“He sees the bright and hollow sky, He see the stars come out tonight, He sees the city's ripped backsides, He sees the winding ocean drive.”

song ~ “The Passenger”  
artist ~ Iggy Pop   

I am the passenger, and I ride and I ride
I ride through the city's backsides
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, the bright and hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight

I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city's ripped backsides
And everything looks good tonight
Singing la la la la la.. la la la la, la la la la.. la la la la etc

Get into the car
We'll be the passenger
We'll ride through the city tonight
We'll see the city's ripped backsides
We'll see the bright and hollow sky
We'll see the stars that shine so bright
Stars made for us tonight

Oh, the passenger
How, how he rides
Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He looks through his window
What does he see?
He sees the sign and hollow sky
He sees the stars come out tonight
He sees the city's ripped backsides
He sees the winding ocean drive
And everything was made for you and me
All of it was made for you and me
'Cause it just belongs to you and me
So let's take a ride and see what's mine
Singing la la la la, la la la la [x3]  _{(Image source)}

Oh the passenger
He rides and he rides
He sees things from under glass
He looks through his window side
He sees the things that he knows are his
He sees the bright and hollow sky
He sees the city sleep at night
He sees the stars are out tonight
And all of it is yours and mine
And all of it is yours and mine
So let's ride and ride and ride and ride
Oh, oh, 

Singing la la la la, la la la la

Comments 

Originally from Iggy’s 1977 album “Lust for Life,” this song became a belated hit of sorts when it was re-released as a UK single in 1998.    

Passenger sees world go by

The inspiration for these lyrics came from Iggy’s travels with David Bowie, during which he found himself “riding around North America and Europe in David’s car ad infinitum.”  

Moving from gig to gig, much of his days and nights were spent as a silent passenger, “under glass,” looking out of the car window at the cityscape, the stars, the ocean.    

Viewing the “city’s ripped backsides” may not have been pleasant or even inspiring, but the writer realizes that the view through the glass “looks so good tonight.”     _{(Image source)}

From the quotidian comes great art

Not only were the lyrics inspired by the dull routine of constant touring, but the music also had humble beginnings.

One day during the recording sessions for the album “Lust for Life,” the guitarist Ricky Gardiner was at home before the session later in the day. While puttering about in his garden, the catchy riff popped into his head.    

Later, in the studio, Gardiner played it for Iggy. Iggy proceeded to write the lyrics, the band filled out the music, and they went on to create another of Iggy Pop’s masterpieces.  

Gardiner continues to receive royalties for “The Passenger.”  Not bad, for an afternoon's work.
Iggy Pop – "The Passenger"  _{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}
Lyrics by Iggy Pop, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
References – Wikipedia

This is my entry in the 60-Day Lyrics Challenge

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