Gary Numan (born Gary Anthony James Webb on March 8, 1958) is an English singer, composer, and musician. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of electronic music and is widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” and “Cars”. Numan’s signature style combines gloomy themes of depersonalisation and alienation accompanied by energetic synthesizer work. Numan is also a licensed aviator.

“Cars” is a 1979 song by Gary Numan, released as a single from the album The Pleasure Principle. It reached the top of the charts in several countries and today is considered a New Wave staple. In the United States, it reached #10 on the Billboard charts in 1980. However, its popularity was so enormous that it overshadowed much of the rest of Numan’s career in the 1980s, causing him to be thought of in later years as a one-hit wonder in many countries.

According to Numan, the song’s lyrics were inspired by an incident of road rage: “I was in traffic in London once and had a problem with some people in front. They tried to beat me up and get me out of the car. I locked the doors and eventually drove up on the pavement and got away from them. It’s kind of to do with that.

Cars lyrics, Gary Numan

Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It’s the only way to live
In cars

Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days
In cars

Here in my car
The image breaks down
Will you visit me please
If I open my door
In cars

Here in my car
I know I’ve started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right
In cars

I know I’ve started to think
I know I’ve started to think

Part of the text is used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

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