The song was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love about Shirley England, the daughter of the owner of radio station KNAK in Salt Lake City, Utah (not to be confused with the call letters now assigned to a station in Delta, Utah) where she worked as a teenager. She borrowed her father’s Ford Thunderbird to go study at the library. Instead of driving to the library, she ended up at a hamburger stand. When her father found out he took the car away. The next day she was at the radio station complaining about it to the staff while The Beach Boys were visiting and they were inspired to write this song.
“Little Deuce Coupe” – The Beach Boys
A Deuce Coupe is a 1932 Ford Model B Coupe (deuce being for the year). This was the definitive hot-rod and featured an optional Ford flathead V8 engine when the car was introduced. A pink slip was the California title to the car and was called this after the color of the paper.
“Little Red Corvette” – Price
Prince got the idea for the song when he dozed off in Lisa Coleman’s pink Edsel after an exhausting all-night recording session. The lyrics came to him in bits and pieces during this and other catnaps. Eventually, he was able to finish it without sleeping.
In the song, Prince narrates a one-night stand with a beautiful but promiscuous woman (the “Little Red Corvette” of the title); although he enjoys the experience, he urges her to “slow down” and “find a love that’s gonna last” before she destroys herself.
“I Can’t Drive 55″ – Sammy Hagar
The song has been a signature track for Hagar during and after his tenure with Van Halen, and is commonly used on TV programs and commercials related to automotive racing. Most recently, the song was featured in a NAPA Auto Parts commercial, where NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip and teammate Dale Jarrett) asking Hagar to keep the noise down during a recording session; in response, Hagar asked Waltrip if he could drive faster. The song was a protest against the federally mandated 55 mph speed limit that was still in effect in the United States.
In 2001, NBC Sports had Hagar record a “corrected” version, now known as “I Can’t Drive 65,” reflecting the common 65 MPH speed limit on freeways, for use during Budweiser Pole Award presentations on Winston Cup Series broadcasts on NBC and TNT. It was used from 2001 to 2003 during the broadcasts.
“Black Sunshine” – White Zombie
The song is about a racing car, a Ford Mustang, called “Black Sunshine”. Iggy Pop recorded the spoken word vocal intro and outro of the song “Black Sunshine” as well as playing the character of a writer in the video shot for the song. He is singled out for special thanks in the liner notes of album. The audio sample “I work on this baby the same way, trying to get maximum performance.” is taken from the 1965 movie Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.
“Pink Cadillac” – Bruce Springsteen
Written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen in 1984 and originally released as the B-side of the single “Dancing in the Dark”, the song chronicles with good humor the relationship of a man and a woman. From the many Springsteen songs that deal with cars, this one talks about Cadillacs, adored by Americans since 1902.
“Low Rider” – War
The characteristic bass line of this song released by American band War in 1975 is the introduction to an anthem of the “lowrider” culture. The song topped Billboard’s Rhythm and Blues chart and has been included in 11 movie soundtracks.
“Red Barchetta” – Rush
Released by Canadian group Rush in their 1981 album “Moving Pictures”, the song tells the a story set in the future, after a law that forbids engines. A young man gets his desire for speed and thrills when he takes an old sports car that had been stored by his uncle. Any car lover can relate to the song’s protagonist, if they imagine a world without sports cars.
“Mustang Sally” – Wilson Pickett
Originally written and recorded by Mack Rice in 1965, “Mustang Sally” only became known the next year, in Wilson Pickett’s voice. Since then, more than 20 artists and bands have recorded their versions of this song about the passion of women for cars as impressive as the Mustang. The car, still manufactured by Ford, was originally launched in 1964.
“Drive My Car” – The Beatles
The song, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, was released in the 1965 album “Rubber Soul”. The lyrics are about a girl who dreams of becoming famous, which leads her to try to get a driver, even though she doesn’t own a car.
“My Hooptie” – Sir Mix-A-Lot
Hooptie is an old, decrepit, unreliable and often nonfunctional car which has limited mechanical abilities and is often in an unmaintained and often in a rusty or dented shape.
