Many will argue that autumn is the best season of the year. Temperate weather, football season, the changing of the leaves, Halloween, apple cider and cinnamon donuts mean that autumn has something for everyone. But to play “Debbie Downer” for a moment, autumn has a dark side as well. For us living in cold weather climates, autumn means that we are only a few weeks away from a very long and unpleasantly cold winter.

Let’s not think about that. Instead, let’s go to a time with the sun high in the sky, cut-off shorts, sunglasses, the windows down, and a distant destination in mind. You don’t even have to have anyone with you. If all those elements are in play then all you need is a mix tape or CD to get you through what is bound to be a pleasant drive on a lovely summer’s day.

So without further ado, here are the 10 best summer drivin’  tunes to groove to no matter how near or far your destination may be.

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Up Around The Bend”

From the screeching twang of the introductory guitar line to John Fogerty’s trademark howl, any CCR song is a good choice for just about any situation but this doozy will have your head boppin’ and left foot tappin’.

Sample lyric: “Bring a song and a smile for the banjo, better get while the gettin’s good /
Hitch a ride to the end of the highway where the neons turn to wood.”

2. The Eagles – “Take It Easy”

With its smooth and melodic rhythm, “Take It Easy” by the Eagles is an ode to life on the road in pursuit of love or maybe just a little bit of fun. “Hotel California” might be cringe-inducing and one of the most annoying pop songs of all time but the Eagles get a lifetime pass in this writer’s book for this summer driving staple.

Sample lyric: “Well I’m running down the road trying to loosen /
my load, got a world of trouble on my mind /
lookin’ for a lover who won’t blow my /
cover, she’s so hard to find /
Take it easy, take it easy”

3. Weezer – “Surf Wax America”

Even though it’s more about surfing than driving, Weezer’s raucous jam was one of many highlights on their 1994 debut album. Driving guitar, drums, and vocals fuel this anthem about the joys of surfing over driving. Try not to tap your hand against the wheel whilst cruising to this.

Sample lyric: “You take your car to work. I’ll take my board. (All along the undertow is strengthening its hold.) /
And when your out of fuel, I’m still afloat. (I never thought it’d come to this. Now, I can never go home.)”

4. Stevie Wonder – Uptight (Everything’s Alright)

Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with driving, what better time to listen to a song called “Everything’s Alright” then on a carefree beautiful summer’s day? Stevie Wonder is a legend and this song is a shining example of nothing more than his unfiltered positive energy.

Sample lyric: “And it’s all right, what I can’t do /
Out of sight because my heart is true /
She says baby everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.”

5. The Allman Brothers Band – “Ramblin’ Man”

It’s difficult to describe if you haven’t heard the song but the music and rhythm of this tune just sound like summer in the country. The fact that the lyrics are about traveling cross country certainly does not hurt this song’s standing on our list.

Sample lyric: “Well my father was a gambler down in Georgia /
And he wound up on the wrong end of a gun /
And I was born in the back seat of a … Greyhound bus /
Rollin’ down Highway 41″

6. Paul Simon – “Graceland”

I dare you to not crack even the faintest smile just from listening to the first thirty seconds of this classic tune from one of America’s most talented musicians of all time. Similar to “Ramblin’ Man,” this tune is about traveling cross country but whereas The Allman’s song does not state a specific ending destination, Paul Simon is going to “Graceland! Graceland! Memphis, Tennessee!”

Sample lyric: “And my traveling companions /
Are ghosts and empty sockets /
I’m looking at ghosts and empties /
But I’ve reason to believe /
We all will be received /
In Graceland”

7. The Band – “The Weight”

So far this list has been occupied by fast, up tempo, positive energy songs but even the loudest, fastest musicians have to slow things down in the middle of a set. Our list will abide by this rule with this selection. A classic song featured in Easy Rider, The Band’s piano-laced ode to life on the road will be a much welcome rest for your vocal chords and your bruised hands.

Sample lyric: “I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin’ about half past dead /
I just need some place where I can lay my head. /
‘Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?’ /
He just grinned and shook my hand, and ‘No!’, was all he said.”

8. Bob Seger – “Night Moves”

Michigan born with a voice like a thundering locomotive, Bob Seger is ideal for any road trip scenario. “Night Moves” is one of those rare tunes that builds and builds and builds until you can’t take it anymore and then it just unhinges into a flurry of musical bliss.

Sample lyric: “Out past the cornfields when the winds got heavy /
Out in the back seat of my ‘60 Chevy /
Workin’ on mysteries without any clues /
Workin’ on our night moves /
Tryin’ to make some front page drive-in news /
Workin’ on our night moves /
In the summertime /
In the sweet summertime”

9. Elton John – “Tiny Dancer”

Nobody can bang on the piano quite the way Sir Elton John can and “Tiny Dancer” is a prime example of this. Helping this tune make our list was the scene in the 2000 film, Almost Famous when the dysfunctional fictional band, Stillwater come together in their tour bus to this song while they are in the middle of a fight.

Sample lyric: “Hold me closer tiny dancer /
Count the headlights on the highway /
Lay me down in sheets of linen /
you had a busy day today”

10. N.W.A. – “F%#@ Tha Police”

We’ll end this list with a “bang” (no pun intended). Los Angeles’s N.W.A. created quite the stir with this lovely diddy about their displeasure with L.A.’s finest. It might not be wise to cruise down side streets blaring this with your windows down because chances are any officers you may encounter will not have a sense of humor about your taste in cruisin’ tunes. Regardless, this is a fun song to listen and pretend you can relate to.

Sample lyric: N/A

By K. Fitty Ditty

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