Hit the Road: 14 songs about driving
We dedicated the May/June 2023 issue of Hagerty Drivers Club magazine to the deep connections between music and cars, including several fun lists featuring your favorite car songs. Come back often or click the Music & Cars tag to stay up to date on these stories as they roll out online. You can also jam with our custom Music & Cars playlist on Spotify, available here.
Countless songs address the freedom of driving. Among thousands of candidates, we’ll start by nominating two seemingly disparate numbers, both of which illustrate a great through line of American song—the liberating spirit of adventure and exploration that hitting the highway represented. “See the U.S.A. In Your Chevrolet” was made famous by Dinah Shore in 1950, though the jingle—written by Leo Corday and Leon Carr—was originally sung for the TV show Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet by Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy. Later covered by Pat Boone and even the cast of Glee, after decades of service as a recurring Chevrolet jingle, its luster has by now largely worn off. Conversely, the status of the once-obscure garage rock classic “Roadrunner”—by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers—continues its ascent to musical standard-dom, its popularity growing like the sprawling suburbia that its narrator simultaneously celebrates and seeks to escape.
And, of course, no discussion of the freedom that cars offer would be complete without “Born to Be Wild,” made famous by Steppenwolf and its appearance in the 1969 film Easy Rider, which is about two meaning-seeking, drug-dealing Californian rebels on an impromptu trip across the American Southwest and South on old Harley choppers. Amusingly, this all-American standard was written by a Canadian sessions musician, Mars Bonfire (real name Dennis Eugene McCrohan). He was broke and out of work and planted in Los Angeles when he penned the timeless anthem, a ditty that turned out—in the way these things do—to be just as useful for breathless corporate marketers as for nonconformists quitting their jobs and hitting the road.
Here are 14 more songs that celebrate the freedom of driving…
Bruce Springsteen
“THUNDER ROAD”
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road
In the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets
Somewhere in Maine, Stephen King is listening.
M.I.A.
“BAD GIRLS”
Cover me, cause I’m changing lanes
That’s not the purpose of driver aids and you know it, M.I.A! They’re meant to complement proper use of mirrors, not replace them completely.
Sonic Youth
“SHOOT”
Can I have the car keys? I wanna go for a ride
Can I have the car please? I’m going out for a while
Can I have the car now? I wanna drive all around
Can I have the car, dear? I’m gonna leave this town
This feels like the lyrical equivalent of Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom?
Iggy Pop
“THE PASSENGER”
He sees the sight of 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
Someone sure is selfish.
The Allman Brothers Band
“RAMBLIN’ MAN”
Leaving out of Nashville, Tennessee
They’re always having a good time down on the bayou, Lord
And Delta women think the world of me
Yes, but the JetBlue women can’t stand you.
Wilco
“PASSENGER SIDE”
Hey, wake up, your eyes weren’t open wide
For the last couple of miles you’ve been swerving from side to side
You’re gonna make me spill my beer
If you don’t learn how to steer
Team Wilco lasted exactly one stage before the FIA banned them from ever competing in the WRC again.
Foghat
“SLOW RIDE”
Slow ride
Take it easy
Slow ride
Take it easy
Slow ride
Take it easy
Slow ride
Take it easy
Slow ride
Take it easy
I hear you, man. Now tell it to all the bozos over on r/idiotsincars.
Pearl Harbor and the Explosions
“DRIVIN’”
(Drivin’)
Back on the streets when it feels so right
(Drivin’) Drivin’
(Drivin’)
It’s just tonight, I feel the only cure is drivin’
(Drivin’) Drivin’
(Drivin’)
I’ve got no time to think of how you feel
(Drivin’) Drivin’
(Drivin’)
Behind the wheel, so now I gotta drive it, drive it
(Drivin’) Drivin’
Contrary to popular belief, this is not a song about golf.
The Modern Lovers
“ROADRUNNER”
With the radio on
I’m in love with Massachusetts
With the radio off, however, I prefer South Dakota.
The Cars
“DRIVE”
Who’s gonna hold you down when you shake?
Who’s gonna come around when you break?
Such a subtle nod to the Plymouth K-car.
Chuck Berry
“NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO”
Ridin’ along in my calaboose
Still tryin’ to get her belt aloose
All the way home I held a grudge
But the safety belt it wouldn’t budge
Cruisin’ and playin’ the radio
With no particular place to go
And that, friends, is why we heed recall notices.
