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Cars in songs


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#1 Roger Clark

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 05:18

With the recent uplift in cultural standards on this forum,and as I'm away for a few days, i offer te following.

Now I’m not bragging babe, so don’t put me down
But I’ve got the fastest set of wheels in town
When something come up to me she don’t even try
If she had a set of wings man, I know she could fly
She’s my little deuce coupe, you don’t know what I’ve got

I all right so far, except for the little deuce coupe itself. Is it a specfic car or a general nickname for two door (two seater?) coupé

Just a little deuce coupe with a flat head mill
Presumably a reference to a Heron head, or combustion chamber in the bowl of the piston, like a Cosworth SCA. But would this have been standard or was it a racing modification, if so by whom?
But she’d walk a Thunderbird like she’s standing still
Especially, presumably, if the Thunderbird driver was having fun, fun, fun at the time
She’s ported and leagued and she’s stroked and bored
Obviously the engine was modified. Stroked and bored I’m happy with, ported presumably means modified inlet and exhaust manifolds, but what it leagued, or is it leaved? And can we speculate on who might have done the engine tuning?
She’ll do a hundred and forty and my foot ain’t floored
She’s my little deuce coupe, you don’t know what I’ve got

She’s got a competition clutch and four on the floor
A four speed manualgear box and a racing clutch. What would the original have had, three speed column change, or automatic transmission? And again, can we speculate on the suppliers?
And she purrs like a kitten when the lay pipes roar
You’ve got me there, Brian; what are lay pipes, or have I misheard?
And if that ain’t enough to make you flip your lid
There’s one more thing I’ve got the pink slips, daddy
Proof of ownership presumably

And coming off the line when the lights turn green
Lucky that modern F1 start procedures weren't used. When the fifth red light comes on and and goes out after up to five seconds is rather more difficult to scan
(???) like you’ve never seen
I get pushed out of shape and it’s hard to steer
Rearward weight transfer causing steering difficulties
When I get rubber in all forward gears
Wheelspin; obviously traction control is not working properly.
She’s my little deuce coupe, you don’t know what I’ve got

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#2 Rob29

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 05:33

This sounds fun.How many motor racing songs are there? I remember one I heard on the Les Leston radio programme in the 60s.Went something like 'Nurburgring,Nurburgring,Grand Prix Germany,with Fangio, ..he'l bring victory'.
Then there's ' Hey Little Cobra by the Ripcords.''I took my Cobra down the track hitched to be back of a Cadillac...was dicing with the Stingrays and XKEs'
Also George Harrison's tribute to Ronnie Peterson 'Faster'

#3 Marcel Schot

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 06:18

German power/speed metal band Primal Fear have a song called "Formula One" on their 1998 debut album. Full lyrics can be found at http://www.angelfire...power/pfl1.html

BTW beware, those lyrics are just a tad silly :lol:

#4 Graham Clayton

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 06:34

Not quite a song, but current English singer Robbie Williams
has just released a song that has him being aa early 70's
F1 driver. Current footage of him is interspersed with old film
showing Jackie Stewart and others.

In regard to car songs, "Jesus Built My Hot Rod" by Ministry
is one of my favourites, along with "Sweet Little '66"
by Steve Earle

#5 leegle

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 09:45

Roger the flat head mill is a sidevalve V8 engine which is what the 'Li'l Deuce Coupe' came with originally although probably modified and probably described this way to avoid anyone thinking it had a later engine. The Deuce coupe was the 1932 Ford as it was known to hot-rodders. Lake pipes were exhausts down the sides of the car.

#6 LittleChris

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 09:58

I'm with Graham as regards Jesus Built My Hot Rod. Another one is Red Barchetta by Rush

#7 kane

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 10:22

Thomas Dolbys Album: Aliens Ate My Buick
The Key To Her Ferrari

Quite a racy tune about a bright red 64 GTO with fins and gills like some giant piranha fish!

http://www.thomasdol...ns.html#ferrari

#8 Chico Landi

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 11:36

Deep Purple has two songs:
"Highway Star" & "Speed King".

Also Jamiroquai made "Travelling Without Moving", which starts with the sound of a Ferrari engine.

But the best of all can only be "Faster", from George Harrison, made about the F1 in the seventies. What a masterpiece!!! :stoned:

("Red Barchetta" is also superb!)

