“I went through a session where we punched pillows for a while, and it all seemed kind of strange.” »read more
Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
Paul McCartney played bass and piano on this one. George Harrison played lead guitar and did backing vocals. John Lennon only sang and played tambourine. Paul and John shared the lead vocal.
The "beep beep" refrain is a take-off on their own "yeah, yeah yeah's" in songs as well as a nod to the Playmates song "Beep Beep."
The original chorus was, "I can give you golden rings, I can give you anything, baby, I love you."
Paul McCartney played this at halftime of the 2005 Super Bowl. The year before, Janet Jackson exposed a breast on live TV, which caused a great deal of controversy. McCartney was a solid choice because he was unlikely to offend anyone.
At the 2005 Live 8 Concert in London, McCartney performed this in a duet with George Michael. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
Comments:
Actually,Paul played Bass,piano,and dual tracked the lead guitar with George,while John played the cowbell,and sang harmony.John also was tracked in playing the tambourine,while of course ,Ringo was on drums.The reason Ringo's timing comes in the way it does,is because he is left handed,but was forced as a child to learn to play on a right handed drum kit.You will notice this in a lot of Beatle songs,like Ticket To ride,and Come Together,and may others !How do I know all this ?
Because I was there !Hello to all...! James
- James, Liverpool, United Kingdom
No fuzz bass was used on Drive My Car .The only song I used a fuzz attachment on my bass was on Think For Yourself .
James
- James, Liverpool, United Kingdom
What???
- K, nowhere, ON
I read somewhere that this song is sexist. How...?
- K, nowhere, ON
The line " But you can do something in-between" was described by McCartney in 2008 as one of those 'cheeky' inserts in so many Beatles songs- see 'fish and finger pies' from Penny Lane as another example. All sexual innuendo, and mostly John's doing, according to Paul.
- Chris, Toronto, ON
I think it has a double meaning. The guy is being used by this girl who's too concerned about becoming famous to return his feelings, so she pretty much tells him "Well, I'll let you be my driver, and then maybe I'll return the favor." Meaning that the phrase could be both literal and an innuendo. No matter what it means, it's a great song with very fun lyrics.
- chloe, St. Louis, MO
Love the intro with the drums coming in off-time.
Only THE BEATLES could write something that cool!
- Reed, New Ulm, MN
Enough here: The song clearly means SEX SEX SEX from the woman to the man. Has nothing to do with a car (literally speaking.)
- Lance, Pittsburgh, PA
Right from the opening notes upon hearing this song,you know it's going to be a special listening experience.In my opinion,I think that Drive My Car is one of the catchiest pop songs ever recorded.It's really the music that makes this song,not the lyrics,although the words are interesting,It's the strong melody that makes it irrisistable.Lennon and McCartney were unmatched in the music world as songwriters.The guitar work is fabulous,and the tight sound of the band really gels together.One of my favorites.
- George, Belleville, NJ
Drive My Car is a reversal of roles. The Beatles are singing from the woman's perspective. Drive My Car is just sex. It is derived from the blues.
- Robert, Chicago, IL
Come on Sarah! Nobody's actually driving any car, the guy is not the boyfriend, they apparently just met, she's just a random girl, and it's the girl who wants to be famous.
Stefanie, Lucas, the girl is not famous.
Erik, are you saying it's about the beatles actual chauffeur (their chauffeur)? Because the guy and the girl don't share a chauffeur, none of them has a car for all we know.
Steve, Fenton, MO, to me your interpretation is the straight forward meaning.
But it is pretty obvious there is sex on a second level. A song doesn't need to have "sex" "bed" etc in the lyrics to be about it, especially from a major band in the 60's. AND THIS ONE IS.
Mc Cartney said "Drive my car was an old blues euphemism for sex" I read that in a book by Barry Miles who also wrote on Lennon, the Beatles, Zappa....Sorry Krissy!
