
“Drivin’ My Life Away” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt. It was released in 1980 as the first single from his album Horizon. It reached number one on the Hot Country Singles in 1980, and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Rabbitt, Even Stevens and David Malloy.
The song is a look into the life of a truck driver and the long periods of time they spend away from home. It was featured on the soundtrack of the 1980 movie Roadie starring Meat Loaf and Art Carney.
Although many of Rabbitt’s successful songs were country-pop material, “Drivin’ My Life Away” began his peak popularity as a crossover artist. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and set the stage for his biggest career hit: “I Love a Rainy Night,” which reached the top on the country, Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts in early 1981. Two more crossover hits – “Step by Step” and “You and I” (the latter a duet with Crystal Gayle) – followed in 1981 and 1982.
On Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart, it was his seventh out of 17 career chart toppers, spanning from 1976 through 1990.
“Drivin’ My Life Away” was certified gold for sales of 1 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America It has also sold a further 267,000 digital copies in the US since it became available for download.
B-side “Pretty Lady”
Released June 1980
Recorded 1980
Genre Country rock, country pop, rockabilly
Length 3:17
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) David MalloyEddie RabbittEven Stevens
Producer(s) David Malloy
Eddie Rabbitt – Drivin My Life Away lyrics
Well, the midnight headlight blind you on a rainy night
Steep grade up ahead slow me down makin’ no time
But I gotta keep rollin’
Those windshield wipers slappin’ outta tempo
Keepin’ perfect rhythm with the song on the radio
But I gotta keep rollin’
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a better way for me
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a sunny day
Well, the truck stop cutie comin’ on to me
Tried to talk me into a ride, said I wouldn’t be sorry
Oh, but she was just a baby
Well, waitress pour me another cup of coffee
Pop me down, jack me up, shoot me out flyin’ down the highway
Lookin’ for the morning
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a better way for me
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a sunny day
Well, the midnight headlight blind you on a rainy night
Steep grade up ahead slow me down makin’ no time
But I gotta keep rollin’
Those windshield wipers slappin’ outta tempo
Keepin’ perfect rhythm with the song on the radio
I gotta keep rollin’
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a better way for me
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a sunny day
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a better way for me
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a sunny day, yeah
Ooh, I’m driving my life away
Lookin’ for a better way for me
