Road trips have increased in popularity this summer due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which is leading to many people spending some extra quality time in their automobile.
This got us thinking about all of the outstanding songs about cars and driving, so we created this list of 21 classic rock songs dedicated to cars and driving. Perhaps some car and driving metaphors are also thrown in there, but just put on cruise control and enjoy!
Alice Cooper – “Under My Wheels”
Share"Telephone is ringing/You got me on the run/I'm driving in my car now/I got you under my wheels."
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
Share"It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down/I had the radio on, I was drivin'/Trees went by, me and Del were singin' little Runaway/I was flyin'."
The Who – “Goin’ Mobile”
Share"I can pull up by the curb/I can make it on the road/Goin' mobile/I can stop in any street/And talk with people that we meet/Goin' mobile/Keep me movin'."
Prince – “Little Red Corvette”
Share"I guess I should've closed my eyes when you drove me to the place/Where your horses run free/'Cause I felt a little ill when I saw all the pictures/Of the jockeys that were there before me."
Queen – “I’m in Love With My Car”
Share"The machine of a dream/Such a clean machine/With the pistons a pumping/And the hubcaps all gleam."
Kenny Loggins – “Danger Zone”
Share"Revvin' up your engine/Listen to her howlin' roar/Metal under tension/Beggin' you to touch and go."
Deep Purple – “Highway Star”
Share"Nobody going to take my car I'm going to race it to the ground/Nobody going to beat my car/It's going to break the speed of sound."
Rush – “Red Barchetta”
Share"I strip away the old debris/That hides a shining car/A brilliant red Barchetta/From a better, vanished time/We fire up the willing engine/Responding with a roar/Tires spitting gravel/I commit my weekly crime."
Bruce Springsteen – “Pink Cadillac”
Share"Now some folks say it's too big/And uses too much gas/Some folks say it's too old/And that it goes too fast/But my love is bigger than a Honda/It's bigger than a Subaru."
The Cars – “Drive”
Share"You can't go on/Thinking nothing's wrong, oh no/Who's gonna drive you home/Tonight?"
Iggy Pop – “The Passenger”
Share"I am a passenger/And I ride and I ride/I ride through the city's backsides/I see the stars come out of the sky/Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky/You know it looks so good tonight."
The Doobie Brothers – “Rockin’ Down the Highway”
Share"Got those highway blues, can't you hear my motor runnin'/Flyin' down the road with my foot on the floor/All the way in town they can hear me comin'/Ford's about to drop, she won't do no more."
Van Halen – “Panama”
Share"Jump back, what's that sound?/Here she comes, full blast and top down/Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue/Model citizen zero discipline."
Talking Heads – “Road to Nowhere”
Share"We're on a road to nowhere/Come on inside/Taking that ride to nowhere/We'll take that ride/I'm feeling okay this morning/And you know/We're on the road to paradise/Here we go, here we go."
Sammy Hagar – “I Can’t Drive 55”
Share"One foot on the brake and one on the gas, hey/Well, there's too much traffic, I can't pass, no/So I tried my best illegal move/A big black and white come and crushed my groove again."
The Beatles – “Drive My Car”
Share"Baby, you can drive my car/Yes, I'm gonna be a star/Baby, you can drive my car/And maybe I'll love you."
Steppenwolf – “Born to be Wild”
Share"Get your motor runnin'/Head out on the highway/Looking for adventure/In whatever comes our way."
Grateful Dead – “Truckin’”
Share"Truckin', got my chips cashed in/Keep truckin', like the do-dah man/Together, more or less in line/Just keep truckin' on."
Willie Nelson – “On the Road Again”
Share"On the road again/Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway/We're the best of friends Insisting that the world keep turning our way."
Lindsey Buckingham – “Holiday Road”
Share"Jack be nimble, Jack be quick/Take a ride on the West Coast kick."
Janis Joplin – “Mercedes Benz”
Share"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz/My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends/Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends/So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."