‘I Can't Drive 55’ is the lead single and first track from Sammy Hagar's eighth studio album VOA in 1984. Perpetuated by a very successful music video, it became a concert staple that continued throughout Hagar's tours as a member of Van Halen. The song is a reference to the since-repealed National Maximum Speed Law that set speed limits at 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) in the United States. It is the 100th song on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.
Hagar wrote the song in response to receiving a speeding ticket in New York State, for driving 62 mph (100 km/h) on a road with a 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit, which was the highest permissible speed limit in the United States at the time due to the National Maximum Speed Law enacted in 1974. Hagar explained in an interview: “Two o'clock in the morning, I'm driving a rental car to Albany, from Albany to Lake Placid. Four-lane Highway, not a soul, I'm going about 62 miles an hour exactly. Cop pulls me, a little wet I didn't even know while I was going the speed limit changed. I'm sitting there, I was so burnt, I was just exhausted. I just handed my driver's license, hand him the Rent-A-Car stuff. He starts to write it up and the guy said how fast is 62. I said like 'I thought it was 65', you know, and he's going […] 'We give tickets around here for 62!'. You know like ‘Where have you been?’. I went 55, get to my house, wrote the song. Oh man, I mean, four o'clock in the morning. I picked up my guitar. I just wrote that damn song. It came that quick.”
The song's music video was directed by Gil Bettman. The video was shot on location at the Saugus Speedway in Santa Clarita, California. The video includes Hagar and his band being chased and jailed by the California Highway Patrol for traffic violations. The video shows Hagar driving a black Ferrari 512 BBi which is later tuned up by Hagar's mechanic, Claudio Zampolli. Zampolli was driving the Ferrari during the video's opening shot, where the Ferrari fish-tails across the speedway. The yellow jumpsuit, worn by Hagar in the video, can be seen at the New Orleans Hard Rock Cafe. A stuntman was used for Hagar's stunts. An exploding ramp was used to throw Hagar across the courtroom.
The song has been a signature track for Hagar during and after his tenure with Van Halen, and is commonly used on TV programs and commercials related to automotive racing.
Label – Geffen
Songwriter – Sammy Hagar
Producer – Ted Templeman
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]One foot on the brake and one on the gas, hey
Well, there's too much traffic, I can't pass, no
So I tried my best illegal move
A big black and white come and crushed my groove again
[Chorus]
Go on and write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55
Oh no, uh
[Verse 2]
So I signed my name on number 24, hey
Yeah, the judge said, "Boy, just one more, huh
I'm gonna throw your ass in the city joint"
Looked me in the eye, said, "You get my point?"
I say, "Yeah, oh yeah"
[Chorus]
Write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55, oh yeah
[Bridge]
I can't drive 55
I can't drive 55
I can't drive 55
I can't drive 55
[Verse 3]
When I drive that slow, you know it's hard to steer
And I can't get my car out of second gear
What used to take two hours now takes all day
Huh, it took me sixteen hours to get to L.A
[Chorus]
Go on and write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55
[Outro]
No, no, no, I can't drive (I can't drive 55)
I can't drive (I can't drive 55)
(I can't drive 55)
(I can't drive 55)