There is more than one artist with this name:

1) The Cars is a popul… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:

1) The Cars is a popular American new wave/power pop band that formed in 1976, after going through several different incarnations. The band was founded in Boston, Massachusetts and were signed to Elektra Records in 1977. The band originally consisted of David Robinson (drummer), Benjamin Orr (singer/bassist), Ric Ocasek (singer/rhythm guitarist), Elliot Easton (lead guitarist), Greg Hawkes (keyboardist).

During their career, they have released seven albums: The Cars (1978), Candy-O (1979), Panorama (1980), Shake It Up (1981), Heartbeat City (1984), Door to Door (1987) and Move Like This (2011). The first five of these albums all were certified platinum by the RIAA, and their self-titled debut was one of the best-selling albums of the 1970s, remaining on the Billboard album charts for over a year. They experienced a second wave of popularity in 1984 with the album Heartbeat City and the popular MTV staples"You Might Think," "Magic," and "Drive," the last of which was their highest-charting single, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1985, the group released a greatest hits album, which contained "Tonight She Comes", a mega-hit that reached #1 on the Billboard 'Top Rock Tracks'. However, after that peak, they vanished from the public eye and worked on solo projects, and released one final album, Door to Door, before breaking up in early 1988.
Benjamin Orr died of pancreatic cancer in October 2000. Guitarist Elliot Easton played in a surf music group and joined a touring act called Creedence Clearwater Revisted with ex-members of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Lead vocalist Ric Ocasek married supermodel Paulina Porizkova not long after The Cars' breakup and has since become a prolific producer, working on albums by such diverse artists as Bad Brains,Weezer, Guided by Voices and No Doubt. He has also released a number of solo albums, including 2005's Nexterday. Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton have recently teamed up with Todd Rundgren and his rhythm section as The New Cars; they have released a live album and are currently touring. Ocasek gave the band his support but otherwise is not involved.

The remaining members reunited in 2010 to record a new album, titled Move Like This, which was released on May 10, 2011. The first single from the album was Sad Song. It was released to radio on March 1, 2011. (Source Songfacts)

2) Cars is an experimental group from the UK consisting of Patrick Farmer and Pascal Nichols.

Drive
The Cars Lyrics

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Who's gonna tell you when
It's too late?
Who's gonna tell you things
Aren't so great?

You can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong, oh oh
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?
Who's gonna plug their ears
When you scream?

You can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong, oh oh
(Who's gonna drive you?)
Who's gonna drive you home
(Who's gonna drive you? Who's gonna drive)
Tonight?

Who's gonna hold you down
When you shake?
Who's gonna come around
When you break?

You can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong, oh oh
(Who's gonna drive you?)
Who's gonna drive you home
(Who's gonna drive you? Who's gonna drive)
Tonight?
Oh, you know you can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong
(Who's gonna drive you?)
Who's gonna drive you home

(Who's gonna drive you? Who's gonna drive)
Tonight?

Overall Meaning

The Cars' song Drive is a melancholic ballad about a failing relationship. The lyrics pose a series of questions that express insecurity and vulnerability, revealing the singer's dependence on their partner. The opening lines "Who's gonna tell you when it's too late? / Who's gonna tell you things aren't so great?" suggest a lack of communication or an inability to address the problems in the relationship. The question "Who's gonna drive you home tonight?" is repeated throughout the song and serves as a metaphor for who will provide comfort, safety, and stability in the singer's life.

As the song progresses, the questions become more desperate, with the singer wondering who will pick them up when they fall, pay attention to their dreams, and hold them down when they shake. The chorus is repeated again, with emphasis on the line "Oh, you know you can't go on thinking nothing's wrong," highlighting the importance of acknowledging problems and working to fix them before it's too late. Ultimately, the song ends with the repeated question, leaving the listener to ponder who will drive them home tonight.

Line by Line Meaning

Who's gonna tell you when It's too late?
Asking who will be there for you to offer advice even when you don't want to hear it or recognize that you need it.

Who's gonna tell you things Aren't so great?
Asking who you can count on to confront you with the truth, even when it's hard to hear or accept.

You can't go on Thinking nothing's wrong, oh oh
Stressing the point that avoiding or denying problems won't make them go away or make everything okay.

Who's gonna drive you home Tonight?
Highlighting the fact that sometimes we need someone else to take the wheel, both literally and metaphorically, when we're not in a good place or state of mind.

Who's gonna pick you up When you fall?
Asking who will be there to support, comfort, and help you get back on your feet after a setback or failure.

Who's gonna hang it up When you call?
Asking who you can rely on to be there for you when you reach out or ask for help, even if they're busy or inconvenienced.

Who's gonna pay attention To your dreams?
Asking who will take the time to listen to your aspirations, goals, and hopes, and help you make them a reality.

Who's gonna plug their ears When you scream?
Asking who will be able to handle your anger, frustration, and pain without judging, dismissing, or retaliating against you.

Who's gonna hold you down When you shake?
Asking who will be there to calm you down, soothe you, and comfort you when you're anxious, scared, or overwhelmed.

Who's gonna come around When you break?
Asking who will go out of their way to be there for you when you're at your lowest, need the most help and support, and can't handle it on your own.

Oh, you know you can't go on Thinking nothing's wrong
Reiterating the message that facing reality, admitting your struggles, and seeking help and support is crucial to avoid spiraling out of control.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ric Ocasek

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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