

I was trolling through my CD collection when I found Sufferer. Put it in the player and set it on shuffle. This was the first song that came up. I'd just been through a pretty abusive relationship, so it meant a lot. I guess I'll be repeating what most of you have been saying. It is, in my opinion, a break-up song.

I'd say the girl is so heartbroken about him breaking up with her,
that everything between them is shattered, and she'll end it, just
to show him how she feels.

Listen to All Hail The Heartbreaker by the Spill Canvas.
Completely different genre, but the heartbreak part is what's similar.

The first time I heard this song, I overlooked the lyrics and mainly paid attention to the music in the background...
But as I listened to it more and more, things started clicking about what this song is about.

Muder/suicide.
As someone else has said on here.

The lyrics just paint such a vivid mental image in your mind.
When you start to piece together what the lyrics mean, even though it is a smidgen morbid, it's still beautiful.
A beautiful catastrophe, even though that sounds cliche.
You feel the descriptions. You heard the sadness.
(Wow, I think I've been an "art freak" too much. Feeling colors and junk. xD)

It's safe to say this is one of my favorite songs by RA.

i love the way the lyrics illustrate what's going on,,
"this is what's best for me, for you, for us." or maybe just me i thought.
shows that they knew the other person wasn't ready to let go.
it reminds me of fights i've had in past relationships,,
unfortunately... they all seem crazy enough to commit a murder suicide which is why i wouldn't ever break up with them while they were driving.
all in all, it's a beautiful songs.
and creates not only calming frequency but a good picture of what's going on.

this is a pretty easy song to decipher.
It's a murder suicide.
"up ahead there was a curb approaching, she made no indications of slowing"
she's going to crash the car.
and again "Please Love give me the wheel before both of our hearts you will steal tonight."


this is a wonderful song though.. one of my favourite bands by far. I;m a huge fan of lyrics, so the fact that they can be so poetic with crazy guitar and drum parts makes me smile.
rise against<3