The U.S. Department of Transportation has influenced rock and roll for decades. Let’s mention a few of our favorite songs about Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
“Drive My Car” is the instantly recognizable Beatles song written by Paul McCartney and the ‘B’ side to the hit single “Michelle” from the album Rubber Soul. The song is really about Cilla Black (who recently passed way this year) and her boyfriend Bobby Willis (who she later married). Cilla was a dear friend of the Beatles and longtime pal of the manager Brian Epstein.
“Wooden Ships” is the haunting ballad written by Crosby, Stills, and then Jefferson Airplane band member Paul Kantner. The problem was that due to legal issues Paul couldn’t be credited as a co-writer, although Jefferson Airplane released it later that year.
Honorable mentions go to The Beach Boys and “Sloop John B”, Jethro Tull and “Locomotive Breath,” “Rock and Roll Train” from AC/DC, “Crazy Train” from Ozzy Osbourne, and Aerosmith’s “Train Kept a Rollin.”
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