Sammy Hagar “I Can’t Drive 55” Lyrics In The Moment
“I grabbed a paper and a pen, and I swear the guy was writing the ticket and I was writing the lyrics.” – Sammy Hagar on “I Can’t Drive 55”…
"I grabbed a paper and a pen, and I swear the guy was writing the ticket and I was writing the lyrics." - Sammy Hagar on "I Can't Drive 55" Scroll down for the story as told by Sammy or read up on the history behind the speed first.
Why Did We Have to Drive 55?
The National Maximum Speed Law that set speed limits at 55 miles per hour in the US was passed in 1974. It was supposed to help reduce fuel consumption. The speed reduction did help reduce traffic fatalities. According to PMC, in the year after the National Maximum Speed Law was enacted, road fatalities declined 16.4%, from 54,052 in 1973 to 45,196 in 1974. As far as saving gas, the law didn't make a bit of a difference. Fuel consumption dropped less than 1%. The law was modified in 1987 to allow 65MPH in rural areas. In 1995, the law was repealed and states regained control of their speed limits.
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Sammy Hagar wrote "I Can't Drive" in protest after getting a speeding ticket in New York for driving 62 miles per hour on a road with a 55 miles-per-hour speed limit. What a load of crap that is. SEVEN over in a 55? Here's an excerpt from a 1994 interview with In Studio:
Sammy Hagar on "I Can't Drive 55"
"I was in a rent-a-car that wouldn't go much faster than 55 miles an hour. I was on my way back from Africa." Sammy was on his way back from a three month vacation safari after releasing Three Lock Box. "After traveling for 24 hours, I got to New York City, and changed planes to Albany, New York. Got in a rent-a-car. Had a place in Lake Placid at the time, a little log cabin. I used to go there and write with my little boy. Aaron, at that time, went to North Country school when I was on tour. I would go there and see him. It was a really cool getaway. But it took two and a half hours to drive there from Albany. And I was driving from Albany, New York at 2:00 in the morning, burnt from all the travel."
"Cop stopped me for doing 62 on a four-lane road when there was no one else in sight. Then the guy gave me a ticket. I was doing 62. And he said, 'We give tickets around here for over 60.' And I said, 'I can't drive 55.' I grabbed a paper and a pen, and I swear the guy was writing the ticket and I was writing the lyrics. I got to Lake Placid, I had a guitar set up there. And I wrote that song there on the spot."
Sammy Hagar "I Can't Drive 55:" The Meaning Has Changed For Him.
In a recent interview with KVVU-TV, he said, "Originally it was a protest song about that.. I didn't wanna go - when they lowered the speed limit," he explained. "And now it's a protest song that I can't get where I'm going; I'm always late."
"I Can't Drive 55" was the first single and track from Hagar's eighth studio album, VOA (Voices of America) released in 1984.
Sammy Hagar Forever
Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote about Sammy:
After spending several years as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the mid-'70s hard rock band Montrose, Sammy Hagar began a solo career that produced several hits and made him an album rock favorite. Hagar became a true star once he joined Van Halen in 1985, but he'd been a popular hard rocker ever since his first album with Montrose.
In 1985, Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen; his first album with the group was 1986's 5150. Hagar released his last solo album in 1987; the record was coined I Never Said Goodbye in an MTV contest. Hagar stayed with Van Halen throughout the remainder of the '80s and half of the '90s. During that time, the band had four other multi-platinum albums -- OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge(1991), Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993), and Balance(1995) -- before tensions began to surface between Hagar and the rest of the band.
Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirectSammy Hagar at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Ca. Monday, June 24, 2002.
Hagar/Roth 2002 Tour-Los Angeles, CA
2020 Musicares Person Of The Year Honoring Aerosmith - Show
(Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 24: (L-R) Sammy Hagar and Orianthi perform onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Aerosmith at West Hall at Los Angeles Convention Center on January 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR All-Star Race
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/GettyFORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Musician Sammy Hagar performs in the grandstands prior to the start of the the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway on June 13, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. Images)
Hagar/Roth 2002 Tour-Los Angeles, CA
Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirectSammy Hagar, with special guest Michael Anthony from Van Halen, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Ca. Monday, June 24, 2002.
