Despite its association with the stoic getaway driver played by Ryan Gosling, the song’s lyrics were primarily inspired by . Austin Garrick of Electric Youth wrote the lyrics after his grandfather described Sullenberger as "a real human being and a real hero" following the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson".
Released in 2010, by French electronic musician College (David Grellier) and Canadian duo Electric Youth is much more than a catchy synthpop track. While it became a global sensation following its inclusion in the 2011 neo-noir film Drive , the song's origins are rooted in a surprising mix of real-life heroism and cinematic homage. The Inspiration: Captain Sully and Mad Max
The second verse—"A pilot on a cold, cold morn / 155 people on board"—directly references the survivors of the US Airways Flight 1549 water landing.