#9 William Dale Jr

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 12:13

Lucio Dalla did songs about Nuvolari and Senna, and I think he also did another song about racing. Do the songs have anything about the cars in them? Probably, but I don't speak Italian, and I lost track of where I put the lyrics, so I can't run the through Altavista's online translator.

Also, my favourite part of Faster, is the start. The field on the grid, waiting for the red......revs jumping when the red comes on.....the cars leaving the line when the green comes on.....the cars surging past and hearing the V8's and V12's on full song, not a V10 in earshot..... What have the FIA done, all the cars now sound pretty similar :cry: , well, except for the McLarens.

Other songs (about racing, anyway):

Cake - Going the Distance
Dick Brooks (the NASCAR driver?) - Wizard of the Wheel

Have we had this topic here before :confused:

#10 Eric McLoughlin

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 18:29

The TV series, "The Power and the Glory" features snippets from an Italian song "Arriva Tazio", presumably from the 1930's and definitely about Nuvalari. Modern motor racing doesn't seem to inspire too many songwriters.
The 1950's US drag and hot rod scene seems to have inspired the most songs. Apart fron The Beach Boys ("Little Deuce Coupe", "Fun, Fun, Fun", "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena")and Jan and Dean ("Dead Man's Curve") the various "Death Songs" which were popular in the early 60's were usually based on automobile or motor cycle accident tales. Examples are -

"Terry" by Twinkle
"Tell Laura I Love Her" - Ricky Valance
"Leader of the Pack" - The Shangri-La's

Of course, Chris Rea has written a number of songs, and a whole album, on the theme of Ferrari's. He also featured a Caterham 7 on the cover of his "Auberge" album as he is a passionate fan of the Seven.

#11 Skouse

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 18:40

My Fave is Queen's "I'm in love with my car"

Told my girl I'll have to forget her
Rather buy me a new carburetor
So she made tracks sayin'
This is the end now
Cars don't talk back
They're just four wheeled friends

Cheers.

#12 Frank de Jong

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 18:50

Well, a complete CD with music and racing sounds is "Human race ignition" by Tekton motor Corporation. The racing sounds come from a december 1992 McLaren testing session (Michael Andretti/Mark Blundell). Not bad.
If a tuned street car (sort of touring car) counts, I'd say Tom Robinson's Grey Cortina is a great song:

Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

Twin exhaust and rusty bumper
Chewing gum at traffic light
Stop at red but leave on amber
Grey Cortina outa sight

Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

Furlined seats and lettered windscreen
Elbow on the windowsill
Eight track blazing Brucie Springsteen
Bomber jacket, dressed to kill

Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

Never cop a parking ticket
Never seem to show its age
Speed police too slow to nick it
Grey Cortina got it made
Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

#13 Criceto

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 19:01

Whatever you may or may not think about country/western music, they have plenty of car songs there.

How about "Four-Fiftyfive Rocket", where the Oldsmobile of the song is described as...

"She was made for the straightaways
She grew up hating Chevrolets
She's a Rocket - She was made to burn"

with the added aside "So whose junked out piece of sh.. sh.. Chevelle is this?"

Other stuff...

British Heavy Metal group Saxon wrote about "Wheels of Steel"

"I've got a sixty eight Chevvy with pipes on the side
You know she's my idea of beauty and that's what I drive

She's got wheels, wheels of steel (*)
Talkin' 'bout my wheels of steel

I don't take no jibe from no motorway pigs
When I'm cruisin' down the freeway I don't give no lifts
If you see me comin' get out of my way
You know a Transam didn't I blew it away"

Chris Rea really loves his cars and racing, and my favourite of his has to be "Daytona"

"Diamond dream when the sun don't shine
I close my eyes to see
Twelve wild horses in silver chains
Calling out to me

Oh Daytona
Shine your light on me"

(This song includes a Maranello V-12 solo...)



And let us not forget the silly songs of Flanders and Swann. You may not agree with their sentiment, but feel the automotive dedication...!

Some people like Lagondas
Some want a fine MG
Or for Bonnie Army Lorry
They'd lay them down and die
Such means of locomotion seem rather dull to us
The driver and conductor of a London Omnibus

Hold very tight please! ting! ting!
Hold very tight please! ting! ting!
When you are lost in London
And you don't know where you are
You'll hear my voice a calling:
'Move further down the car'
And very soon you'll find yourself
Inside the terminus
In a London Transport Diesel Engined Ninety-Seven Horsepower Omnibus

Along the Queen's great highway
I drive my merry load
At twenty miles an hour
In the middle of the road
We like to drive in convoys
We're most gregarious
The big six-wheeler Scarlet painted London Transport Diesel Engined Ninety-Seven Horsepower Omnibus

Earth has not anything to show more fair
Mind the stairs, Mind the stairs, Mind the stairs
Earth has not anything to show more fair
Any more fares?, Any more fares?