“409” – The Beach Boys
The “409″ of the song is the Chevrolet 409, a 409 cubic inch W-series V8 engine popular with “hot rodders” of the time. Gary Usher, who wrote the majority of the lyric for the song dreamed at that time of one day owning a Chevrolet 409.
“I Get Around” – The Beach Boys
“I Get Around” is a song written by Brian Wilson and his cousin Mike Love. The song features Brian Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals and is noteworthy for its back to front structure – it starts with a chorus and has two short verses. It was a single which was released by The Beach Boys in 1964 through Capitol Records. The B-side of the single was “Don’t Worry Baby”, which itself charted at number twenty-four in the United States. It was The Beach Boys’ first number-one hit song in the United States. The single also charted at number seven in the United Kingdom, which was the band’s first United Kingdom top ten hit single. The song’s first album release was on All Summer Long in 1964.
“Maybellene” – Chuck Berry
Maybellene tells the story of a hot rod race and a broken romance.“Rainwater runnin’ all under my hood — I knowed it was doin’ my motor good.” “Maybellene” is considered one of the pioneering rock and roll singles: Rolling Stone magazine said, “Rock & roll guitar starts here.”
“Racing in the Street” – Bruce Springsteen
“I got a ’69 Chevy with a 396, feulie heads and a Hurst on the floor — she’s waitin’ tonight down the parking lot outside the 7-Eleven store.”
“Long May You Run” – Neil Young
A eulogy to Young’s beloved 1948 Buick Roadmaster. “With your chrome heart shining in the sun, long may you run.”
“One Piece at a Time” – Johnny Cash
A man who builds Cadillacs (but can’t afford to buy one) sneaks enough parts out over the years to put together one of his own. Looks a little funny when it’s done, though.
“Let Me Ride” – Dr. Dre
With all the characteristic lingo of American West Coast raps, the track released in the 1992 album “The Chronic” is a celebration of lowriders. The music video shows several aerial shots of California avenues with “gangsta-style” cars.
“Life is a Highway” – Rascal Flatts
In 2006, American country music band Rascal Flatts covered this song for the Disney/Pixar animated film Cars. The movie was released on June 9, 2006. The song sold a large quantity of digital downloads, leading to a top ten peak on the Hot 100.
“Days Go By” – Dirty Vegas
The song “Days Go By” from their eponymous album gained wide exposure in the U.S. as the background music for a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse television commercial. The song went on to win the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. They have remixed songs for artists such as, British singer-songwriter Shelly Poole called “Lost In You”.
Other Car Songs
“18 Wheels and A Dozen Roses” – Kathy Mattea
“1000 Dollar Car” – The Bottle Rockets
“409″ – The Beach Boys
“426 Super Stock” – Dick Dale
“426 Super Stock” – Gary Usher
“455 Rocket” – Kathy Mattea
“455 SD” – The Hellacopters
“455 SD” – Radio Birdmen
“500 Miles” – Bobby Bare
“5 Years, 4 Months, 3 Days” – Brian Setzer
“57 Chevrolet” – Billie Jo Spears
“’59″ – Brian Setzer
“8 Miles a Gallon” – Scott Miller and Commonwealth
