Best car song lyrics?
Tuesday October 14, 2008
Countless songs have been written about cars and driving, and some lyrics just stand out better than others. My favorite is from Parents Just Don't Understand by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince:
She put her hand on my knee, I put my foot on the gas...
So what's your favorite car-related song lyric? Click the "comments" link below and chime in. -- Aaron Gold
Comments
“Kid Charlemagne” - Steely Dan
“Is there gas in the car?
Yes, there’s gas in the car!”
What list would be complete without Deep Purple’s “Highway Star?”
I’ve been drivin’ all night, my hand’s wet on the wheel
There’s a voice in my head that drives my heel
It’s my baby callin’, says I need you here
And it’s half past four and I’m shifting gear
Golden Earring - Radar Love
“Rockin’ Down the Highway” by the Doobie Brothers!
Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware
Rush - Red Barchetta
my mother the car:
1928 porter, that’s my mother dear
she helps me through everything i do
and i’m so glad she’s here.
Beach Boys - “Little Deuce Coupe”
(pretty much the whole song qualifies)
I get pushed out of shape and it’s hard to steer
When I get rubber in all four gears
“My Maserati does 185
I lost my license and now I don’t drive.”
-Joe Walsh
Rev on the Red Line by Foreigner.
But I do love Red Barchetta as well.
Two in a row, everybody knows
At the green light you rev it on the red line
Been waitin all week to get my wheels on the street
Get my hands on the wheel, slide down in the seat
Shes wearin new colors and runnin pretty good
I got four hundred horses tucked under the hood
But theres no need to panic, its under control
Were aerodynamic and ready to roll
Rev on the red line
Youre on your own
Rev on the red line
Just let it go
And the rest of the song as well
Don McLean’s American Pie
Bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
“Get your motor runnin’”
head out on the highway….”
Born to be Wild
Beach Boy songs rule, “Little Deuce Coupe”, “409″, “Shut Down”, “Spirit of America” ‘with a J47 a jet for her power Craig Breedlove had averaged 407 per hour’.
Gripping the wheel, his knuckles
went white with desire! The wheels
of his Mustang exploding on the
highway like a slug from a .45.
True death: 400 horsepower of
maximum performance piercing the
night… This is black sunshine.
-White Zombie, “Black Sunshine”
While not a classic like Don McLean or the Beach Boys, it is definitely a killer song about a wickedly bad car!
Little GTO, you’re really lookin’ fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin’ up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine
C’mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO
Ronnie & the Daytonas
After the Joe Walsh line, it’s all Prince -
I guess I shoulda known
By the way u parked your car sideways
That it wouldnt last
See youre the kinda person
That believes in makin out once
Love em and leave em fast
I guess I must be dumb
cuz u had a pocket full of horses
Trojan and some of them used
But it was saturday night
I guess that makes it all right
And u say what have I got 2 lose?
And honey I say
Little red corvette
Baby youre much 2 fast
Little red corvette
U need a love thats gonna last
I can’t drive 55
Sammy Hagar
Still true.
Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.
“Hot Rod Lincoln”
“My pappy said “Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’s stop drivin’ that Hot Rod Lincoln.”
Well if you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that’s the best
Get your kicks on Route 66
-Depeche Mode
From “Red Barchetta” by Rush:
Wind in my hair
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge
you’re just about to move and you think it’s a breeze, then there’s a light in your eyes, and then a guy says, OUT OF THE CAR LONG HAIR.
loggins and messina your momma dont dance and your daddy don’t rock and roll.
NRBQ Riding in my car,or Wilson Pickett Mustang Sally
I got me a 67 Chevy, she’s low and sleek and black
Someday I’ll put her on that interstate and never look back
Steve Earle - Someday
The Offspring
BAD HABIT
Hey man you know I‘m really okay
The gun in my hand will tell you the same
But when I‘m in my car
Don‘t give me no crap
Cause the slightest thing and I just might snap
When I go driving I stay in my lane
But getting cut off makes me insane
I open the glove box
Reach inside
I‘m gonna wreck this f!$@#er‘s ride
I guess I got a bad habit
Of blowin’ away
Yeah I got a bad habit
And it ain’t goin’ away Yeah
Well they say the road’s a dangerous place
If you flip me off I‘m the danger you‘ll face
You drive on my ass
You‘re foot’s on the gas
And your next breath is your last
Drivers are rude
Such attitudes
But when I show my piece
Complaints cease
Something‘s odd
I feel like I‘m God
You stupid dumbsh@t goddam motherf*&%er
I open the glove box
Reach inside
I‘m gonna wreck this fu&^er‘s ride
All time funniest driving song:
Title:BEEP BEEP (LITTLE NASH RAMBLER)
cho: Beep beep (beep beep),
Beep beep (beep beep),
His horn went beep beep beep (beep beep).