War
“LOW RIDER”
All my friends know the low rider
Yeah, but so does Karen from the neighborhood watch, and you just know she’s got 911 on speed dial.
Gary Numan
“CARS”
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It’s the only way to live
In cars
Is it, though?
The Breeders
“DRIVIN’ ON 9” (Ed’s Redeeming Qualities cover)
Drivin’ on 9
Drivin’ on 9
Drivin’ on 9
Also not a song about golf!
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Can’t remember the song, but it was Jim Croce, a rainy night, windshield wipers slapping out, lyrics included “love the rainy night, love the rainy night…..” May big Jim RIP. He had a short ride, but he made it work for us…recall the junk yard dog, big bad Leroy Brown and a bucket of others
Jerry Harrison – Rev It Up
https://youtu.be/CdzW93F-aHg?t=1
Most of these are all well known well played (over played IMO) songs. The McDonalds of songs. I expected the Haggerty crowd to find hidden gems like Sausalito Summer Nights. It was a one hit wonder from the early 1980’s by a Dutch band named Diesel. Don’t fall for the remake by ???? Super catchy tune that will certainly be added to many folks playlists.
Like to see if others can post forgotten classics.
For the younger crowd (or those young at heart), I also have Car Radio from twenty one pilots.
We left for Frisco in your Rambler
The radiator running dry
I’ve never been much of a gambler
And had a preference to fly
You said, “Forget about the airline
Let’s take the car and save the fare”
We blew a gasket on the Grapevine
And eighty dollars on repair
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
Hot summer night in Sausalito
Can’t stand the heat another mile
Let’s drop a quarter in the meter
And hit the sidewalk for a while
I’ll have a burger and a root beer
You feed the heap some other grade
A shot of premium to boot, dear
We’ll get across the Golden Gate
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
Another mile or two to Frisco
200 gallons from LA
The engine’s thumpin’ like a disco
We ought to dump her in the Bay
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
Cashin’ all my checks
Sweepin’ out my bank
Spend it on a Rambler
With a whirlpool in the tank
Look out over here
Watch out over there
Can’t afford a blowout
‘Cause we haven’t got a spare
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
(Sausalito summer night)
All aboard
Hot summer night in Sausalito
(Sausalito summer night)
Hot summer night in Sausalito
(Sausalito summer night)
Hot summer night in Sausalito
(Sausalito summer night)
Hot summer night in Sausalito
(Sausalito summer night)
Hot summer night in Sausalito
(Sausalito summer night)
The comment section really messed up my format. Here’s a link to Sausalito Summer Nights. Enjoy!!
Didn’t post the link the first time around. . . . hope it works now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMAGI7zRqj8
Can’t forget “Voodoo Cadillac” and “Fried Chicken and Gasoline” by Southern Culture on the Skids. Great road trip sounds.
“Slick Black Cadillac” by Quiet Riot, “Mercury Blues” by David Lindley, and “Radar Gun” by the Bottle Rockets are all top notch driving songs. Check em out.
Drive Low Rider Cars Can’t Drive 55 😀
I too lazy to read all the comments. Did anyone mention Queen’s I’m in love with my car?
Btw there are lots of great songs here!
They jumped into his pick-up, Sonny shoved her down in gear, looked at Sherry & said let’s get on outta here, the star’s were high above them, the Moon was in the East, the Sun was setting on them when they reached Miami Beach, they got a motel by the water & a quart of Bombay gin “The road goes on forever” and the party never end’s!
Plus a bunch of great song’s that all have driving part’s in them & a ton more awesome tune’s about nothing else but driving that you missed! I know it’s all subjective, but the classic CARS tune “Drive” absolutely doesn’t belong on this list, I mean COME-ON MAN!!
I didn’t see Willie Nelson’s On the Road Again, or BobSeger’s Turn the Page which I used to love listening to before I retired from cross-country driving for a living.
Bad Girls by M.I.A . Is a embarrassment to all Gear-Heads and driving all-together ! I wouldn’t play that while sitting in a Rusted-out Yugo in a junk-yard ! Just my opinion !
Drive Somewhere ; by the Vulgar Boatmen !
With ALL of these great songs submitted by their own classic auto customers and afficinados, WHY is their on hold song some crappy country formula song????!!!!!.