When cabbies try to pass me,
Before they overtakes,
I stick my flippin' hand out and I jams on all the brakes
Them jackal taxi drives
can only swear and cuss
Behind that monarch of the road
Observer of the highway code
That big six-wheeler Scarlet painted London Transport Diesel Engined Ninety-Seven Horsepower Omnibus

I stops when I'm requested
Although it spoils the ride
So he can shout:
'Get out of it
We're full right up inside'

We don't ask much for wages,
We only want fair shares
So cut down all the stages
And stick up all the fares
If tickets cost a pound a piece
Why should you make a fuss?
It's worth it just to ride inside
That thirty foot long by ten foot wide
Inside that monarch of the road
Observer of the highway code
That big six-wheeler
Scarlet painted
London Transport
Diesel Engined
Ninety-Seven Horsepower
Ninety-Seven Horsepower Omnibus

Hold very tight Please!

#14 Gary C

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 19:23

But surely the best car song HAS to be 'Trampled Underfoot' from Led Zeppelin's 'Physical Graffiti' (1975) album?
With couplets like this:
'Groovin' on the freeway, gauges on the red.
Gun down on my gasoline, I believe I'm gonna crack a head.'
-----------
'Come to me for service, every hundred miles,
'Baby let me check your points, fix your overdrive.'
----------
'Fully automatic, comes in any size,
Makes me wonder what I did before I got synchronized.'
---------
'Featherlight suspension, Konis couldn't hold,
I'm so glad I took a look, inside your showroom doors.'
Ha! Fantastic stuff!

#15 Rainer Nyberg

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 19:36

One of my favorite songs....


Mercury Blues
(Robert L Geddins/KC Douglas)

Well if i had money
Tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown and buy a Mercury or two
Crazy bout a Mercury
Lord I'm crazy bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury
And cruise it up and down the road

Well the girl I love
I stole her from a friend
He got lucky, stole her back again
She heard he had a Mercury
Lord she's crazy bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury
And cruise it up and down the road

Well hey now mama
You look so fine
ridin round in your Mercury 49
Crazy bout a Mercury
lord I'm crazy bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury
And cruise it up and down the road

Well my baby went out
She didn't stay long
Bought herself a Mercury, come a cruisin home
She's crazy bout a Mercury
Yeah she's crazy bout a Mercury
And cruise it up and down the road

Well if I had money
I tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown and buy me a Mercury or two
Crazy bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury
And cruise it up and down the road

#16 Stefan Ornerdal

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 20:25

Little Red Corvette - Prince

And was'nt there another song by Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys called "409", whatever that is in cubic centimeters...(for us europeans)

A huge disco hit all over the world about ten years ago was "The Race", forgot the artist/s name.

Rock on, it's friday!

Stefan

#17 Paul Medici

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 20:37

and one of mine,

NIGHT MOVES (Bob Seger)

Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy
Out in the backseat of my '60 Chevy
Workin' on mysteries without any clues
Workin' on our night moves
Tryin' to make some front page drive-in news
Workin' on our night moves
In the summertime
In the sweet summertime

PJM

#18 Rainer Nyberg

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 20:39

Love this one as well...!

No Particular Place To Go
(Chuck Berry)

Riding along in my automobile
My baby beside me at the wheel
I stole a kiss at the turn of a mile
my curiosity running wild
crusin' and playin' the radio
with no particular place to go
Riding along in my automobile
I's anxious to tell her the way I feel
So I told her softly and sincere
and she leaned and whispered in my ear
cuddlin' more and drivin' slow
with no particular place to go
No particular place to go
So we parked way out on ko-ko-mo
The night was young and the moon was gold
So we both decided to take a stroll
Can you image the way I felt
I couldn't unfasten her safety belt
Riding along in my calaboose
Still trying to get her belt a-loose
all the way home I held a grudge
for the safety belt that wouldn't budge
Crusin' and playing the radio
with no particular place to go

#19 Rainer Nyberg

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 20:45

Another fav...!

