11/6
Drive
I have found yet another song that I think relates to The Great Gatsby. The song is called Drive, which that alone lends itself to the cars and the confusion of the who’s driving what scene. Jay Gatsby and Daisy drive back in Gatsby’s yellow car after Daisy confesses she loves both men. During this drive, Daisy hits Myrtle, killing her in the accident. In my mind I’ve always envisioned Gatsby pleading with Daisy the whole way back before the accident. The speaker of the song says “we could take a drive downtown to the Pacific coast/ we could work it all out, tell me where it hurts most/ we could tie another knot between us and some hope.” This is reminiscent of how I imagine Gatsby asking Daisy for more of a chance after the whole ordeal with Tom. He takes the time to plead without an audience to consider taking a leap of faith with him.
The speaker also says “I’m here for you / when your world is falling apart,” similar to how dedicated Gatsby is and how he would take the fall of the accident to protect her. However, at the beginning of the song he says “I know you’re hurting/ I know its not fair/ I know his words still ring like bells in the back of your head” almost to say I know he’s still in your picture but I can be here for you instead, I can do better than him.
The automobiles and the importance of the cars in The Great Gatsby sets up the accident perfectly after such a violent argument that leaves Daisy in tears, torn between her husband and past lover. Even though it isn’t entirely in his character, it seems possible that Jay would keep fighting for her attention even when they are alone, driving in the dark of night. He has become so desperate for her that he lets her just drive and when the drive turns sour, covers for her.