“8 Miles a Gallon” – Shotgun McCoy
“8-Track” – Brian Setzer
“90 Miles an Hour” – Bo Ladner
“A-Bone” – The Trashmen
“All I Wanted Was A Car” – Brad Paisley
“All The Roadrunning” – Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris
“American Pie” – Don McLean
“Aneheim Azuza and Cucamonga Sewing Circle Book Review and Timing Association, The” – Jan and Dean
“Antique 32 Studebaker Dictator Coupe” – Ronny and the Daytonas
“Automobile” – John Prine
“Automobile Song, The” – Benny Bell
“Automobile Song, The” – Luke McDaniel
“Automobile Song, The” – Tennessee Buck
“Ballad of the General Lee, The” – Doug Kershaw and the Hazzard County Boys
“Ballad of Thunder Road, The” – The Charlie Daniels Band
“Ballad of Thunder Road, The” – Robert Mitchum
“Battery to My Heart, The” – Billy Briggs
“Beep, Beep” – The Playmates
“Belvedere” – Andy Swindell
“Bitchin’ Camaro” – The Dead Milkmen
“Black Cadillac” – Roseanne Cash
“Black Limousine” – The Rolling Stones
“Black Sunshine” – White Zombie
“Blondes in Black Cars” – Autograph
“Blue Café” – Brian Setzer
“Bonneville Bonnie” – The Rip Cords
“Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf
“Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
“Boss Barracuda” – Joanie Sommers
“Boss Hoss” – The Sonics
“Brand New Cadillac” – The Clash
“Brand New Car” – The Rolling Stones
“Bucket T” – Ronny and the Daytonas
“Buick Electra” – Black Helicopter
“Cadillac Assembly Line” – Albert King
“Cadillac Blues” – Southern Comfort on the Skids
“Cadillac Boogie” – Jimmy Liggins
“Cadillac Ranch” – Bruce Springsteen
“Cadillac Walk” – Mink DeVille
“California Dreamin’” – Mamas and the Papas
“Camaro” – Pernod Fils
“Car Carrier Blues” – Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon
“Carefree Highway” – Gordon Lightfoot
“Cars” – Gary Numan
“Car Song” – Elastica
“Car Song” – Woody Guthrie
“Car Song, The” – Cat Empire
“Car Wash” – Rose Royce
“Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” – Lucinda Williams
“Chevette” – Audio Adrenaline
“Chevrolet” – The Black Crowes
“Chevrolet” – Luke Bryan
“Chevrolet” – Foghat
“Chevrolet” – Robben Ford
“Chevrolet” – ZZ Top
“Chevys and Fords” – Bryant Keith
“Chevys and Fords” – Mac Dre
“Chevy Van” – Sammy Johns
“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown Band
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” – The Sherman Brothers
“Convertibles” – Whiteheart
“Convoy” – C.W. McCall
“Corvette Song, The” – George Jones
“Country Road” – James Taylor
“Country Roads” – John Denver
“Coupe de Ville” – Neil Young
“Crazy ‘Bout an Automobile” – Ry Cooder
“Crossroads” – Cream
“Crosstown Traffic” – Jimi Hendrix
“Cruisin’” – Smokey Robinson
“Crusin’ and Boozin’” – Sammy Hagar
“Custom Machine” – The Beach Boys
“Custom Machine” – Bruce and Terry
“Daddy Let Me Drive” – Alan Jackson
“Dead and Gone” – T.I.
“Dead Man’s Curve” – Jan and Dean
“Dead Skunk” – Louden Wainwright III
“Dear Dad” – Chuck Berry
“Distance, The” – Cake
“Don’t Think About Her When You’re Trying to Drive” – Little Village
“Don’t Worry Baby” – The Beach Boys
“Do You Know the Way to San Jose” – Dionne Warwick
“Drag City” – Jan and Dean
“Dragula” – Rob Zombie
“Dreamsville” – Brian Setzer
“Drive” – The Cars
“Drive” – R.E.M.
