Automotive Blogger

I have fond memories of the ancient 8-track player in my uncle’s beat up old Ford pick-up truck. It wasn’t an original part of the truck; he added it, but summer memories are all tied up in trips to the beach with that thing cranking out tunes.

These days, of course, we’re all more likely to plug in an mp3 player or a cd, than any kind of tape (I recently reviewed a new car that had a cassette deck in it, and had to pause and shake my head. Who even owns tapes any more?), and many of us are listening to HD radio, if not satellite, when we do resort to getting our motoring music via airwaves.

So I’ve been thinking tonight about music and cars lately, and I’ve come up with five songs ABOUT cars to share with you today.

1. Fun Fun Fun, The Beach Boys
   

   Well she got her daddy’s car
   And she cruised through the hamburger stand now
   Seems she forgot all about the library
   Like she told her old man now
   And with the radio blasting
   Goes cruising just as fast as she can now

   And she’ll have fun fun fun
   til her daddy takes the t-bird away
   (fun fun fun til her daddy takes the t-bird away)

2. Paradise by the Dashboard Light, Meat Loaf
   

   I remember every little thing
   As if it happened only yesterday
   Parking by the lake
   And there was not another car in sight
   And I never had a girl
   Looking any better than you did
   And all the kids at school
   They were wishing they were me that night

   And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
   It never felt so good, it never felt so right
   And we’re glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
   C’mon! Hold on tight!
   C’mon! Hold on tight!

   Though it’s cold and lonely in the deep dark night
   I can see paradise by the dashboard light

3. Little Red Corvette, Prince
   

   I guess I should’ve known by the way U parked your car sideways
   That it wouldn’t last
   See, U’re 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, U’re much 2 fast (Oh)
   Little Red Corvette
   U need a love that’s gonna last

4. Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett
   

   Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
   Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
   You been running all over the town now.
   Oh! I guess I’ll have to put your flat feet on the ground.

   All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
   All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
   All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.

5. Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean
   

   Who’s that lady
   Coming down the road
   Who’s that lady
   Who’s that woman
   Walking through my door
   What’s the score
   I’ll be the sun
   Shining on you
   Hey Cinderella
   Step in your shoe
   I’ll be your non-stop lover
   Get it while you can
   Your non-stop miracle
   I’m your man

   Get outta my dreams
   Get in to my car
   Get outta my dream
   Get in to the back seat baby
   Get in to my car
   Beep Beep, yeah
   Get outta my mind
   Get in to my life
   Ooooooh
   Oh I said hey (Hey) you (You)
   Get in to my car

6. Pink Cadillac, Bruce Springsteen
   

   You may think Im fooling
   For the foolish things I do
   You may wonder how come I love you
   When you get on my nerves like you do
   Well baby, you know you bug me
   There aint no secret about that
   Well come on over here and hug me
   And, baby, Ill spill the facts
   Well, honey it aint your money
   Cause baby I got plenty of that

   I love you for your pink cadillac
   Crushed velvet seats
   Riding in the back, oozing down the street
   Waving to the girls
   Feeling out of sight
   Spending all my money on a saturday night
   Honey, I just wonder what you do there in back of your pink cadillac
   Pink cadillac

Your Turn: What are your favorite car songs? For that matter, which ones do you completely hate?