In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine in 1979, AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott explained the meaning behind the song's title: "The highway to hell is just anything that takes you on a downward path. It could be drugs, alcohol, gambling, or anything else that leads to self-destruction."
The song's lyrics support this interpretation, with lines such as "Livin' easy, lovin' free / Livin' ain't half bad as long as your livin' for me" and "Ain't nothing I would rather do / Goin' down, partyin' with you." These lyrics suggest that the speaker is enjoying a carefree and hedonistic lifestyle, but that it is ultimately leading him to self-destruction.