I Can’t Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#26) & Mainstream Rock (#9); 1984
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
With two straight album successes – Standing Hampton and Three Lock Box – under his belt, Sammy Hagar took a break: playing some live shows with fellow superstars Neil Schon (guitarist – Journey), Kenny Aaronson (bassist – Foghat, Dylan, others), and drummer Michael Shrieve (Santana).
The collaboration produced Through The Fire: a live album that included the turntable hits Top Of The Rock, Missing You, and Whiter Shade Of Pale. In September, a solo Sammy returned stronger than ever with a platinum album in VOA and a Top 30 single in I Can’t Drive 55; a rant against the new federally mandated highway speed limit.
Before he could release his next album, Eddie Van Halen called with a proposition too good to refuse: replace David Lee Roth as lead singer. With Sammy out front, Van Halen soared; turning out four chart-topping albums.
Despite all that success, Sammy remained true to his convictions. When the 55 mile-per-hour limit was repealed in 1995, he helped change California’s signs to 65 mph.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Ted Templeman
Lyrics Written by:
- Sammy Hagar
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).