What does Drive By mean?

Train: Drive By Meaning

Album cover for Drive By album cover

Song Released: 2012


Drive By Lyrics

On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess thats deja vu
But I thought this can't be true
Cause you moved to west L.A or New York or Santa Fe
Or where or ever to get away from me

Oh but that one...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    JD.Rhodes.83
    click a star to vote
    May 26th 2012 !⃝

    One thine to think about is the fact that Train's lyrics often have catch lines to explain doubt or fear. In "Marry Me," everyone hears the passion, but almost never the line "If I ever get the nerve to say hello."
    In "Drive By," it explains that he's singing to an ex because he was reminded of her by a random passer-by. It's a thought process being explained to one's self, he isn't actually addressing the subject, or the stranger. It's an expression of past-tense emotions.

    The only line that I continuously question is that of "lookin' for a two ply hefty bag to hold my love." I feel as though he is saying "My love has been trashed, but I still wanna keep it."

    Either way, the song is a passion and a comment of the past, even though it is the past. It isn't a literal love letter that will be sent, it's a past-tense definition of emotions.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 15th 2012 !⃝

    Falling in love with a one night stand, after realizing you are in love with him/her, they've already moved away. After waiting for a while, you see that they have returned.and then you confess your love. Though, it's not said if the person returns the feelings.

  3. anonymous
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    Apr 13th 2022 !⃝

    "You moved away........to get away from me"
    "Let them sue me....Like you do me......."
    Def about a guy who has been on a one night stand, become totally infatuated and is stalking this girl!
    Love these clever lyrics as they make the guy sound so 'innocently in love' but he's a stalker- definately!

  4. anonymous
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    Jul 21st 2019 !⃝

    Probably a bootycall situation. They were probably just hookup buddies but he fell for her over time and it scared him so he left and she feels as if he left and used her so she moved away and he realized he truly has feelings for her and wants to explain why he had left .

  5. anonymous
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    Aug 11th 2017 !⃝

    I think it's about a booty call situation that actually turns into more than that. I feel he has been hiding the relationship from his friends, because she isn't exactly the type of girl he wants his friends to know he's seeing..maybe she's a BIG girl, or an older girl. After much time...he realizes he has actually fallen for her and wants to tell her.

  6. Carmen Erisman
    click a star to vote
    Oct 21st 2016 !⃝

    The line "this is not a drive by" always irked me. Like what, this is not a drive by shooting? I am going to believe it means this is not a fast food drive through, but a five course candlelit meal. There. Now I can enjoy the song!

  7. Melissa Forester
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    Mar 15th 2016 !⃝

    Too me its personal ive lived it, guy and girl meet but timing was off even though love was almost instantly there, too scared too much baggage and life in general was in the way so he ended it abruptly and by chance paths crossed again and the confession of being scared to love to being vulnerable and getting hurt 2 years later wedding plans are being made. I plan to use this as my walking down the aisle song.

  8. EdSheeranAndTaylorSwift
    click a star to vote
    Mar 3rd 2015 !⃝

    I feel like this song is about seeing a girl he onced loved and now when he sees her agin after she left him he wants to start over again. He wants to start over even if it means it wont last long and he will get hurt again. He knows it wont last long, it is just a driveby but he will still want her.

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 4th 2013 !⃝

    The song's about a guy falling deeply inlove to a girl. he is smitten by her! and he wanted to pursue her. just listen to the song its good time song kinda like britney pop kind of melody! :)

  10. anonymous
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    Oct 28th 2012 !⃝

    It's about a guy who has a one-night stand with someone. Freaked over the experience and not sure what to do, he just left ASAP. This left the girl heart-broken and felt like she was only used.

    So soon, after a while, the guy finally realizes that it wasn't just any one-night stand: he really fell in love. Then he sees that the girl is still where he met her. At this, he immediately tells her about this, and that the one-night stand was really love, that he misses her and truly wants her love.

    Happily, the two reconcile, and PROPERLY start a relationship.

    So I guess the main message, along with the one above, is that love can be found anywhere, a one-night stand or not.

  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 5th 2012 !⃝

    The song called Drive-by by Train is actually about a guy in love with this girl he hooked up with. He had a one night stand with her meaning he had sex with her one night and she never saw him again the next day, or maybe he never saw her the next day. He was saying "this is not a driveby" probably saying that no matter what, I'll always be there for you when you need my help. I'll tell you I don't know what he was scared about!

  12. anonymous
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    Aug 1st 2012 !⃝

    I think it sounds like he was great friends with a girl and they hooked up one night. He really liked her - was falling for her but maybe those feelings freaked him out. But now she moved on and he regrets that he never acted on those feelings. And he saw her again recently and wants to act on those feelings he once felt.

  13. anonymous
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    Jul 7th 2012 !⃝

    you all have this song wrong he's a player and ends up falling in love with a one night stand he's scard and overwhelmed because he never felt this way before and ends up leaving her. She moves away because she's embarrassed. Now he's upset because he figures out that he feels this way because she's the one and only and thats why he misses her and wants her to come back

  14. anonymous
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    May 31st 2012 !⃝

    He is dating a girl. After they have one amazing night, he wakes up looks at her and realizes he is in love with her. These feelings scare him and so he slips out before she wakes to clear his head. She is hurt and angry. He runs into her again one day and pours his heart out swearing it wasn't a one night "drive by" but love.

  15. anonymous
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    May 30th 2012 !⃝

    The song sounds insincere to me, like he's a player....I saw a girl that looked like you, that night was so good, I promise baby, I love you and will never leave...now lets get down to business again! Sounds like Train was intentionally trying to represent the player mentality, whether they personally agree with it or not, I don't know.

  16. anonymous
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    May 24th 2012 !⃝

    It sure sounds like a serial killer, driving by to check on her, knowing where she lives and moves to, also, the part about "i didnt need you until I came to" sounds a lot like she somehow knocked him out and ran, and when he realized she was a good fight he was even more enthralled with her.
    Stilll, it's got a catchy beat, and even though my interpretation is kinda creepy, I actually like the song!

  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 12th 2012 !⃝

    He is in love with a girl he had a one night stand with. He realied this too late and she moved away from him. Now he wishes that she would come back so he can be with her forever. He is telling her that it is not going to be like a drive by, really quick, scary, and end as fast as it started. It will be a real relationship.

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