“Drive” (Theme from “Hardcastle and McCormick”) – David Morgan
“Drive Like I Never Been Hurt” – Ry Cooder
“Drive-In” – The Beach Boys
“Driver’s Seat” – Sniff ‘n’ the Tears
“Drive My Car” – The Beatles
“Drive My Car”- Billy Thorpe
“Drive South” – Suzy Bogguss
“Drive South” – John Hiatt
“Drivin’ My Life Away” – Eddie Rabbit
“Drivin’ Down the Wrong Side of the Road” – Ricky Riddle
“East Bound and Down” – Jerry Reed
“Eliminator” – ZZ Top
“Even the Man in the Moon is Crying” – Mark Collie
“Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman
“Flying Low” – Don Johnson
“Forty Miles of Bad Road” – Duane Eddy
“Free Ride” – Edgar Winter
“Free Ride” – Foghat
“Freeway of Love” – Aretha Franklin
“From a Buick 6″ – Bob Dylan
“Fuel” – Metallica
“Full Blown 426 Hemi” – The Untamed Youth
“Fun, Fun, Fun” – The Beach Boys
“Galaxy 500″ – Reverend Horton Heat
“Gallon of Gas, A” – The Kinks
“General Lee” – Johnny Cash
“Geronimo’s Cadillac” – Michael Martin Murphey
“Get ‘Em on the Ropes” – Brian Setzer
“Get out of My Dreams, Get into My Car” – Billy Ocean
“Get out of the Car” – Richard Berry
“Get Your Daddy’s Car Tonight” – The Petites
“Goin’ Mobile” – The Who
“Going Up Around the Bend” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Goin’ up the Country” – Canned Heat
“Grandpappy’s Hot Rod Blues” – Grandpappy Earl Davis
“Greased Lightning” – John Travolta
“Greased Lightning” – Liz Phair
“Guitars, Cadillacs” – Dwight Yoakam
“Hardtop Race” – George Stogner
“Hell Bent” – Brian Setzer
“Hemi Barracuda” – Dan Olsen
“Hemi Charger” – Kill Switch
“Hemi Cuda” – Hemi Cuda
“Hey Little Cobra” – the Rip Cords
“Highway 23″ – Ry Cooder
“Highway Junkie” – Randy Travis
“Highway Patrol” – Junior Brown
“Highway Star” – Deep Purple
“Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
“Hitchin a Ride” – Vanity Fair
“Holiday Road” – Lindsay Buckingham
“Hollywood Nights” – Bob Seager
“Honk Your Horn” – Jimmie Heap
“Horsepower” – Chris LeDoux
“Hot Rod Blues”- The Southernairess
“Hot Rod City” – The Super Stocks
“Hot Rod Girl” – Brian Setzer
“Hot Rod Heart” – John Fogerty
“Hot Rod Hearts” – Robbie Dupree
“Hot Rod Lincoln” – Johnny Bond
“Hot Rod Lincoln” – Commander Cody
“Hot Rod Lincoln” – Charlie Ryan
“Hot Rod Race” – Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith
“Hot Rod Race No. 2″ – Bob Williams
“Hot Rod Race No. 3″ – Bob Williams
“Hot Rod Rag” – Paul Westmoreland
“Hot Rods & My Old Man” – “Rod” Bob Lopez
“Hot Rod-Shotgun Boogie No. 2″ – Tillman Franks
“Hot Rod USA” – The Ripcords
“I Can’t Drive 55″ – Sammy Hagar
“I fahr’ Daimler” – Wolle Kriwanek
“If You Drink, Don’t Drive” – Johnny Rector
“I Get Around” – The Beach Boys
“Ignition” – Brian Setzer
“I Love My Car” – Belle and Sebastian
“I’m Changing My Name to Chrysler” – Arlo Guthrie
“I’m in Love with My Car” – Mike Ness
“I’m in Love with My Car” – Queen
“I’m Trading You in on a Later Model” – Shot Jackson
“In My Car” – The Beach Boys
“In the Driver’s Seat” – John Schnieder
“In the Parking Lot” – The Beach Boys
“I Saw a Cop” – Jill Sobule
“James Dean” – The Eagles
“Jenny Take a Ride” – Mitch Ryder
“Jerry Was A Racecar Driver” – Primus
“Jesus Built My Hot Rod” – Ministry
“(The Legend Of) Johnny Kool, Pt. 2″ – Brian Setzer
“Judy’s Got a Stick Shift” – The Hot Rods
