12 Miles
Journey of Struggle: Van Breakdown, Endless Road, and Life's Surreal Realities
Lyrics
I got 12 miles down the road and the van died
The narrator traveled 12 miles, and their vehicle stopped working.
The cops had to push us up I-95
The police assisted in pushing the vehicle on I-95.
We won’t even have a place to stay
They don't have a place to stay.
For 34 more goddamn days.
They face a challenging situation for the next 34 days.
And even then, we’re probably gonna fry.
Even after 34 days, they anticipate difficulties.
And this is everybody’s fault but mine
The narrator blames others for their troubles.
Everybody’s fault but mine
Reiteration of blaming others for their problems.
If I say it enough, I’ll convince myself this time.
The narrator hopes repetition will make them believe it's not their fault.
You won’t even have a thing to hear
No one will listen or care about their struggles.
For almost three more goddamn years
Anticipating a long period of hardship.
If I’d know that it would take this long, I probably would’ve given up.
If they knew it would take this long, they might have given up.
We won’t age a single day until we die.
Immortality or frozen in time until death.
Our faces, frozen in the ice
Physical appearance remains unchanged.
So you can watch when you’re alone at night.
Others can witness their preserved state in solitude.
We won’t age a single day until we die
Repetition of not aging until death.
Our voices trapped there for all time
Vocal expressions remain preserved forever.
No consequences no real lives
No consequences or real experiences.
And this is nobody’s fault but mine
The narrator takes responsibility for their situation.
Nobody’s fault but mine.
Reiteration of self-blame.
If I say it again, you can tell me it’s all right
Seeking reassurance that it's okay to blame oneself.
And we have that same old song to sing
A repetitive, familiar song becomes a routine.
Each night for two free goddamn drinks
Narrator trades performances for drinks.
It’s in my DNA I swear
A reference to a genetic connection with music.
I hear it in my sleep, and it goes
The narrator hears music in their dreams.
If I got mine
The desire for personal success or achievement.
That would be nice
Expressing a wish for personal gain.
We won’t age a single day until we die.
Reiteration of not aging until death.
Our faces frozen in the ice,
Physical appearance remains unchanged.
No consequences no real lives
No consequences or real experiences.
We won’t age a single day until we die.
Repetition of not aging until death.
We’re the ghost in the machine
Describing themselves as a ghost in the machine.
We’re the way you always thought you’d be.
Comparing themselves to an idealized version of others.
I got 12 Miles down the road and the van died
Repetition of the vehicle breaking down 12 miles away.
I got 12 Miles down the road and the van died
Reiteration of the vehicle breaking down.
I flirt with Indiana, see
Flirting with Indiana, suggesting a personal connection.
She always had a thing for me
Implying past romantic interest with Indiana.
I think she has a baby now
Speculating about Indiana's current life.
Cause life just never could slow down.
Life's pace remains relentless and unyielding.
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