Song Meaning
Craig Wedren's "Wanna Drive?" is a sonic koan wrapped in minimalist electronica, a deceptively simple invitation that burrows into the subconscious. The repetition of "Wanna drive? Push a button, close eye" acts as a mantra, suggesting a surrender of control, a willingness to be led—or perhaps misled. The question isn't just about transportation; it's about a journey into altered states, a blurring of boundaries between passenger and driver, reality and perception. The closing of an eye implies a trust, or a reckless abandonment of it. Wedren uses the open road as a metaphor for something far more interior and psychologically charged.
The seemingly nonsensical lines "Get your ass out and switch sides / Smooth your eye folds and blink" disrupt the hypnotic rhythm, introducing a note of disquiet. Is this a power dynamic shifting? A demand for reciprocation? The imagery becomes increasingly surreal: "I'm seeing all the clothes that show on you shrink / Don't want it, a cut kitty on a curbside sink." The shrinking clothes could symbolize vulnerability or exposure, while the image of the "cut kitty" evokes something wounded and pathetic, rejected by society. Wedren throws cold water on any burgeoning sensuality, rejecting superficiality with a sharp, almost violent, metaphor.
The song's final verse offers a glimmer of something resembling comfort, albeit laced with ambiguity: "A drink and then home / Wake me in an hour / Don't think small, get power / And dig snow, dig snow / And think of me in the shower." This closing passage suggests a need for escape, a desire for transformation ("get power"), and a return to a primal state of cleansing and renewal. The repetition of "dig snow" is particularly evocative, hinting at a struggle, a need to unearth something buried beneath the surface. Ultimately, "Wanna Drive?" is less about the destination and more about the unsettling, exhilarating, and potentially dangerous journey of self-discovery.
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