While riding in my Cadillac, what to my surprise,
A little Nash Rambler was following me, about one-third my size.
The guy must have wanted to pass me out
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep).
I’ll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn.
cho:
I pushed my foot down to the floor to give the guy the shake,
But the little Nash Rambler stayed right behind, he still had
on his brake.
He must have thought his car had more guts,
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep).
I’ll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn.
cho:
My car went in to passing gear and we took off with gust,
And soon we were doing ninety, must have left him in the dust.
When I peeked in the mirror of my car, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The little Nash Rambler was right behind, you’d think that
guy could fly.
cho:
Now we’re doing a hundred and ten, it certainly was a race,
For a Rambler to pass a Caddy would be a big disgrace.
The guy must have wanted to pass me out as he kept on tooting his horn.
I’ll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn.
cho:
Now we’re doing a hundred and twenty, as fast as I could go.
The Rambler pulled alongside of me as if we were going slow.
The fellow rolled his window down and yelled for me to hear:
“Hey, buddy, how can I get this car out of second gear?”+
“
I like Kathy Mattea’s “455 Rocket”
Mr. Smith had an oldsmobile
Baby blue with them wire wheels
I took her home the day that she was adverstised
He said she leaked when, it would rain
And sounded like an aeroplane
But I knew she was a jewel in disguise
She had a 455 Rocket
The biggest block alive
I couldn’t hardly wait just to take my turn
She was made for the straight aways
She grew up hating Chevrolets
She’s a Rocket, she was made to burn
Whose junkpile piece of Chevelle is this?
You boys come here to race or just kiss?
Don’t you wanna know what I got underneath my hood?
I know she might sound like she’s missing
But buddy, she could teach you a lesson
In just a quater mile, and I’ll smoke you good
In my 455 Rocket
The kind the police drive
I couldn’t hardly wait just to take my turn
She was made for the straight aways
She grew up hating Chevrolets
She’s a Rocket, she was made to burn
I’m telling you and I ain’t ashamed
I cried when that wrecker came
As we skid I thought I heard the angels sing (sounded like the Beach Boys)
We hit the curve and began to sail
Took out most of the safety rail
Even the cop asked me
“Man, what’d you have in that thing?”
I had a 455 Rocket
The very kind you drive
You oughta watch yourself when you take that turn
‘Cause she was made for the straight aways
She grew up hating Chevrolets
She’s a Rocket, she was made to burn
Lord, she’s a Rocket she was made to burn
Racing in the Streets, Bruce Springsteen
I got a sixty-nine chevy with a 396
Fuelie heads and a hurst on the floor
Shes waiting tonight down in the parking lot
Outside the seven-eleven store
Me and my partner sonny built her straight out of scratch
And he rides with me from town to town
We only run for the money got no strings attached
We shut `em up and then we shut `em down
Tonight tonight the strips just right
I wanna blow `em off in my first heat
Summers here and the time is right
Were goin racin in the street
We take all the action we can meet
And we cover all the northeast state
When the strip shuts down we run `em in the street
From the fire roads to the interstate
Some guys they just give up living
And start dying little by little piece by piece
Some guys come home from work and wash up
Then go racin in the street
Tonight tonight the strips just right
I wanna blow `em all out of their seats
Calling out around the world
Were going racin in the street
I met her on the strip three years ago
In a camaro with this dude from l.a.
I blew that camaro off my back and drove that little girl away
But now theres wrinkles around my babys eyes
And she cries herself to sleep at night
When I come home the house is dark
She sighs baby did you make it all right
She sits on the porch of her daddys house
But all her pretty dreams are torn
She stares off alone into the night
With the eyes of one who hates for just being born
For all the shut-down strangers and hot rod angels
Rumbling through this promised land
Tonight my baby and me were gonna ride to the sea
And wash these sins off our hands
Tonight tonight the highways bright
Out of our way mister you best keep
`cause summers here and the time is right
Were goin racin in the street
Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.
“Hot Rod Lincoln”
“My pappy said “Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’s stop drivin’ that Hot Rod Lincoln.”
Im in love with my car - Queen
Kazzer - Pedal to the Metal
come on pple….T.I- top back.
I remember we were driving, driving in your car,
the speed so fast I felt like I was drunk.
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder,
And I had a feeling that I belonged,
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone.
Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
And if a double-decker bus
crashes into us,
to die by your side
is such a heavenly way to die.
And if a ten ton truck
kills the both of us,
to die by your side,
Well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine.