- P.A., Paris, France
Drive my Car is on the UK Edition of Rubber Soul (As is what goes on). The UK Albums are the way they were intended to be released. Only in the US did Capitol Records change them so they could release more albums.
- Adam, Los Angeles, CA
Its funny
Every session john and Paul sat down for
they always came up with a song
and this was the nearest where they almost came up dry.
Paul Came up with with "I can buy you golden rings, i can buy you anything"
They eventually went off that to a very materialistic girl who is going to famous and needs a driver
- Peter Boyko, Edmonton, Canada
Rubber Soul is the best album the Beatles ever recorded. Drive my car is not on it! Try Yesterday and Today for that song.
- way, clarksburg, WV
Geimel, you should look that up. It might be worth something, but don't give it away its to presious. Good Song!
- Bianca Sanchez, Alburquerque, NM
I think the girl in the song is stupid. I mean she gets Paul to drive her car and it turns out she Ain't got a car yet!
Or does it meen something else????
- Bianca Sanchez, Alburquerque, NM
Drive my car is NOT on my copy of Rubber soul. Instead is "I've just seen a face." (It also has "It's only love" instead of "What Goes on.") What gives?
- Geimle, Pembroke, NH
Hello there u go saying there is a sexual meaning to this song even though there isn't. U guys have to be more opened minded. All or most think their songs have a sex or drug meaning. Even when they don't.
- krissy, Boston, MA
Listen to Paul's awesome bass track, and how the lead/rhythmn track Paul dubbed follows and augments his bass - and think of the signature sounds of Jimi Hendrix - sounds familiar, doesn't it!? I gotta believe Jimi heard this and fell in love with it, 'cause it's his favourite rhythmn track in so many of his hits (like Fire, Hey Joe, Manic Depression, Sgt Pepper, Stone Free, Izabella, Stone Free, Freedom, Astro Man, Dolly Dagger), and so many others...
Wow, think about it, Sir Paul may have been just as important to the Jimi Hendrix sound as he was to the Beatles!!
- Phillip, Fresno , Ca, CA
I wouldn't be surprised to find out Jimi played guitar in the Abbey Road Studios like Clapton did!!
- Phillip, Fresno , Ca, CA
This song to me is about a girl who is trying to be famous, and a guy she knows and probably has a relationship with, and she remarks that he can drive her car (when she is famous). Of course he doesn't realise this until she says it, but she doesn't even have a car. I think it has both a literal and sexual meaning personally, the "Baby you can drive my car" meaning exactly that, and the "and maybe I'll love you" referring to sex.
- Andrew, Charles Town, WV
I love this song too. The Beatles were a really awesome band.
- krissy, Boston, MA
I think the Beatles wrote songs with strange lyrics just to drive the fans nuts trying to figure out what it (or they) meant.
- Cindy, Pittsburgh, PA
I heard or read in one of the many trivia books or programs along the way that drive my car is about Jane Fonda who came and visited the boys when they we stuck in their hollywood hotel on tour because fans had beseiged them. She and Peter, her brother, took them some smoke and ringo wanted to drive a car somewhere and actually wound up driving a police car just before their hollywood bowl appearance. John got it with Jane and wrote the criptic account, as he did of Judy Collins in Norwegian wood to keep it from his wife. so i have heard.
- Charles, portland, OR
Ok, I've always wondered...does the lyric "Drive my car" have some special meaning to it...like "Hey baby, you can drive my car" or does it just mean drive my car??
- joey, Nowhere Land, CA
This was a Beatles "funny song"... it's supposed to be a little weird, since it's making fun of most pop songs about love. It's also a bit avant-garde in making the woman be the one in the position of power.
- Tom, Norman, OK
When the Beatles' chauffer died years ago, all the newspapaers indicated that the song DRIVE MY CAR was written for him. This song is not about sex, everything's gotta be sex or drugs, open your mind.
- sunset, London, United States
I think it is about sex.
I had a book which had a list of songs for every occasion.