Route 66
Robert William (Bobby) Troup Jnr

Well if you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it winds from Chicago to LA
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it goes to St. Louis, down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks so, so pretty
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Wynonna
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino

Won't? you get hip to this kind of trip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it goes to St. Louis, down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks so, so pretty
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Wynonna
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino

If you get hip to this kind of trip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66

Get your kicks on Route 66
Get your kicks on Route 66
Get your kicks on Route 66
Get your kicks on Route 66
Get your kicks on Route 66

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#20 Stefan Ornerdal

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 21:14

Slightly off topic - Kenny Brack (lead guitar) has formed a band with fellow "CARTer" Patrick Carpentier!

A swedish combo, "The Hep Stars" had a big hitin the 60s with a song called "Cadillac". 1/5 of the Hep Stars was Benny Andersson who later formed ABBA. "Cadillac" was a rock&roll/hillbilly/r&b/blues/country&western song which must have been a hit in the US?

:drunk: Stefan:stoned:

#21 Joe Fan

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 22:06

Great topic Roger. Here is my favorite, does anyone else like this one? It is about the Chevy 409 engine.

409 BY THE BEACH BOYS

She's real fine my 409
She's real fine my 409
My 409

Well I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
For I knew there would be a time
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
When I would buy a brand new 409
(409, 409)
Giddy up giddy up giddy up 409
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
Giddy up 409
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
Giddy up 409
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
Giddy up 40...

Nothing can catch her
Nothing can touch my 409
409 ooooo
(Giddy up giddy up oooo)
(Giddy up giddy up oooo)
(Giddy up giddy up oooo)
(Giddy up giddy up)

When I take her to the track she really shines
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
She always turns in the fastest time
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
My four-speed dual-quad posi-traction 409
(409, 409, 409, 409)

Giddy up giddy up giddy up 409
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
Giddy up 409
(409 409)
Giddy up 409
(Giddy up giddy up 409)
Giddy up 40...

Nothing can catch her
Nothing can touch my 409
(409 409 409 409)
Giddy up 409
(409 409)
Giddy up 409
(409 409)

#22 Joe Fan

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Posted 06 July 2001 - 22:09

Here is another one about a duo between a Corvette and a Jag.

"Dead Man's Curve" by Jan and Dean

Verse 1:

I was cruisin' in my Stingray late one night
When an XKE pulled up on the right
And rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag
And challenged me then and there to a drag
I said, "you're on, buddy, my mill's runnin' fine
Let's come off the line, now, at Sunset and Vine
But I'll go you one better if you've got the nerve
Let's race all the way
To Dead Man's Curve"

Chorus:

Dead Man's Curve, it's no place to play
Dead Man's Curve, you must keep away
Dead Man's Curve, I can hear 'em say:
"Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve"

Verse 2:

The street was deserted late Friday night
We were buggin' each other while we sat out the light
We both popped the clutch when the light turned green
You shoulda heard the whine from my screamin' machine
I flew past LaBrea, Schwab's, and Crescent Heights
And all the Jag could see were my six taillights
He passed me at Doheny then I started to swerve
But I pulled her out and there we were
At Dead Man's Curve

Partial chorus:

Dead Man's Curve, it's no place to play
Dead Man's Curve

Dramatic interlude:

Well - the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve
And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve
I know I'll never forget that horrible sight
I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right
"Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve"

#23 marion5drsn

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 01:11

Flathead = side valve 1932/1953 Ford V-8.
Ported , polished and relieved
Means that the intake ports were just that, polished. Relieved was the removal of metal in the area of the combustion chamber, especially between the valves and the cylinder area to improve the flow of gases in the chamber. A very time consuming project with small grinding wheels. The old flathead engine was only about 239 cubic inches and a lot of people use the Mercury engine to get more cubic inches. The old engine had 221 cubic inches (3.62L) and later was out to about 255 (4.18L) inches in the Mercury. Very little work could be done on the polishing the exhaust port as they went down thru the block similiar to the 1909 De Dion Bouton, which this engine was similiar to in some respects. Originally it had a three speed transmission. The four speed had to come from some other car than a Ford,at that time. Lake pipes are already explained.Very few of these old cars had any weight in the rear as the front engine made sure of. Traction control? Are you joking with the original tires traction was almost in the,' Where is it category". Please do not joke too much about these cars as the first car I owned was a 1933 Ford V-8 Coupe. John Dillinger wrote a letter to Old Henry about how fast Fords were. Yours M.L. Anderson

#24 leegle

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 01:20

Marion 5 drsn - I think Bonny and Clyde wrote to Ford about his cars being the ones they liked to steal. I don't remember the singer but the song sticks in mind or some of the words do.

