Drive
by SZA

Album: Lana (2024)
Charted: 51
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Drive" is a smooth, minimalist track in which SZA describes a dark night of the soul. She recorded it for Lana, the deluxe edition of her sophomore album SOS.
  • The song opens with SZA behind the wheel, a modern-day existential traveler lost not just on the road but seemingly in her own head. She's driving aimlessly, trying to outrun the demons that keep her awake.

    The first verse finds SZA grappling with the pressures of fame, her composure frayed by the weight of expectation. She acknowledges the venomous barbs of her haters, particularly those embittered by the success of SOS.

    In the second verse, SZA chooses to ignore the noise. Instead, she focuses her energy on her goals, refusing to stoop to their level.
  • ThankGod4Cody and Billy Lemos built their production on just a bluesy electric guitar and SZA's plaintive vocals.

    Memphis producer ThankGod4Cody has worked with SZA since 2014. He co-wrote and co-produced seven tracks on SOS, including "I Hate U."

    For Chicago producer Lemos, "Drive" marks his first foray into SZA's universe.
  • The moody video, directed by Bradley J. Calder, shows actor Ben Stiller driving along a dimly lit, empty road. Stiller lip-syncs to the lyrics while lost in thought. Toward the end, the perspective shifts to the nearby woods, revealing SZA dressed as a bug - a nod to her Lana album cover. As the clip wraps up, there's a tantalizing snippet of another Lana track, "Crybaby."
  • Why Stiller, you ask? Well, SZA is a devoted fan of his psychological mystery series Severance. In fact, before the video's release, she tweeted, "Was tryna be polite but I really need a new season of Severance right the f--k now." Stiller, ever the good sport, replied, "Ok ok got it."
  • Lana is SZA's nickname, derived from her first name, Solána. At age 13, SZA planned to get her full first name tattooed but could only afford the last four letters, which spelled out "Lana."

    SZA's previous album title, SOS, comes from Sous, another of her nicknames.

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