Drive
The New 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, thinkin', nothin's wrong
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, thinkin', nothin's wrong
Who's gonna drive you home, tonight

Bye baby, bye baby, bye baby, bye baby

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
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

Overall Meaning

The New Cars's song Drive, written by Ric Ocasek and performed by the band in 2006, explores the theme of nostalgia and regret. The lyrics reveal the story of a person who is struggling with the passing of time and the realization that they need help to move on. The song presents a series of reflective questions, starting with "Who's gonna tell you when it's too late" and leading up to "Who's gonna drive you home tonight". These questions highlight the dependence on others that we all experience at some point in our lives.


The song reflects on the importance of having someone to rely on, someone who will be there to pick us up when we fall, pay attention to our dreams, and hold us down when we shake. The chorus "You can't go on, thinking, nothing's wrong" repeats several times, emphasizing the need to confront our problems and seek help. The phrase "Who's gonna drive you home tonight" serves as a metaphor for the need to have someone to guide us through the difficult times in our lives.


The poignant lyrics are complemented by the music, which features a slow and melancholic melody that perfectly captures the mood of the song. The use of synthesizers and drums adds a sense of urgency and tension to the music. The song ends with the repeated phrase "Bye baby," which suggests a sense of finality and acceptance.


Line by Line Meaning

Who's gonna tell you when, it's too late
Who will be the one to warn you when you are too far gone and unable to fix your situation?


Who's gonna tell you things, aren't so great
Who will be the one to point out that things are not as good as they seem or as you believe?


You can't go on, thinkin', nothin's wrong
You cannot continue living in denial that everything is fine when it is clearly not.


Who's gonna drive you home tonight
Who will be there to support and help you get through your situation in your most vulnerable moments?


Who's gonna pick you up, when you fall
Who will be the one to help you back up and keep you from falling down further?


Who's gonna hang it up, when you call
Who will be the one who will always answer your phone call and is ready to listen when you need them?


Who's gonna pay attention, to your dreams
Who will support you and believe in your hopes and aspirations?


Who's gonna plug their ears, when you scream
Who is the person in your life who can handle your emotional outbursts and will be by your side through it all?


Bye baby, bye baby, bye baby, bye baby
A mournful goodbye to someone who could have been that person for the artist.


Who's gonna hold you down, when you shake
Who can you trust to keep you grounded when you are feeling unstable or overwhelmed?


Who's gonna come around, when you break
Who is going to be there to help put the pieces back together when you feel shattered and broken inside?


Oh, you know you can't go on, thinkin', nothin's wrong
It is clear that it is not possible to continue living in denial and ignoring the problems.


Who's gonna drive you home, tonight
The repetition of the question emphasizes the importance of having someone who can be a support system.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RIC OCASEK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

cemegonuts

Kasim can cover ANYTHING ... One of the most versatile people in rock music! :)

Dave R

Kasim was always a good singer. He does it his way, there's no use trying to sing it like Ben because that's friggin impossible.

Kiwi61

Superb cover by Kasim!

mrbulkyc1

Im amazed how many people here think this is Todd Rundgren,It is of course, Kasim Sultan,who has sung lead on many Utopia songs and is a terrific singer

Ben Culture

I remember before we went to this show, my GF & I were extremely apprehensive of Todd Rundgren singing "Drive". It was perfectly possible, because Todd certainly has the ABILITY to sing it ... but we just felt it would have to be overwrought. It was an extremely good idea to have Kasim Sulton sing this (and "All Mixed Up") instead. Hmm. Often songs get transposed DOWN for live performances - yet here they've RAISED the key from B to C. Interesting. Great arrangements with the guitars.

IAMANTONIO BANDAREAZ

Great voice

John Gable

He does a great version ---- If I could do that well I would be proud....

funkster007

Nice job Kasim. Ben would be proud.

beefoneeto

Actually Kasim does a wonderful job on this.

Digger Bloom

Anyone who has the b⚾️lls to go out into the critical public and perform great songs gets an attaboy and a round of 🍎laws ........I got to see the New Cars back around 2006 and they rocked Penns Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa

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