This song is about committing suicide via car crash.
It’s also possible that this is a metaphor for the United States and its path as a nation. The song could be saying that America is on course to destroy itself if something doesn’t change.
Rocket rocket USA
Shooting on down, I'm on my way
TV star riding around
Riding around in a killer's car
It's nineteen hundred seventy seven
Whole country is doing a fix
It's doomsday, doomsday
Ah
Riding around, riding high
Riding around with my babe
Riding around in my Chevy '69
Speeding down the skyway, ooh
Speeding down the skyway, ooh
Rocket rocket USA
Shooting on down, on my way
TV star riding around
Riding around in a killer's car
It's doomsday, doomsday
Ah, c'mon
Speeding down the skyway
One hundred miles per hour
Gonna crash
Gonna die
Ooh yeah
And I don't care
Rocket rocket USA
Speeding down the skyway
Speeding down the skyway, ooh
Rocket USA was written by Martin Rev & Alan Vega.
Rocket USA was produced by Marty Thau & Craig Leon.
Suicide released Rocket USA on Wed Dec 28 1977.