☝️ Key Points
- The song tells a journey through the singer's memories, including the emotional pain and physical violence he has experienced.
- The recurring refrain 'Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are' metaphorically refers to how painful memories from the past often seem closer than they actually are.
- At the beginning of the song, the singer reminisces about his best friend Kenny, who died in a car accident. This loss has had a profound impact on the singer's life.
- The song also depicts the complicated and often violent relationship between the singer and his father, another traumatic aspect of his life that makes the memories in the metaphorical rear view mirror appear closer.
- In the final section of the song, the singer reflects on an intense romantic relationship he had as a teenager, emphasizing once again how past and present are connected through the metaphorical rear view mirror.
Interpretation
The song 'Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are' by
Meat Loaf is an emotional narrative based on a metaphorical journey through the singer's memories and experiences.
In the opening verses, the singer recalls his childhood with his best friend Kenny, who died in a car accident. The refrain 'And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are' refers to the memories of Kenny, which remain painfully present despite the passage of time.
In the following sections, the singer describes his difficult relationship with his violent father. The metaphor of the rear view mirror is used again to emphasize how close these painful memories still are.
In the final section, the singer tells of a romantic relationship he had as a teenager. He describes the physical and emotional intensity of their love, but also their subsequent separation. Once again, the past appears closer than it actually is in the metaphorical rear view mirror.
The song addresses themes of loss, violence, love, and the way the past shapes and influences us. The recurring refrain emphasizes that, although these events are in the past, they still have a strong emotional impact on the singer's present life.