Tunes And Taxis: 5 Famous Songs Featuring Vehicles

Take a quick look through your favourite playlist and you’ll soon realise, artists and songwriters aren’t strangers to mentioning the names of different vehicles and vehicle manufacturers in their releases, be it as a metaphor to explain experiences, or as an ode to a significant memory.

Musicians from varied genres have always expressed their feelings associated with vehicles, be it aircraft, automobiles or taxis. Let the team at Lewis Taxis Midlands take you through some of our favourite vehicle-themed tracks, from the modern to the classic.



Joni Mitchell - ‘Big Yellow Taxi’

A timeless and recognisable ballad, written, composed, and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ was released in 1970, and originally appeared on her album ‘Ladies of the Canyon’. Reaching number 11 in the UK charts, the song is known for its environmental concern despite the somewhat deceptive title. In the song's final verse, the titular taxi is actually mentioned, though it is theorised that this may actually refer to the old Metro Toronto Police patrol cars, which until 1986 were painted yellow. To this day, the popular track can still be heard in countless movies and TV shows.

M.I.A - ‘Paper Planes’

The most recent entry featured on this list of songs about vehicles, ‘Paper Planes’ was written and recorded by talented British hip hop artist M.I.A., appearing notably in the 2008 film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. Sampling the Clash's 1982 song ‘Straight to Hell’, lyrics, touch upon M.I.A.'s problems obtaining a visa to work in the US, despite the singer and rapper growing up in The United Kingdom. The accompanying music video proved popular, as did the song itself, which has been certified multi-platinum in Canada, the UK and ironically - the US.

Tracy Chapman - ‘Fast Car’

Released in 1988, Tracy Chapman’s most popular (and Grammy winning) song became a top-ten hit in the United States upon release, and subsequent cover versions have garnered similar success. Others to tackle the track and claim chart success have included British producer Jonas Blue, and American singer Luke Combs. As has been quite the theme within this list, the song title certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, Chapman’s lyrics tell the grittily story of a poor woman trying to escape a cycle of poverty.

Prince - ‘Lady Cab Driver’

Though not one of his most popular releases, ‘Lady Cab Driver’ was the ninth track on the enigmatic artist Prince’s fifth album. Included as a B-side on some versions of the single ‘Little Red Corvette’, the catchy song was released in 1982, and is sonically similar to a lot of the musician’s recordings from this era. Experimenting with interesting warped synths and different drum machines, this textured song recounts Prince’s unexpected encounter with a mysterious female cab driver.

The Beatles - ‘Drive My Car’

Written primarily by Paul McCartney, with lyrical contributions from John Lennon, ‘Drive My Car’ first appeared as the opening track on The Beatles’ 1965 album ‘Rubber Soul’. It has been suggested by some that the song’s lyrics referred to the relationship between Liverpool native Cilla Black and her partner Bobby Willis. This track is often cited as one of The Beatles’ most Motown-influenced releases, capturing an uncharacteristic bass-heavy sound.

Though we can’t promise you that our drivers will be playing an array of classic vehicle-themed songs when you hop in one of our taxis, what we can assure you is that we provide over 50 years of industry experience, going above and beyond to make your journey as comfortable and personal as possible. Interested in booking with a trusted taxi company? Simply contact our private hire team.