‘They Ain’t Writin’ Car Songs no More’

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  09.09.08 | 12:09 PM ET

J. Freedom du Lac looks at the passing of a tradition: the fetishization of cars in popular music. Ike Turner started it all in 1951 with Rocket 88. And now?

Today, there are still automotive references in popular music, particularly in hip-hop. But they’re usually brief mentions that often aren’t about cars at all; instead, they’re sexual metaphors (“Girl you look just like my cars; I wanna wax it,” R. Kelly sings) or status signifiers (“I deserve to do these numbers/The kid that made that deserves that Maybach,” Kanye West raps).

I can’t say I miss the typical car song. Songs set inside cars are usually more interesting. Won’t Be Home by the Old 97’s, for instance. Or, perhaps my favorite, Wilco’s “Passenger Side”:

Tags: Cars, Media Addict, Pop Culture Travel, News and Briefs


4 Comments for ‘They Ain’t Writin’ Car Songs no More’

Jim Benning 09.09.08 | 1:53 PM ET

I’ve always loved this sweet inside-the-car image from Springsteen’s “My Hometown”:

I was eight years old and running with a dime in my hand

into the bus stop to pick up a paper for my old man

I’d sit on his lap in that big old Buick and steer as we drove through town

He’d tousle my hair and say son take a good look around

This is your hometown

Eva Holland 09.09.08 | 4:06 PM ET

Cool post, Mike, and good call, Jim. Springsteen’s got a few good inside-the-car bits - I seem to remember a couple from ‘The River’ as well.

I’m a sucker for the old car songs, myself - although Tom Cruise nearly destroyed Little Deuce Coupe for me in War of the Worlds. That guy is always ruining great car songs…

may 09.09.08 | 4:29 PM ET

Perhaps only Neil can top Tweedy in this category, with Long May You Run . . .
We’ve been through
some things together
With trunks of memories
still to come
We found things to do
in stormy weather
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.
Well, it was
back in Blind River in 1962
When I last saw you alive
But we missed that shift
on the long decline
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.
Maybe The Beach Boys
have got you now
With those waves
singing “Caroline No”
Rollin’ down
that empty ocean road
Gettin’ to the surf on time.
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.

Michael Yessis 09.09.08 | 7:00 PM ET

Ya, Eva, Springsteen has a bunch of in-the-car winners. Thunder Road would have to make any list.

Good call on Neil, too, May. And with the Beach Boys reference, it all comes back to the kings of the car song…

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