Highway to Hell is AC/DC's fifth internationally released studio album and the sixth to be released in Australia. The album became AC/DC's first LP to break the US Top 100 and is the group's second highest selling album behind Back in Black.

The song was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, with Angus Young credited for writing the guitar riff which became an instant classic. AC/DC had made several studio albums before and were constantly promoting them via a grueling tour schedule, referred to by Angus Young as being on a highway to hell, hence the name.

The song's title and lyrics reflects the incredibly arduous nature of touring constantly and life on the road.. The highway that inspired the name of the song, Canning Highway, connects the Perth Kwinana freeway to its port Fremantle and was home to many of Bon Scott's favourite pubs and hotels, including the Raffles Hotel.

Lyrics

Livin' easy

Lovin' free

Season ticket on a one way ride

Askin' nothin'

Leave me be

Takin' everythin' in my stride

Don't need reason

Don't need rhyme

Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do

Goin' down

Party time

My friends are gonna be there too

I'm on the highway to hell

On the highway to hell

Highway to hell

I'm on the highway to hell

No stop signs

Speed limit

Nobody's gonna slow me down

Like a wheel

Gonna spin it

Nobody's gonna mess me around

Hey, Satan

Payin' my dues

Playin' in a rockin' band

Hey, mamma

Look at me

I'm on the way to the promised land

I'm on the highway to hell

Highway to hell

I'm on the highway to hell

Highway to hell

Don't stop me

I'm on the highway to hell

On the highway to hell

I'm on the highway to hell

On the highway to hell

(highway to hell) I'm on the highway to hell

(highway to hell) highway to hell

(highway to hell) highway to hell

(highway to hell)

And I'm goin' down

All the way

I'm on the highway to hell