 Rihanna's vocal range spans from the low note of F#3 to the high note of B4 and the song follows a chord progression of E5–B5–C5–F5–B5–C5.Lyrically, "Shut Up and Drive", as the title suggests, is about Rihanna looking for a "driver", having nothing to do with the cars' performance described being thinly veiled metaphors for her and the driver as for a lover capable to handle them.The lyrics also contain multiple references to various cars and car parts, including 'class like a '57 Cadillac', all about her own attributes.