Hawkwind’s ‘Damnation Alley’ from the album Quark, Strangeness and Charm (1977) was inspired by Roger Zelazny’s novel Damnation Alley (1967) — which chronicles a suicidal voyage (in an armored vehicle) across post-apocalyptic America replete with police states. The novel also inspired a rather atrocious 1977 film by the same name (Damnation Alley, 1977 — imdb link) which I’ve yet to see.
LYRICS
I’ve got the serum and I’m going to take it
All the way to Boston, oh I’ve got to get through
The going won’t be easy, but I’m going to make it
It’s the only thing that I’m cut out to do
Ride the post-atomic radioactive trash
The sky’s on fire from the nuclear flash
Driving through the burning hoop of doom,
In an eight wheeled anti-radiation tomb
Thank you Dr. Strangelove for going doolally,
and leaving me the heritage of Damnation Alley,
Damnation Alleyway
No more Arizona, now Phoenix is fried up
Oklahoma City; what a pity it’s gone
Louisiana Delta where the Mississip’s dried up
No more Chattanooga, Cherokee, Lexington
Ride the post-atomic radioactive trash
The sky’s on fire from the nuclear flash
Driving through the burning hoop of doom,
In an eight wheeled anti-radiation tomb
Thank you Dr. Strangelove for going doolally,
Leaving me the heritage of Damnation Alley,
Damnation Alleyway
Damnation Alley
Damnation Alley
Damnation Alley
Damnation Alley
Ride the post-atomic radioactive trash
The sky’s on fire from the nuclear flash
Driving through the burning hoop of doom,
In an eight wheeled anti-radiation tomb
Thank you Dr. Strangelove for going doolally,
Leaving me the heritage of Damnation Alley,
Damnation Alleyway
Radiation wasteland, radiation wasteland
Ashes coming at me
Craters coming at me now
The radiation wasteland,
I’ve got my anti-radiation machine
Oh, thank you Dr. Strangelove,
I said thank you Dr. Strangelove
For giving me ashes and post-atomic dust
The sky is raining fishes it’s a mutation zoo
Going down Damnation Alley,
Well good luck to you
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Armour plated angel, motor-pony express
Going down Damnation Alley
It’s one hell of a mess
The sky is raining fishes it’s a mutation zoo
Going down Damnation Alley,
Well good luck to you
Good luck to you
No more Arizona, now Phoenix is fried up
Oklahoma City; what a pity it’s gone
Louisiana Delta where the Mississip’s dried up
No more Chattanooga, Cherokee, Lexington
Ride the post-atomic radioactive trash
The sky’s on fire from the nuclear flash
Driving through the burning hoop of doom,
In an eight wheeled anti-radiation tomb
Thank you Dr. Strangelove for going doolally,
Leaving me the heritage of Damnation Alley,
Damnation Alleyway
Damnation Alley
Damnation Alley
Damnation Alley
Damnation Alley
Science Fiction and Other Suspect Ruminations 
Y’know, I had practically forgotten Hawkwind. They were a teenage favorite. Didn’t have that album though. My vote for the best sci-fi song by a heavy metal band go to Black Sabbath for “Planet Caravan.”
I think Quark, Strangeness and Charm is probably Hawkwind’s best album….
Have you seen the movie Damnation Alley?
Very cool post! I’m not sure how I missed Hawkwind – the track you have linked reminds me a lot of Brian Eno’s early music. I’ve yet to see Damnation Alley – something to add to my ever growing list of films to see!
I haven’t read this one,but I’m sure it arose from a short piece Zelazny wrote.I get the feeling that the shorter one would be better,and more worthwhile reading than the novel…..I don’t know.