Drop the Pilot

"Drop the Pilot" is a song written and performed by English singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading. It was released by A&M Records on 4 February 1983 as the lead single from her eighth studio album, The Key (1983), and was her third and final UK top 40 hit as of 2026. It reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart, and spent a total of ten weeks in the Top 40. The song was a hit in Australia and New Zealand, peaking at number six on both national charts, and in South Africa, where it reached number one. The single was Armatrading's only appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it spent six weeks, peaking at number 78 on 25 June 1983.