While driving in my Cadillac much to my surprise
a little Nash Rambler right beside me couldn't believe my eyes

Winds up with the Cadillac fully extended and the Rambler driver asking him

"Hey buddy how do I get this car out of passing gear?"

#25 indysteve

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 01:30

leegle, your song is called "Beep Beep" and was a hit for The Playmates back in 1958. Here's a link to the lyrics:

http://www.science.u...c/beepbeep.html

Absolutely hilarious!

#26 dbw

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 03:51

jeezus ****in'christ!...flanders and swann.....now that's nostalgia!...."have some madera m'dear?..i have a small cask of it here...":) :) :)

#27 Don Capps

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 04:38

I can't believe that no one has mentioned the Goat Song -- "L'il GTO"...

And what red-blooded Ah-merican Boy didn't want a deuce coupe? I was amazed when my Dad switched from restoring Convairs to restoring Model A Fords and other such Ford delights....about the third or fourth car he did was a...Deuce Coupe! It had a 289 with all the Cobra goodies and Lake pipes. It was Kandy Guardsman Blue.... and he sold it to a......LAWYER!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, the shame!

However, I did get to test drive it -- it was really awesome. It was the only one like it that Dad made. He said it was now "out of his system..." Don't ask about the pickup he did later....

#28 Criceto

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 09:25

Stefan Ornerdal's recollection is correct - "The Race" was a huge success for Swiss band "Yello".

It became the theme music at our local dirt-track for the demolition derby. The PA would start up the distinctive opening bars of the song, and the pit gate would open, revealing the pace car bringing the competitors onto the grid.

The pace car. A traditional London taxi, with the back passenger compartment sawn off, girders welded on front and back, and a roll-hoop not dissimilar to that seen on a Baja off-road pickup!

And out behind it would come all the Austin Cambridges, Ford Granadas, Vauxhall Victors and Triumph 2000s that could be coaxed into running one last time.

Every time someone plays "The Race", that's the picture I see!

#29 Joe Fan

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 12:00

Oh no! Here is another classic that was one of my favorites growing up.

Hot Rod Lincoln

My pappy said, 'Son, you're gonna drive me t' drinkin' ...
If you don't quit drivin' that - Hot ... Rod ... Lincoln!'

Well, you've heard the story of the hot rod race,
When the Ford and the Mercury were settin' the pace.
That story's true I'm here to say,
Cause I was a'drivin' that Model A.

It's got a Lincoln motor and it's really souped up;
That Model A body makes it look like a pup.
It's got 12 cylinders and uses them all;
And an overdrive that just won't stall.

It's got a 4-barrel carb and dual exhausts,
4:11 gears that really get lost -
Safety tubes and I'm not scared,
The brakes are good and the tires are fair.

We left San Pedro late one night;
The moon and the stars were shinin' bright.
We were drivin' up Grapevine Hill,
Passin' cars like they were standin' still.

Then, all of a sudden, in the wink of an eye,
a Cadillac sedan passed us by.
The remark was made, "That's the car for me."
But, by then, the taillights wuz all you could see.

Well, the fellers ribbed me for bein' behind,
So I started to make that Lincoln unwind.
Took my foot off the gas and, man alive,
I shoved it down into overdrive.

Well, I wound it up to 110;
Twisted the speedometer cable right off the end.
Had my foot glued right to the floor;
I said, "That's all there is - there ain't no more.

Now the fellas thought I'd lost all sense;
The telephone poles looked like a picket fence.
They said, "Slow down, I see spots."
The lines on the road just looked like dots.

Went around a corner and passed a truck;
I crossed my fingers just for luck -
The fenders clickin' the guard rail post;
The guy beside me was white as a ghost.

Smoke was rollin' outta the back
When I started to gain on that Cadillac
I knew I could catch him and hoped I could pass
But when I did I'd be short on gas.

There were flames comin' from out of the side;
You could feel the tension; man, what a ride.
I said, "Look out, boys, I've got a license to fly"
And the Cadillac pulled over and let me by.

All of a sudden a rod started knockin';
Down in the depths she started a rockin'.
I looked in the mirror and a red light was blinkin';
The cops was after my Hot Rod Lincoln.

