SZA Drive: A Journey of Soulful Vulnerability and Ben Stiller’s Surreal Cameo

If there’s one thing SZA knows how to do, it’s take listeners on a journey.

With Drive, the lead single from her deluxe album SOS: Lana, SZA offers an emotionally rich experience.

Whether it’s the tender acoustics, introspective lyrics, or Ben Stiller ghostriding a car, Drive by SZA is as unforgettable as it is deeply relatable.

Released on December 20, 2024, Drive was produced by ThankGod4Cody and Billy Lemos, with its visually striking music video directed by Bradley J. Calder.

The track continues SZA’s tradition of blending vulnerability with creativity, delivering something that resonates beyond just the music.

SZA Drive: From Fan to Collaborator with Ben Stiller

SZA’s love for Ben Stiller has been well-documented. She’s tweeted about him, her admiration brought to light during an episode of The Tonight Show when Jimmy Fallon read her tweets to Stiller himself.

Fast forward, and SZA has turned her fandom into collaboration, casting Stiller as the star of her Drive music video.

Ben Stiller in SZA's Drive music video — Ben Stiller in SZA’s Drive music video

The video opens with Stiller cruising through a rainy night, lip-syncing to SZA Drive lyrics with a mix of intensity and wistfulness.

It’s humorous yet oddly poignant, as his performance mirrors the introspective tone of the track.

Midway, he takes it up a notch, stepping out to ghost ride the car in a nod to Bay Area car culture.

As the video progresses, the visuals transition from realism to surrealism.

The camera pans away from Stiller to a lush forest where SZA appears as a bug-eyed alien-like figure, clad in golden camouflage—a direct reference to the SOS: Lana album art.

Her transformation ties into the overarching theme of otherness and reinvention, a recurring motif in her work.

SZA Drive Lyrics: A Tale of Restlessness and Self-Reflection

The SZA Drive lyrics explore themes of searching for clarity and connection.

With lines like “I been up ’til midnight, drivin’ to nowhere” and “Hopin’ that someone’s missin’ me somewhere,” the song captures the restless energy of trying to find peace in a chaotic world.

The chorus, “Just tryin’, just tryna get my head right,” is simple yet powerful, resonating with anyone who’s ever felt the weight of their own thoughts.

SZA balances this vulnerability with sharp confidence, as seen in the line “How you copy then compete?” which showcases her resilience amid external pressures.

The Musicality of Drive: Subtle Acoustics and a Soulful Finish

Musically, Drive by SZA begins with a soft acoustic backdrop that lets her voice shine.

Her delivery is tender and introspective, carrying a sense of emotional weight that feels deeply personal.

However, the ending of Drive—particularly as heard in the music video—introduces a more soulful sound.

The pace slows, and the instrumentation deepens, bringing in retro-inspired textures that feel like a meditative conclusion to the journey.

Whether this shift is unique to the video or part of the track itself, it adds another layer of depth, reinforcing the emotional arc of the song.

What Is the Meaning Behind Drive by SZA?

Drive by SZA reflects the universal struggle of navigating life’s complexities.

The act of driving becomes a metaphor for self-discovery, capturing the uncertainty, detours, and small victories along the way.

Lines like “The money’s insane, I know / But it don’t fill the void at all” reveal the emptiness behind external success, while the song’s overarching message emphasizes the importance of embracing the journey rather than obsessing over the destination.

Inside the Drive Music Video

Bradley J. Calder’s direction brings Drive by SZA to life with a mix of grounded storytelling and surreal imagery.

Ben Stiller’s performance provides an unexpected layer of humour and relatability, making the video as memorable as the song itself.

As SZA’s alien-like figure emerges in the latter half of the video, the visuals take a turn for the introspective, mirroring the soulful shift in the music.

This blending of the fantastical and the heartfelt makes the video a standout moment in SZA’s growing catalog of iconic visuals.

Why Drive by SZA Resonates

Drive opens the door to the expanded world of SOS: Lana, offering a glimpse into the deluxe album’s deeper layers.

With its reflective lyrics and soulful melodies, the track captures the essence of SZA’s ability to evolve her artistry while maintaining her signature introspection.

The album builds on the themes of vulnerability and self-discovery seen in SOS, presenting them with a renewed perspective.

SZA Drive Lyrics

Pre-Chorus
I been up ’til up midnight, drivin’ to nowhere
Bumpin’ a slow song, can’t get my head clear
I been up ’til sunrise, headed to nowhere
Hopin’ that someone’s missin’ me somewhere

Chorus
Drivin’, just drivin’
Just tryin’, just tryna get my head right
Then I’ll be better when, when I
When I, just gotta get my head right

Verse 1
And it don’t hit the same when you’re all alone
And the money’s insane, I know
But it don’t fill the void at all
And I promised my mom I’d do better
But they keep trying me so hard
With all the bullshit and fuck it all
I keep prеtendin’ everyonе’s as good as me
Shit’s so weird I cannot speak
Balled so hard, I think I peaked
All my exes still love me
Call me up, he wanna freak
All my opps lookin’ distressed
How you copy then compete?
Oh, you just mad that your nigga want me
Oh, you just mad that we went ten weeks
Oh, you just mad that your ass ain’t free
Scared to say shit so you fake, ki-ki
Scared to cut a nigga so I left, ski-ski
I ain’t scared of shit so I swing my meat
I ain’t scared of shit so I let mine go
All my shit, ’cause I can, I know

Pre-Chorus
I been up ’til up midnight, drivin’ to nowhere (Nowhere, nowhere)
Bumpin’ a slow song, can’t get my head clear
I been up ’til sunrise, headed to nowhere
Hopin’ that someone’s missin’ me somewhere

Chorus
Drivin’, just drivin’ (Just drivin’)
Just tryin’, just tryna get my head right
Then I’ll be better when, when I
When I, just gotta get my head right

Verse 2
And I can’t lose my focus, I know if hope is the goal
Then I can’t succumb to this conquest and lose it all (Nope)
And I know that if love is my purpose
I can’t waste energy lookin’ for enemies, I just dub it all
I’m anti-beef, half your bitches be too cheap
Half a milli when I bling, fuck I look like, on my knees?
You really just mad ’cause I make it look easy
I’m really this bad, you should see it 3D
Boy, yeah, this bag you should spend it on me
All of my time precious, so be

Chorus
Drivin’, just drivin’ (Just drivin’)
Just tryin’, just tryna get my head right
Then I’ll be better when, when I
When I, just gotta get my head right