Sammy Hagar wrote the hit song “I Can’t Drive 55” in 1984 following a specific incident in New York. While driving a rental car from Albany to his cabin in Lake Placid after a three-month safari in Africa, Hagar was pulled over for driving 62 mph in a 55 mph zone. The National Maximum Speed Law, enacted in 1974 to conserve fuel during the energy crises, mandated this speed limit, which many drivers found restrictive.
Upon being cited, Hagar famously told the officer, “I can’t drive 55,” and immediately began writing the lyrics on a piece of paper while the officer wrote the ticket. He completed the song upon arriving at his cabin, using a guitar he had set up there. The track became the lead single from his eighth studio album, VOA, and its successful music video helped establish it as a classic rock staple, which he later performed with Van Halen after joining the band in 1985.
Over the years, Hagar has noted that the song’s meaning has evolved. Originally a protest against the federal speed limit, he later described it as a protest about the frustration of being late and unable to reach destinations quickly. In 2001, he updated the lyrics to reflect higher speed limits, re-recording the track as “I Can’t Drive 65” for the NASCAR album Full Throttle.
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
Go on and write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can’t drive 55
Oh no, uh
[Verse 2]
So I signed my name on number 24, hey
Yeah, the judge said, “Boy, just one more, huh
I’m gonna throw your ass in the city joint”
Looked me in the eye, said, “You get my point?”
I say, “Yeah, oh yeah”
[Chorus]
Write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can’t drive 55, oh yeah
[Bridge]
I can’t drive 55
I can’t drive 55
I can’t drive 55
I can’t drive 55
[Verse 3]
When I drive that slow, you know it’s hard to steer
And I can’t get my car out of second gear
What used to take two hours now takes all day
Huh, it took me sixteen hours to get to L.A
[Chorus]
Go on and write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can’t drive 55
[Outro]
No, no, no, I can’t drive (I can’t drive 55)
I can’t drive (I can’t drive 55)
(I can’t drive 55)
(I can’t drive 55)