There Is a Light and It Never Goes Out
–The Smiths (written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey)
Ramrod Bruce Springsteen
Hey, little dolly with the blue jeans on
I wanna ramrod with you honey, till half-past dawn
Let your hair down sugar and pick up this beat
Come on and meet me tonight down on Bluebird Street
I’ve been working all week, I’m up to my neck in hock
Come Saturday night I let my ramrod rock
She’s a hot stepping hemi with a four on the floor
She’s a roadrunner engine in a ‘32 Ford
Late at night when I’m dead on the line
I swear I think of your pretty face when I let her unwind
Well look over yonder see them city lights
Come on little dolly ‘n’ go ramroddin’ tonight
Come on, come on, come on little baby
Come on, come on let’s shake it tonight
Come on, come, come on little sugar
Dance with your daddy and we’ll go ramroddin’ tonight
Hey, little dolly won’t you say you will
Meet me tonight up on top of the hill
Well just a few miles cross the county line
There’s a cute little chapel nestled down in the pines
Say you’ll be mine little girl I’ll put my foot to the floor
Give me the word now sugar, we’ll go ramroddin’ forever more
“Animals” by Nickelback
(Surprised this wasn’t here yet, but maybe I know why…)
“You’re beside me on the seat
Got your hand between my knees
And you control how fast we go
by just how hard you wanna squeeze
It’s hard to steer
when you’re breathing in my ear
But I got both hands on the wheel
while you got both hands on my gears”
…okay, I would put the rest, but I suppose it only gets more graphic (and a lot more comic) from here…
Now I’m a pretty big man around this town
I got me the hottest little Chevy around
My sweet little ‘66
She got a yellow front fender and a gray one on the back
But my income tax is comin’ and I’m gonna paint her black
Sweet little ‘66
She got the 396, she got the four on the floor
And those stickers in the window ain’t just for show
My sweet little ‘66
Now old Bubba and me built her back in ‘79
Then he went into the army so now she’s all mine
Sweet little ‘66
I used to run her down on River Road and make a little dough
Can’t afford another ticket so I’m laying kinda low
Me and my ‘66
Now she ain’t too good on gasoline, she burns a little oil
But she was built by union labor on American soil
Sweet little ‘66
So when your Subaru is over and your Honda’s history
I’ll be blastin’ down some back road with my baby next to me
In my sweet little 66
-Steve Earle
Sweet Little ‘66
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned these five… (some of my Favorites)
Fuel - Metallica
Going the Distance - Cake
Beatles - Drive my Car
Life is a Highway - Tom Cochrane
War - Low Rider
+1 to…
Black Sunshine - White Zombie
Bad Habit - Offspring
Animals - Nickelback
American Pie - Don McLean
Another one of my favorites — Speedball Tucker by Jim Croce (technically, a truck song):
One day I looked into my mirror
And a-comin’ up from behind
Was a Georgia state policeman
And a hundred dollar fine
Well, he looked me in the eye as he was writin’ me up
And said, “Driver, you been flyin’
Ninety-five was the route you were on
It was not the speed limit sign!”
(The rain may blow, the snow may snow, and the turnpikes, they may freeze — but that don’t bother ol’ Speedball, he goin’ any damn way he please.) — Aaron
I’m burning up the highway early this morn
I’m passing everybody oh nothing but corn
Man outa my way I don’t drive with my horn-
(scrreeech-BANG!!tinkle)
Transfusion transfusion
Oh nurse I’m gonna make a new resolution
I’m never never never gonna speed again
Put a gallon in me Alan
“Transfusion” by Nervous Norvus
Another nod here for Red Barchetta.
Honorable mention for Sammy Hagar: I can’t drive 55!
Almost forgot AC/DC
She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean…..takin more than her share, had me fighting for air, she told me to come but I was already there…
Wait, cars right?
If the manufacturesr could copme up with somehtng like ….
See the USA in Your Cheverolet!
… maybe they could sell enought to stay in business????
Primus
“Jerry was a race car driver
And he drove so goddamned fast
He never did win no checkered flag
But he never did come in last
Jerry was a race car driver
Hed say el solo number one
With a bocephus sticker
On his 442 hed light em up
Just for fun”
Although technically a motorcycle song, Roll me away by Bob Seger is a great road song. “Took a look down the westbound road, right away I made my choice. Headed out to my big two wheeler, I was tired of my own voice. Took a bead on the northern plain, and just rolled that power on.
“Hot rod Lincoln”
I think this was the 1st car song that stuck in my brain. Unfortunately I took it to heart and drove that way till I crashed my 49 Merc.lead slead.
PS: It’s true the front bumper on that car weighes more that a Kia.
