Who’s gonna pay attention
To your dreams?
Who’s gonna plug their ears
When you scream?

What is love? In The Cars “Drive” Ric Ocasek says that it is easy to be in lust at the beginning of the relationship when everybody is on their best behavior. Everyone is easy to love when they are acting their best. Who will love you when you’re at your worst? That is real love.

Also, the further action of going out of your way to stay sober to drive your significant other home while she is wasted seems like a loving act that you would really only do for someone you really care about. Would the other guy do this for you? Because Ric would. (He’d even listen to her dreams…that’s a bridge too far for me.)

Not many great songs made it out of the 80s, but “Drive” does because it is slick, has a unique take on love and a catchy chorus. It is slightly overproduced, but that was just the style then…and also the style of The Cars. Just remember—if you don’t have someone to drive you home at night it might not be real love.

Drive Lyrics

Who’s gonna tell you when
It’s too late?
Who’s gonna tell you things
Aren’t so great?

You can’t go on,
Thinking nothing’s wrong.
Who’s gonna drive you home
Tonight?

Who’s gonna pick you up
When you fall?
Who’s gonna hang it up
When you call?
Who’s gonna pay attention
To your dreams?
Who’s gonna plug their ears
When you scream?

You can’t go on
Thinking nothing’s wrong.
Who’s gonna drive you home
Tonight?

Who’s gonna hold you down
When you shake?
Who’s gonna come around
When you break?

You can’t go on
Thinking nothing’s wrong.
Who’s gonna drive you home
Tonight?
Oh, you know you can’t go on
Thinking nothing’s wrong.
Who’s gonna drive you home
Tonight?

written by The Cars