Songs About Types of Cars

The topic of conversation at work has recently been on the government bailout of the auto industry. Most of my colleagues seem to be against the federal government rescuing three businesses who failed. I am certain that if their livelihood depended on the survival of the industry their opinions would be different, of course.

Yesterday morning in the copy room I mentioned having some sympathy for the auto workers union, when a guy disagreed. He said that most of the auto workers he knew constantly complained about other unions and voted for candidates who were anti-union. He said we already have enough cars to drive without producing any new ones for three years.

I then began to wonder about how many cars this country does have. I was making a mental list when I switched thoughts. I then placed my focus (no pun intended) on song titles that contain certain types of cars.

10. "Little Deuce Coup" by The Beach Boys: Actually, the Beach Boys had several songs about cars. I decided this one better represented the backing vocals of the band than "Little GTO."

9. "Pink Cadillac" by Bruce Springsteen: The title almost seems contradictory to my image of the Boss. Pink is certainly not his color, and I cannot see Cadillac being his choice of vehicle. Nevertheless the song has an enduring quality that allows you to hear Springsteen bark, "Pink Cadillac, Pink Cadillac," on radio stations twenty five years after its release.

8. "Impala" by Steve Poltz: This is one of the delightful tunes from

One Left Shoe by the respected song writer, who gained some renown for penning Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me." The song is filled with clever lines and images. My favorite is in verse two, when the guy's nostalgia causes him to observe that "Coffee pot is so bilingual, Self help books on being single."

7. "Truckin'" by the Grateful Dead: One would assume that a song called "Truckin'" would be fast-paced. That is not so with this slow roller, one of the Dead's most popular tunes.

6. "Little Red Corvette" by Prince: The sports car here is a metaphor for sex, just as the Trojans Prince mentions are not Greek soldiers. I must admire his confidence in his manhood, since not many guys would begin a song about their sexual conquests with the adjective "little."

5. "'92 Subaru" by Fountains of Wayne: Pop culture appears throughout FOW's songs. This one from the

Traffic and Weather album is nostalgia for a fifteen year old import the guy has just purchased.

4. "Jeepster" by T. Rex: The colorful leader of the glam-rock band, Marc Bolan, sings of being a jeepster for love. I guess that's a guy who drives a rugged AMC model over any terrain to get the girl he loves.

3. "I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler" by Tom Paxton: The folk singer here pokes fun at the first bailout of an auto industry, way back in the 80s. He wishes he could be like Lee Iaccoca, the head of Chrysler when taxpayers bailed out the fledgling company.

2. "Chevy Van" by Sammy Johns: The lyrics were written after an obvious dream Johns had. He picked up a girl. She was gorgeous. She initiated sexual intercourse with him. He dropped her off and drove away with no pregnancy, promises, STDs, or consequences of any kind.

1. "I Feel Like a Bullet (in the Gun of Robert Ford)" by Elton John: This song from

Rock of the Westies is not really about a car, but the betrayal of a friend. Still, I think the theme of betrayal is relevant to an article about cars. In that sense, the guy who shot Jesse James could just as well have been named Robert Chevrolet or Robert Chrysler or Robert Toyota.