Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)

"Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" is widely interpreted as a powerful anthem of escapism and desperation. The lyrics convey an intense yearning to flee a suffocating environment, whether it be a small town, a dead-end situation, or a painful emotional state. The repeated, primal scream of "I don't care where, just far away" encapsulates the core sentiment: the destination is irrelevant, only the act of leaving matters. This reflects a deep-seated desire for a drastic change and a release from current circumstances.

The song also touches on complex emotional dynamics. The line "I dressed you in her clothes" is a significant point of discussion among fans. It can be interpreted as an attempt to recreate a past relationship or project the memory of a former lover onto a new person, suggesting that the escape is not just from a place but also from haunting memories that the narrator is struggling to leave behind. This adds a layer of melancholy and psychological complexity, implying that true escape might be impossible if one carries their baggage with them.

Ultimately, the song captures a universal feeling of wanting to get in a car and just drive, leaving problems in the rearview mirror. It's about seeking autonomy and taking control of one's life by physically removing oneself from a source of pain or stagnation. The title itself is a command, a plea for silence to fully immerse in the moment of departure and the potential for a new beginning.

The narrative opens with a profound sense of alienation and displacement. The singer feels completely out of place in their current environment, stating, "This town don't feel mine." This feeling creates an urgent and immediate desire to leave, to get far away from the suffocating familiarity of it all. There's no specific destination in mind; the goal is simply distance. The journey itself is the objective, a movement away from a place that offers no sense of belonging.

As the story progresses, a second person is introduced, someone who is now part of this escape plan. A particularly enigmatic and debated line, "I dressed you in her clothes," suggests a complex emotional landscape. This could be interpreted in several ways: it might be a literal act, attempting to recreate a past relationship by imposing the identity of a former lover onto a new companion. This points to an inability to move on, even while physically escaping. Alternatively, it could be a metaphor for projecting old feelings, expectations, and memories onto the new person, trying to fit them into a pre-existing emotional mold. Regardless of the interpretation, it adds a layer of psychological weight to the act of leaving, implying that the escape is not just from a physical place, but from a memory that still haunts the narrator.

Despite this complexity, there is a moment of possessive clarity and comfort in the chorus: "It feels good to know you're all mine." In the chaos of running away, this person becomes an anchor, a singular point of focus and control. This line, coupled with the repeated command, "Now drive me far away," underscores the desperation. The narrator is handing over control of the physical journey to their companion, finding solace in their presence while harboring a deep-seated need to be taken away from their inner and outer turmoil.

The song's core message is hammered home by the recurring, powerful declaration: "I don't care where, just far." This phrase, screamed with raw, cathartic energy, is the emotional climax. It strips away all pretense and planning, revealing the raw, primal need for flight. The destination is irrelevant; the only thing that matters is the act of leaving and the distance gained. The repetition emphasizes an overwhelming feeling of being trapped and the sheer desperation to break free from whatever confines—be it the town, painful memories, or a state of mind. The quiet verses build this tension, while the explosive choruses provide a powerful, emotional release, perfectly mirroring the internal struggle between feeling stuck and the explosive desire for freedom.

"Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" was written by all members of Deftones and released as the second single from their second album, Around the Fur, in 1998. The album was recorded at Studio Litho in Seattle and produced by Terry Date, who had also produced their debut, Adrenaline. Around the Fur marked a significant evolution in the band's sound, moving beyond the rap-rock influences of their debut towards a more atmospheric, melodic, and emotionally complex style that blended alternative metal with elements of shoegaze and dream-pop.

Interestingly, despite vocalist Chino Moreno often being credited with bringing the melodic and atmospheric side to the band, he has stated that it was guitarist Stephen Carpenter who wrote the music for "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)". This track, along with "Mascara" (also written by Carpenter), was pivotal in establishing the band's signature dynamic of blending heavy, aggressive instrumentation with ethereal and emotional vocal lines. The song was one of the key tracks that helped Deftones distinguish themselves from the broader nu-metal scene they were often associated with.

The band was feeling a surge of creative energy from constant touring and, after a short break, felt compelled to start writing new material, which led to the songs on Around the Fur. An acoustic version of the song, featuring Jonah Matranga of the band Far, was also recorded and later released on the B-Sides & Rarities compilation in 2005. Chino Moreno has expressed some dissatisfaction with the official music video, feeling it was a one-sided, "artsy" representation pushed by the record label to appeal to MTV, and vowed not to repeat that experience.

"Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" utilizes a relatively free verse structure, prioritizing emotional delivery over a strict, conventional rhyme scheme. The power of the lyrics comes from their directness and repetition rather than intricate rhyming patterns. For instance, in the verses, lines like "This town don't feel mine / I'm fast to get away, far" establish a mood without adhering to a specific rhyme. The chorus achieves its impact through the repeated phrase, "Now drive me far away / I don't care where, just far away," creating a powerful, incantatory effect.