Well they arrested me and put me in jail.
I called my pop to make my bail.
He said, 'Son, you're gonna drive me t' drinkin',
If you don't quit drivin' that - Hot ... Rod ... Lincoln

#30 Vitesse2

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Posted 07 July 2001 - 22:02

DBW: I think you've been overdoing the Madeira - that one was Paddy Roberts, not Flanders and Swann (far too dissolute for them!!)

I seem to remember a line from a Jefferson Airplane (?) song:

Buy you a Ford Mustang, I'll buy you a Ford Mustang ...

And then of course, there's "Mustang Sally" as featured in "The Commitments":

Mustang Sally, you better slow that Mustang down ... etc

And finally, back to the Beach Boys - "Fun, fun, fun"

... and we'll have fun, fun, fun till her daddy takes the T-bird away

#31 dbw

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Posted 08 July 2001 - 04:27

wasn't HSMMD on the same F&S album as "the bathtub song" and "i'm a gnu"???? ...too many acid flashbacks...not enough time....

#32 dbw

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Posted 08 July 2001 - 04:43

aha!! after a quick trip to "flanders and swann online", it seems "madeira m'dear","in the bath",and "the gnu song" all appeared on the album "at the drop of a hat"[c 1959]....interestingly enough the same album had "transport of delight".....thank god at least some bit of the old grey matter is intact..:rolleyes:

#33 nichotj

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Posted 08 July 2001 - 11:15

I seem to recall a Madness song, Driving in my Car

I've been driving in my car
It's not quite a Jaguar
I bought it in Primrose Hill
From a bloke from Brazil
It was made in fifty-nine
In a factory by the Tyne

It says Morris on the door
The GPO owned it before
I drive in it for my job
The Govenor call me a slob
But I don't really care
Give me some gas and the open air

It's a bit old but it's mine
I mend it in my spare time
Just last week I changed the oil
The rocker valves and the coil
Just last week I changed the oil

Last week it went round the clock
I also had a little knock
I dented somebody's fender
He learned not to park on a bender
Ha ha ha

I've been driving in my car
It don't look much but I've been far
I drive up to Muswell Hill
I've even been to Selsey Bill
I drove along the A45
I had her up to fifty-eight
This copper stopped me the other day
You're mistaken what could I say
The tyres were a little worn
They were OK I could have sworn
I like driving in my car
I'm satisfied I've got this far

I've been driving in my car
It don't look much but I've been far
I've been driving in my car
Even with a flat tyre
I've been driving in my car
It's not quite a Jaguar
I've been driving in my car
I'm satisfied I've got this far

#34 Chris Bloom

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Posted 08 July 2001 - 13:25

Bruce Springsteen
Racing in the Street

I got a sixty-nine Chevy with a 396
Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor
She's 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 strip's just right
I wanna blow `em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
For 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
And go racin' in the street

Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow `em all out of their seats
Calling out around the world, we're 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 there's wrinkles around my baby's 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 daddy's 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 we're gonna ride to the sea
And wash these sins off our hands

Tonight tonight the highway's bright
Out of our way mister you best keep
`Cause summer's here and the time is right
For goin' racin' in the street

#35 Vitesse2

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Posted 08 July 2001 - 20:52

:blush: Apologies DBW - I was brought up on the Paddy Roberts version (he was an acquaintance of my late father) and always assumed it was one of his own like "When I was a little wolf cub" - I have a couple of EPs somewhere, I must dig them out again!!!

#36 Roger Clark

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Posted 08 July 2001 - 22:57

One the subject of the Beach boys, there's the incomparable "Don't Worry Baby":

"She said when you race today, just take along my love with you"

and in a slightly different genre who remembers:

"the girls young and sweet
in the spacious back seat
of our room mate's beat up Chevrolet"
(T Lehrer)

#37 birdie

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Posted 08 July 2001 - 23:46

Has Supreme (Robbie Williams) only just been released in the States? It came out over here a good six months ago. And it's still the ringtone on my phone!

It's one of those semi-cover versions of "I will Survive" but it's pretty good. The video is 60's footage (Jackie Stewart looks very young) and I think they grafted Robbie's head onto Graham Hill.

Now I'm off to Limewire to download Faster!

