Impossible Tracks

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone swept up in a powerful, perhaps reckless, infatuation. The opening lines, "I was carried away / I was moving too fast on impossible tracks," immediately establish a sense of losing control. This isn't just a casual crush; it's a headlong rush into something potentially unstable, driven by an external force. The repetition of "I was carried away" reinforces this feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to steer the course. The narrator acknowledges a susceptibility to being "easily led," not by reasoned argument, but by natural, almost primal forces like "the moon, by the tide." This suggests a deep-seated tendency to follow impulses or external influences, making them vulnerable to the "shaking heart" that takes hold. The chorus hammers this point home: the heart's impact was immediate and profound, leading to a predictable downfall, "Like I knew you would." The second verse introduces a complex dynamic, questioning the nature of the relationship. The line, "Well if a real live liar can set you on fire / Then don't you settle for it?" hints at a potentially deceptive or manipulative partner, yet the narrator seems to embrace the destructive passion. The desire to return to "impossible tracks" and be "carried away" again, despite the implied negative consequences, highlights the intoxicating pull of this experience. The outro shifts to a more visual, almost staged scene on "Sunset." The "perfect stride" and "perfect meter" suggest a facade of control or harmony, but the "smiles inside" and "holding back the tide" reveal a suppressed emotional turmoil. This contrast between outward appearance and inner feeling underscores the precariousness of their situation, a beautiful, fleeting moment built on an unsustainable foundation.