Sammy Hagar Performs In Atlantic City
(Photo by Craig Allen/Getty Images)ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - MAY 8: Sammy Hagar (L) performs with guitarist Victor Johnson from his band the Waboritas May 8, 2004 at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
2007 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show
(Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)NEW YORK - MARCH 12: (L-R) Sammy Hagar, Patti Smith and Keith Richards perform onstage at the 22nd annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel March 12, 2007 in New York City.
Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert To Benefit United Way Of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund - Show
(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Shock Ink)NORMAN, OK - JULY 06: Musician Sammy Hagar performs during the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert to benefit United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on July 6, 2013 in Norman, Oklahoma. To donate go to www.unitedwayokc.org or text REBUILD to 52000.
Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert To Benefit United Way Of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund - Show
(Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images for Shock Ink)NORMAN, OK - JULY 06: Musician Sammy Hagar performs during the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert to benefit United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on July 6, 2013 in Norman, Oklahoma. To donate go to www.unitedwayokc.org or text REBUILD to 52000.
Sammy's Beach Bar Rum And Cabo Wabo Tequila Present Emeril Lagasse And Sammy Hagar's Rockin' Beach Party Sponsored By Del Monte Fresh Produce - Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
(Photo by Larry Marano/Getty Images for Food Network SoBe Wine & Food Festival)MIAMI BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Sammy Hagar performs during Sammy's Beach Bar Rum And Cabo Wabo Tequila Present Emeril Lagasse And Sammy Hagar's Rockin' Beach Party Sponsored By Del Monte Fresh Produce during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at Beachside at Delano on February 22, 2014 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Sammy's Beach Bar Rum And Cabo Wabo Tequila Present Emeril Lagasse And Sammy Hagar's Rockin' Beach Party Sponsored By Del Monte Fresh Produce - Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
(Photo by Larry Marano/Getty Images for Food Network SoBe Wine & Food Festival)MIAMI BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar perform during Sammy's Beach Bar Rum And Cabo Wabo Tequila Present Emeril Lagasse And Sammy Hagar's Rockin' Beach Party Sponsored By Del Monte Fresh Produce during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at Beachside at Delano on February 22, 2014 in Miami Beach, Florida.
John Varvatos 13th Annual Stuart House Benefit Presented By Chrysler With Kids' Tent By Hasbro Studios - Inside
(Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for John Varvatos)WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 17: Recording artist Sammy Hagar performs onstage during the John Varvatos 13th Annual Stuart House benefit presented by Chrysler with Kids' Tent by Hasbro Studios at John Varvatos Boutique on April 17, 2016 in West Hollywood, California.
John Varvatos 13th Annual Stuart House Benefit Presented By Chrysler With Kids' Tent By Hasbro Studios - Inside
(Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for John Varvatos)WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 17: Recording artist Sammy Hagar performs onstage during the John Varvatos 13th Annual Stuart House benefit presented by Chrysler with Kids' Tent by Hasbro Studios at John Varvatos Boutique on April 17, 2016 in West Hollywood, California.
Sammy's Beach Bar Rum And Cabo Wabo Tequila Present Emeril Lagasse And Sammy Hagar's Rockin' Beach Party Sponsored By Del Monte Fresh Produce - Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
MIAMI BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar perform during Sammy's Beach Bar Rum And Cabo Wabo Tequila Present Emeril Lagasse And Sammy Hagar's Rockin' Beach Party Sponsored By Del Monte Fresh Produce during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at Beachside at Delano on February 22, 2014 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Larry Marano/Getty Images for Food Network SoBe Wine & Food Festival)
Keep Memory Alive Honors Neil Diamond At 24th Annual Power Of Love® - Inside
(Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Sammy Hagar performs onstage at the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive 'Power of Love Gala' benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