“Jump In My Car” – Ted Mulry
“Keep Between them Ditches” – Doug Kershaw and the Hazzard County Boys
“Keep It Between the Lines” – Ricky Van Shelten
“Keep on Truckin’” – Eddie Kendricks
“Keys to the Car, The” – Michael Nesmith
“Last Kiss” – J. Frank Wilson
“Leader of the Pack, The” – Shangri-Las
“Let Me Be Your Car” – Rod Stewart
“Let Sally Drive” – Sammy Hagar
“Life in the Fast Lane” – The Eagles
“Life Is a Highway” – Tom Cochrane
“Life Is a Highway” – Rascal Flatts
“Life Is a Highway” – Chris LeDoux
“Like a Racecar” – Hawk Nelson
“Little Deuce Coupe” – The Beach Boys
“Little G.T.O.” – Ronny and the Daytonas
“Little Honda” – The Beach Boys
“Little Honda” – The Hondells
“Little Old Lady from Pasadena” – Jan and Dean
“Little Red Corvette” – Prince
“Little Scrambler” – Ronny and the Daytonas
“Long Black Limousine” – Merle Haggard
“Long Black Limousine” – Gram Parsons
“Long Black Limousine” – Elvis Presley
“Long May You Run” – Neil Young
“Low Rider” – War
“Mabelene” – Elaine Britt
“Makin’ Thunderbirds” – Bob Seger
“Malagueña” – Brian Setzer
“Manic Mechanic” – ZZ Top
“Maybelline” – Chuck Berry
“Maybelline” – Paul Revere and the Raiders
“Mercury Blues” – Ry Cooder & David Lindley
“Mercury Blues” – KC Douglas
“Mercury Blues” – El Rayo-X
“Mercury Blues” – Alan Jackson
“Mercedes Benz” – Janis Joplin
“Mercury Blues” – David Lindley
“Mercury Blues” – Steve Miller
“Meet Virginia” – Train
“Midget Auto Blues” – Paul Tutmark
“Model T Baby” – Jack Turner
“Motor City” – Neil Young
“Motorcity Madhouse” – Ted Nugent
“Mr. Limousine Driver” – Grand Funk Railroad
“Mr. Policeman” – Brad Paisley
“Mustang Sally” – Buddy Guy
“Mustang Sally” – Wilson Pickett
“My Automobile” – Parliament
“My Chevrolet” – Phil Vassar
“My Hooptie” – Sir Mix-a-Lot
“Nationwide” – ZZ Top
“No Parking Here” – Jimmy Littlejohn
“No Particular Place to Go” – Chuck Berry
“No Wheels” – Ronny and the Daytonas
“Ode to My Car” – Adam Sandler
“Ol’ ’55″ – The Eagles
“Ol’ ’55″ – Tom Waits
“One Piece at a Time” – Johnny Cash
“On the Road Again” – Canned Heat
“On the Road Again” – Willie Nelson
“Our Car Club” – The Beach Boys
“Panama” – Van Halen
“Paradise by the Dashboard Lights” – Meatloaf
“Peak Hour” – The Moody Blues
“Pink Cadillac” – Bruce Springsteen
“Plymouth Belvedere” – Trish Lester
“Pontiac Blues” – Sonny Boy Williamson
“Racing in the Streets” – Bruce Springsteen
“Radar Gun” – The Bottle Rockets
“Radar Love” – Golden Earring
“Radar Love” – Ministry
“Ragtop Cadillac” – Lonestar
“Rambling Man” – Allman Brothers
“Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)” – Jim Croce
“Rapture” – Blondie
“Red Barchetta” – Rush
“Red Hot Roadster” – The Rip Cords
“Rehab” – Amy Winehouse
“Rehab” – Rihanna
“Repossession Blues” – Roger Christian
“Rev It on the Red Line” – Foreigner
“Ridin’ Dirty” – Chamillionaire
“Riding in My Car” – NRBQ
“Riding With the Blues” – Ry Cooder
“Riding With the King” – John Hiatt
“Riding With Private Malone” – David Bell
“Road Hog”- John D. Loudermilk
“Roadhouse Blues” – The Doors
“Road Runner” – The Gants
“Rocket 88″ – Bill Haley and the Saddlemen
“Rocket 88″ – Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm
“Rockin’ down the Highway” – The Doobie Brothers
“Rooster Rock” – Brian Setzer
“Route 66″ – Asleep at the Wheel
