I wrote this song for my daughter, AJ’s, 17th birthday. She’s learning to drive.
Not the toy car circuits around the lounge room, or the wobbly first laps on her bike down our street. Real driving, with real consequences, and a real licence waiting at the end of it.
Watching her check the mirrors with careful, methodical concentration, I realised I’ve been teaching her to leave since she was three. Every skill I’ve handed her, riding a bike, tying her shoes, now driving, has been a small rehearsal for her not needing me.
I try to capture that in the bridge: “One day she’ll feel this weight / Pride and loss combined / Teaching little hands to steer / While leaving her behind…”
You can’t get around Adelaide easily without a car. Learning to drive here means university, work, friends scattered across the suburbs, the beach, the hills. Handing over the keys means handing over her adult life.
The last verse: “In that rear-view mirror’s frame / I’ll blur and vanish with the rain.” I get smaller in her mirror as she drives on.
The song ends by repeating the title line, first as plain fact, then carrying the full weight of what it means. I taught her how to drive away. I’m proud of that, even on the nights it keeps me awake.
“I Taught Her How To Drive Away” – Complete Lyrics
[Verse 1]
She was only three
Walking tall and climbing trees
Then we bought her a toy car
In her mind she travelled far
Through the lounge and round the back
Found her freedom on that track
Never looking back at me
Pure joy is all I see
[Chorus 1]
Moving through her games, moving through her play
Little wheels are spinning, spinning her away
Nothing but joy, I have to say
I love to watch her … drive away
[Verse 2]
She turned six way too soon
In her birthday month of June
Her first bike, she started slow
Then I watched her courage grow
Pink and green with tyres black
Down the street and racing back
To think I once held her seat
Now she’s speeding down our street
[Chorus 2]
Moving through the lanes, moving through the day
Two wheels keep on turning, turning her away
Still nothing but joy, I have to say
I love to watch her … ride away
[Verse 3]
Now seventeen, she takes the wheel
Every lesson’s getting real
Windows down and sitting square
As the wind flies through her hair
Then that pedal hits the floor
And she’s three again, once more
Then she’s gone and I’m alone
All my lessons now outgrown
[Chorus 3]
Moving through the gears, moving through the day
Real wheels are turning, turning her away
Now I feel it shifting, I have to say
I’m proud to watch her … drive away
[Instrumental solo]
[Bridge – poignant, slower, sad, reflective, strong]
One day she’ll feel this weight
Pride and loss combined
Teaching little hands to steer
While leaving her behind …
[Verse 4]
When she packs her things to go
I’ll smile, but she won’t know
That I’m holding back the strain
As she rolls into her lane
In that rear-view mirror’s frame
I’ll blur and vanish with the rain
Every turn we took with care
Leads her now to anywhere
[Final Chorus]
Moving through the gears, moving through the day
Real wheels are turning, turning her away
Even through the tears, I’m proud to say
I taught her how to … drive away
Moving through the gears, moving through the day
Real wheels are turning, turning her away
Even through the tears, I’m proud to say
I taught her how to … drive away