#38 bobbo

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 02:08

About "Hot Rod Lincoln": All I can remember i sthat I heard ot done by Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen as a cover. Who did the original?? Is any one willing to show his/her real age??:lol: :lol: :lol:

AAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDD,

How about the Grateful Dead:up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: "Truckin'"??

Bobbo (Fugitive from the '60's!)

#39 Chris Skepis

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 02:17

I ain't gonna write down lyrics, but in my opinion one of the best motor songs that I've heard is Queen's "I'm in love with my car"
from the Bohemian Rhapsody album (this song is dedicated to some racing driver, but I don't remember his name). I also love "Son of a Mustang Ford" by Swervedriver, "I'm a Cadillac" by Mott the Hoople ,"Jeepster" by T.Rex, "All hail me" by Veruca Salt. There's even a Brazilian pop singer called Celso Blues Boy which recorded a song some years ago called "Zanardi's Boogie"!!!!!:eek:

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#40 Chris Skepis

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 02:24

Blimey !!!!!
I forgot the best one....That is what motor racing is all about.
"You and me till the wheels fall off " by the all ladies band L7.

#41 dbw

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 05:13

not quite a "car in song" ...but on some of the marque sites[the s2000 in particular] they occasionly have a "cool tunes to drive with"post...interestingly enough,"radar love" by golden earring tops the list every time....:cool:

#42 MrAerodynamicist

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 17:19

I couldn't come up with any songs, but...

Jamiroquai did a Ferrari logo parody on one of his Albums' covers.

The Red car having a race against the Blue car in the Milyway bar advert jingle :)

#43 Chris Bloom

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 18:52

Bruce Springsteen has of course quite often mentioned cars in his songs. Off the top of my head these are some which mention cars or driving cars:

Thunder Road
Night
Born To Run
Prove it all Night
Something in the Night
Cadillac Ranch
I'm a Rocker
Drive all Night
Stolen Car
Wreck on the Highway
Pink Cadillac

There's lots more that I can't think of right at the moment.

Chris

#44 Eric McLoughlin

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 21:20

Another couple to toss into this interesting topic - "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash and " '57 Chevrolet" by Billy-Jo Spears.

With the exception of Madness' "Driving in My Car", virtually all the songs mentioning marques and models only refer to American road cars or hot rodded versions of these.. Is there a reason for this? Even British and other European songwriters must find American names "sexier" than European. There are dozens of songs refering to Chevrolets, Cadillacs, Thunderbirds, Corvettes, Stingrays, etc. Where are all the FIATs, Rovers, Renaults and SAABs. As I said in an early post, Grand Prix racing or even European sports car racing has inspired precious little in popular song so there seems to be no place for McLaren, Brabham, Lotus, Alfa-Romeo etc. The only European makes to merit any sort of recognition are Ferrari and Jaguar and that's probably because they are "cult" cars in the USA.

#45 Jim Thurman

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Posted 09 July 2001 - 21:53

Originally posted by bobbo
About "Hot Rod Lincoln": All I can remember i sthat I heard ot done by Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen as a cover. Who did the original?? Is any one willing to show his/her real age??:lol: :lol: :lol:


Johnny Bond!

The song is credited as written by Charlie Ryan and Stevenson.

This is one of those threads where it's almost impossible to come up with ALL the car songs...but, hey, have at it. Good job so far.

Almost like the thread on siblings.


Jim Thurman

#46 TNSFH

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Posted 11 July 2001 - 14:32

Radar Love - Golden Earring
Ole "55" - Eagles
I got a rock n roll heart - Eric Clapton
Hot Rod Hearts - Robbie Dupree

#47 leegle

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Posted 11 July 2001 - 15:21

What was the car in the Carroll County Accident? I have a mental picture of a Volkswagen but it is not identified i don't think.:confused:

#48 SteveB2

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Posted 11 July 2001 - 16:27

ZZ Top's "She don't love me , she loves my automobile"

She don't care if I'm stoned or sloppy drunk
She don't care if I'm stoned or sloppy drunk
As long as she got the keys
and there's a spare wheel in the trunk.

"In England, is it Zed Zed Top?" --- Mike Myers

#49 fines

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Posted 12 July 2001 - 00:05

"Im Wagen vor mir fährt ein hübsches Mädchen..." :lol:

#50 Jim Thurman

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Posted 12 July 2001 - 01:16

If it's just going to be car (not racing) songs, let me add...

"Highway Star" - Deep Purple
"Drive" - 20/20


Jim Thurman