“Route 66″ – Bobby Troup
“Route 66″ – Chuck Berry
“Route 66″ – Nat King Cole
“Route 66″ – The Rolling Stones
“Route 66″ – Van Morrison
“Running on Empty” – Jackson Browne
“Rusty Chevrolet” – Da Yoopers
“Santa Rosa Rita” – Brian Setzer
“Sausalito Summernight” – Diesel
“Schlock Rod” – Jan and Dean
“Seven Little Girls Sittin’ in the Back Seat” – Paul Evans
“Service Station Blues” – Drifting Johnny Smith
“She Loves My Automobile” – Willie Nelson
“She Loves My Automobile” – ZZ Top
“She Won’t Turn Over for Me” – Floyd Compton
“Shirley” – L7
“Shut Down” – The Beach Boys
“Silver Thunderbird” – Marc Cohn
“Silver Thunderbird” – Jo Dee Messina
“Six Days on the Road” – Dave Dudley
“Six Days on the Road” – George Thorogood
“Six Days on the Road” – Sawyer Brown
“Six Days on the Road” – Taj Mahal
“Sixty Days” – Slim Rhodes
“Slick Black Cadillac” – Quiet Riot
“Slow Ride” – Foghat
“Slow Ride” – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
“Solid Gold Cadillac” – Pearl Bailey
“Son Of Mustang Ford” – Swervedriver
“Spacegrass” – Clutch
“Speed” – Montgomery Gentry
“Speed Kills” – Ten Years After
“Spirit of America” – Beach Boys
“Stand On It” – Bruce Springstein
“Stick Shift” – The Duals
“Stick Shift” – The Trashmen
“Stick Shift” – The Ventures
“Stick Shifts and Safety Belts” – Cake
“Still Cruisin’” – The Beach Boys
“Street Machine” – Sammy Hagar
“Surf City” – Jan and Dean
“Swing Low Sweet Cadillac” – Dizzy Gillespie
“Take It Easy” – The Eagles
“Teen Angel” – Mark Dinning
“Tell Laura I Love Her” – Ray Peterson
“Tennessee Plates” – John Hiatt
“Texas Bound and Flyin’” – Jerry Reed
“Texas Plates” – Kelly Coffey
“Theme from ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’” – Waylon Jennings
“Theme Song from ‘Smokey and the Bandit,’ The” – Jerry Reed
“This Car of Mine” – The Beach Boys
“Three Window Coupe” – The Rip Cords
“Thunder Road” – Bruce Springsteen
“Trampled Underfoot” – Led Zeppelin
“Trans Am” – Neil Young
“Trans Am” – Sammy Hagar
“Transfusion” – Nervous Norvus
“Trophy Machine” – The Rip Cords
“Truckin’” – The Grateful Dead
“Turn the Page” – Bob Seger
“Turn the Page” – Metallica
“Two-Lane Blacktop” – Rob Zombie
“UnEasy Rider” – Charlie Daniels Band
“Up Around the Bend” – John Fogerty
“Vehicle” – Ides of March
“Ventura Highway” – America
“Wanderer, The” – Dion
“Welfare Cadillac” – Guy Drake
“When Horsepower Meant What It Said” – Sandi Thom
“Whiskey Girl” – Toby Keith
“White Line Fever” – John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers
What? You include “Little Honda” but don’t even list “Little Nash Rambler”? “Little Honda” may have been a driving song, but the topic of this page is “Top 20 CAR Songs”. The Honda in “Little Honda” was a MOTORCYCLE not a car.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great list! I’m sure anyone can find a song they love. Thanks!
Yes! Just what I was looking for. This list is wonderful. I’m sharing it with my friends that like music.
That days go by chick is hot. anyone know who she is?
Someone find out please! I think she is a model.
What? You include “Little Honda” but don’t even list “Little Nash Rambler”? “Little Honda” may have been a driving song, but the topic of this page is “Top 20 CAR Songs”. The Honda in “Little Honda” was a MOTORCYCLE not a car.