This is also a motorcyle song, but one of my favourites: Judas Priest’s “Desert Plains”
Full moon is rising
The sky is black
I need your call I’m coming back
The road is straight cast
Wind’s in my eyes
The engine roars between my thighs
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Wild mountain thunder
Echoes my quest
My body aches but I’ll not rest
Quartz light to guide me
Till sunrise leads
My passion screams, my heart it bleeds
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Then in the distance
I see you stand
On the horizon you raise your hand
In burning rubber
I end my quest
You fall into my arms at last
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin
The trees went by, me and del were singin
Little runaway, I was flyin
Yeah runnin down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin on a mystery, goin wherever it leads
Im runnin down a dream
I felt so good, like anything was possible
I hit cruise control and rubbed eyes
The last three days the rain was unstoppabl e
It was always cold, no sun shine
Yeah runnin down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin on a mystery, goin wherever it leads
Im runnin down a dream
I rolled on as the sky grew dark
I put the pedal down to make some time
Theres something good waitin down this road
Im pickin up whatever is mine
Tom Petty
Stray Cats - Look at that Cadillac!!!
Well, wake up in the morning, brush my teeth and comb my hair
Well, I wake up in the morning, I brush my teeth and comb my hair
There’s a big black cadillac parked on the street over there
Well it’s the finest lookin’ car, that ever rolled of the line
Any other car would just be wasting your time
Ooh one fine day I’m gonna make a cadillac mine
I gotta get a cadillac
Look at that cadillac, look at that
Look at that cadillac, look at that
Rolling down the avenue, I’m gonna get me a cadillac too
If it’s the last thing I do….
Let Sally Drive -Sammy Hagar from the Ten13 CD
Sally’s in love
With her automobile
Says she feels so sexy
From behind the wheel
She got dual carburetors
Ported and relieved
She pull the soft top down
She makes the devil believe
Packs a 427
Down on 101
Crack a buck 10-11
On the radar gun
She roll it over to the shoulder
Moving past her man
Swing it back to the fast lane
Singing catch me if you can
She got 5 speed, 4 elevens,
Ten thirteen in a quarter mile
Trick gas, full blown nitrous
Speed queen with a smile
Ride, ride, ride
Let Sally ride
Drive, drive, drive
Let Sally drive
Ride, ride, ride
Let Sally ride
Drive, drive, drive
Let Sally drive
Drive, drive, drive
Got long tall Sally
Blastin’ on the box
Just like mustang Sally
Kicked up a notch
Puts the pedal to the metal
Tacking 7 grand
Smoking 50 yards of rubber
In the rear view mirror
Singing catch me if you can
“Too Many Drivers At Your Wheel”, also known as “Automobile Blues”, “Let Me Ride In Your Automobile”, or “Little Car Blues”. Here’s Magic Dick and Jay Geils covering of the song.
http://www.rhapsody.com/magicdickjaygeils/156251_littlecarblues/littlecarblues/lyrics.html
Gibson Guitars has a very similar discussion on their site. They list their top ten, and a surprising number haven’t been mentioned here yet! My favorite among them? “Vehicle” by Ides of March.
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/10-classic-songs-about-cars/
Little GTO
Jan and Dean
“The Legend of The Chevy Farm grew here in the west,
Now people come from far and wide to put us to the test,
And when the dealin’s done, they agree there’s only one,
That leads the way
The Legend of the Chevy Farm, Westgate Chevrolet”
A local edmonton advertising jingle that can be rather catchy.
Eastbound and down By jerry reed
Cyndi Lauper: “I drove all night, to get to you.”
Meatloaf: “Paradise by the dashboard light.”
Madonna: “Fancy cars that go very fast, you know they never last - no, no.”
Gino Vannelli - “Black cars look better in the shade”
Two songs … Hot Rod Lincol, by Charlie Ryan in ‘55, though Commander Cody’s version is snappier.
And the one about an “Ol’ 55″ by Tom Waits, best performed by The Eagles…
Well, my time went so quickly, I went lickety-splitly
Out to my ol’d fifty-five.
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy,
God knows I was feelin’ alive.
And now the sun’s coming up.
I’m riding with lady luck.
Freeway cars and trucks.
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade.
Just a wishin’ I’d stayed a little longer.
Lord don’t you know, the feelin’s gettin’ stronger.
Six in the mornin’ gave me no warnin’,
I had to be on my way.
Now the cars are all passin’ me, trucks are all flashin’ me,
I’m headed home from your place.
“Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen. I know it’s not about a car, but when you’re driving and you hear it, you think about it being about a car and racing down the street. I just like the song!!
“Oh Lord, woncha buy me a Mercedes Benz. My friends all drive Porches and I must make amends. Oh, Lord, wontcha buy me a Mer Ced Des Benzzzzzzzzzzzzzz” Janis Joplin
I’m looking for a song that went something like this:
Me and my baby went out for a ride
We rode together side by side
We stopped for this light when up pulled an “old’s” My baby said hey man, lets drag down the road
can you remember the name of a song that starts “there’s a 49 merc goin’ round lowered about a half an inch off the ground….” ?