THE CARS - DRIVE

DRIVE

THE CARS

SONGWRITER: RIC OCASEK

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: HEARTBEAT CITY

LABEL: ELEKTRA

GENRE: BLUE-EYED SOUL

YEAR: 1983

 

       "Drive" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City(1984). It was released on July 23, 1984, as the album's third single. Written by Ric Ocasek, the track was sung by bassist Benjamin Orr and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange with the band. Upon its release, "Drive" became the Cars' highest-charting single in most territories. In the United States, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart. It reached number five (number four on re-entry in 1985) in the United Kingdom, number four in West Germany, number six in Canada and number three (number five on re-entry in 1985) in Ireland.

     The song is most associated with the July 1985 Live Aid event, where it was performed by Benjamin Orr during the Philadelphia event; the song was also used as the background music to a montage of clips depicting the contemporaneous Ethiopian famine during the London event, which was introduced by English musician David Bowie. Following the concert, it re-entered the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number four in August 1985. Proceeds from the sales of the re-released song raised nearly £160,000 for the Band Aid Trust; Ocasek presented the charity's trustee Midge Ure with a cheque for the amount while he was in London in November 1986 promoting his solo album This Side of Paradise.

        In a retrospective review of the single, AllMusic journalist Donald A. Guarisco praised the song for being "a gorgeous ballad that matches heartfelt songwriting to an alluring electronic soundscape. The music reflects the lyrical tone with a lovely melody that rises and falls in a soothing yet sad fashion."

Who's gonna tell you when

It's too late?

Who's gonna tell you things

Aren't so great?

 

You cant go on, thinkin'

Nothings' wrong, but bye

Who's gonna drive you home

Tonight?

 

Who's gonna pick you up

When you fall?

Who's gonna hang it up

When you call?

 

Who's gonna pay attention

To your dreams?

And who's gonna plug their ears

When you scream?

 

You can't go on, thinkin'

Nothings wrong, but bye

Who's gonna drive you home, tonight?

 

Who's gonna hold you down

When you shake?

Who's gonna come around

When you break?

 

You can't go on, thinkin'

Nothin's wrong, but bye

Who's gonna drive you home, tonight?

 

Oh, you know you can't go on, thinkin'

Nothin's wrong

Who's gonna drive you home, tonight?