Rhythmically, the song is in a standard 4/4 time signature with a tempo of around 93 BPM. What makes it compelling is the dynamic interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm. Abe Cunningham's drumming provides a steady, driving pulse that gives the song its feeling of constant motion. The verses feature a more restrained beat, allowing Moreno's melodic and rhythmic vocals to float over the top. In the chorus, the rhythm section becomes more aggressive and straightforward, with heavy crashes and a powerful backbeat that aligns with the explosive energy of the guitars and vocals. This rhythmic shift is fundamental to the song's emotional arc, building tension in the verses and providing a cathartic release in the chorus.

Musically, "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" is a masterclass in Deftones' signature dynamic contrast, often described as "loud-quiet-loud." The verses are subdued and atmospheric, built around Stephen Carpenter's clean, arpeggiated guitar riff and Chino Moreno's melodic, almost whispered vocals. This creates a sense of tension and introspection, which then erupts into the explosive, heavily distorted power chords of the chorus. Carpenter's guitar work blends heavy, down-tuned rhythms with ambient textures, a hallmark of his style. The rhythm section is crucial, with Abe Cunningham's drumming providing a powerful, driving beat that propels the song forward, combining syncopated rhythms with potent fills that enhance the song's energy.

Lyrically, the song employs simple, direct language and powerful repetition. The phrase "far away" and the climatic line "I don't care where, just far" are repeated with increasing intensity, functioning as a raw, emotional mantra. Moreno's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element, shifting dramatically from a soft, ethereal tenor in the verses to a desperate, cathartic scream in the chorus. This vocal range showcases the band's ability to convey complex emotions, blending vulnerability with raw power. The song's structure, which relies on this dynamic shift between verse and chorus, perfectly mirrors the lyrical theme of pent-up frustration finally being released.

"Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" is one of Deftones' most iconic and enduring songs, playing a crucial role in establishing their mainstream presence and defining their unique sound. Released as a single from their 1997 album Around the Fur, it was the band's first track to chart in the US, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. It also charted in the UK, solidifying their international recognition.

The song is widely regarded as a landmark track that bridged the gap between heavy metal, shoegaze, and dream-pop, influencing countless bands in the alternative and metal scenes that followed. Artists like Deafheaven and Nothing are often cited as being influenced by the sound Deftones pioneered with this track. Its blend of raw power and atmospheric beauty became a defining characteristic of the band, setting them apart from their nu-metal peers.

The song's popularity is also demonstrated by its frequent inclusion in live sets, where it remains a fan favorite. An acoustic version, featuring Jonah Matranga, was included on their B-Sides & Rarities compilation and the soundtrack for the film Little Nicky, further cementing its legacy. The song has been covered by various artists, notably by the industrial band HEALTH in 2024, demonstrating its continued relevance and appeal across different genres.

The central metaphor in "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" is the act of driving as a symbol for escape and liberation. The car journey represents a physical and emotional flight from a stagnant, oppressive reality. The indifference to the destination ("I don't care where, just far") emphasizes that the escape itself is the goal, symbolizing a release from emotional attachments and the search for a new beginning or identity.

The lyric "I dressed you in her clothes" serves as a powerful and ambiguous metaphor. It can symbolize the act of projecting the past onto the present, trying to replace a lost love by making a new person fit the mold of an old one. This suggests that while the narrator is physically escaping, they are still trapped by memory and past trauma. It highlights the difficulty of truly starting over when old emotional patterns and attachments are carried into the new reality.

The town itself ("This town don't feel mine") is a symbol of confinement and alienation. It represents any situation—a relationship, a job, a phase of life—that feels restrictive and inauthentic to the self. The desire to get "far away" is a desire to break free from these constraints and find a place of belonging, or at least a neutral space to breathe and redefine oneself.

The most prominent recurring lyrical motif in "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" is the desperate plea for distance, encapsulated in the phrases "far away" and "I don't care where, just far". The repetition of "far" and "far away" throughout the song transforms it from a simple direction into a mantra of escape. Its recurrence in both the quiet verses and the explosive choruses emphasizes the constant, underlying obsession with fleeing. The climactic, screamed repetition of "I don't care where, just far" serves as the song's emotional core and most memorable hook, signifying a complete surrender to the need for escape, regardless of the consequences or destination.

Another key recurring phrase is the command, "Now drive me far away," which shifts the dynamic from a solitary thought to a direct plea to a companion. This repetition highlights a sense of dependency and urgency.

Musically, the song is built around Stephen Carpenter's iconic arpeggiated guitar riff in the verses. This clean, atmospheric motif creates the song's initial mood of contemplation and tension. It acts as a stark contrast to the massive, distorted power chord progression of the chorus. The constant return to this quiet, melodic riff after the explosive choruses creates the song's signature dynamic ebb and flow, making it a foundational and instantly recognizable musical motif.