IT had a list for best love making songs and 'Drive My Car' was in that list
- dan, Adelaide, Australia
I think the song is about just what it says in this case, a woman that wants to be a star. She puts the cart before the horse, though. She finds a chauffer before she becomes famous. But she's not giving up yet.
- Steve, Fenton, MO
PaulMcCartney used a fuzz bass on this track.
- Kyle, Allentown, PA
I first got into this when Paul played it at the Super Bowl! I love it!!! How acn it be about sex? I agree with Sara adn Yu about this. I still remember Paul saying on his Super Bowl Performence: "No need to worry, I'll be playing naked (LOL)" Funny rip on Janet, im not sure if that's exactly what he said.
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA
I think the "beep beep yeah" part is used on all oldies stations during traffic reports.oldies stations during troldies stations during traffic reports.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
to stef, we have communicated before. i agree totally with all you said. the song has a nice beat as well.
- lee, clearwater, FL
I didn't realize that the song could have different interpretations until reading the songfacts, and yes, the beat is pretty cool. I like the beginning.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
I think it's a possibility that the song could be about sex. It could also be about some famous girl using a guy as her chaffeur. The song could have a lot of different interpretations.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
Paul played lead guitar on this song.
- Dan, Burbank, IL
I dont think the lyrics should be taken so literally- I think its about sex!
- blake, Kennesaw, GA, USA
I'm pretty sure, and this is just my opinion, that the line is "maybe I love you", showing that the girl wants to be around the guy and doesn't really want him to drive her car (since she doesn't have one)...
- Jon, Danville, CA
John Lennon claimed to have contributed the "beep-beep-yeah!" part.
- Ken, Louisville, KY
It's not about sex or a girl or anything like that. It's about their chauffer.
- Erik, Tempe, AZ
um.. Ticket to Ride was George's solo I seen it live GEORGE DID IT!
- Jude, Los Angeles, CA
Has a lot of sexual innuendos in it, I think its about sexual favors :D
- Tom, norwalk, CT
Paul did this at the 2005 Superbowl Half Time Show. He also did Live and Let Die and Hey Jude.
- Kristen, Aurora, IL
I'm not sure it's slide, but it's definitely Paul's solo. He's done a lot of guitar leads - "Ticket To Ride," "Taxman," "Good Morning Good Morning," to name a few. I have to say Paul's lead playing is about as unjustly underrated as Ringo's drumming.
- Elliott, Douglassville, PA
Actually, Yu, the driver that the girl has found is the singer. So it's a lot happier of a song, I think.
- Marina, Seattle, WA
Same here Catherine!!! This song kicks butt, and I just can't get it out of my head!!! And I don't want to!! WOOOOOO YEAH BABY!
- Mia, Elk River, MN
No, this song is about guy being used by a girl. "Baby you can drive my car. Yes I'm gonna be a star. Baby you can drive my car, and maybe i'll love you" it's not "baby I love you" In the line "listen baby I've got something to say. I got no car and it's breaking my heart. But I've found a driver and that's a start" The girl clearly cares more about the car or her fame, not the guy.
Paul expressed his concern with his girlfriend in the songs in the album Rubber Soul such as "You Won't See Me" and "I'm Looking Through You"
- Yu, Demarest, PA
Beep beep beep-beep yeah!!
I just bought rubber soul and it's even better than i expected!!!! i can't get this song outta my head. Now i've just gotta find revolver and magical mystery tour and i have all the albums!!
Beatles rule forever!!!!!!!!
- Catherine, Glasgow, England
This song could either be about sex, or about a guy who's girlfriend becomes famous so she tells him he can be her chauffer.
- Lucas Burns, Folsom, CA
Paul Mcartney plays the slide solo on this track.
- Brian, St. Louis, MO
I don't think this song is about sex. I think it's about a guy who wants to be famous and is driving through Hollywood with his girlfriend.
- Sarah, Ottawa, Canada
This is an awesome song ;)
- Carolyn, P'ville, CA