Going back to the song-to-song strategy via Spotify’s “radio” function, yesterday’s Bettie Serveert’s song “Palomine” has led to today’s Song Of The Day, “Drivin’ On 9” by The Breeders. This one made me smile as it is my all-time favorite song by The Breeders. A song that immediately reminds me of road trips, and makes me itch for one even more.
“Drivin’ On 9” is also one of a handful of songs that have been a muse to my desert novel I’m working on. When I hear the song I always see myself driving through the desert. Always. It’s so my road trip through the desert go-to track.
“Drivin’ on nine.
Does daddy have a shotgun?
He said he’d never need one.
Go another mile.
Drivin’ on nine.”
“Drivin’ On 9” by The Breeders
from the album, Last Splash (1993)
Song Of The Day – June 8, 2021
“Drivin’ On 9” is one of those songs that I love more now than I did back when it came out, in 1993. Though it was my favorite back when I first had the Last Splash album, it’s been a song that has become more significant and special to me as the years have gone by. It’s one of those songs that make it onto many playlists I curate and is one of those tracks that I need to hear often. I tend to play it once a week, if not more.
Some of this growth in song-love is connected to the novel I mentioned, and how much this song fits with the feel of the story, the characters, and how I see the setting I’m writing in. Another reason could be how much my love of driving, and of road trips, seems to have grown exponentially, year after year – and how my longing has become bigger than ever, especially after so much stuck-ness during the quarantine/pandemic. The road, she is definitely calling for me.
“Last Splash” is the second studio album that The Breeders released in August of 1993. The album title is taken from a lyric from the lead single, “Cannonball.” (source: Wikipedia)
The demo that proceeded The Breeders debut studio album, Pod (also known as “Pod Demos”) included a song titled “Stop Whispering” which had identical music with completely different lyrics. “Pod Demos” also featured the first recorded version of “Drivin’ On 9”. About fie years later, songs “Divine Hammer” and “Drivin’ On 9” were both released, on Last Splash. (source: Songfacts)
Listening to “Drivin’ On 9” again today has me fired up to make an updated Road Trip Mix. The last time I made one – or really made a set of four – was quite a few years ago. I think it’s time for a refresh. The first in the revised mix collection will definitely start with “Drivin’ On 9”.
