In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Space Buggy
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My space buggy don't go that far
Don't go that far (because it don't go that far)
It don't go that far (because it don't go that far)
My space buggy sure don't go that far
Small step for mankind, step for mankind
When you driving by the buggy
(Because you don't pay no man)
I don't pay no man (because she don't pay no man)
When you driving by the buggy sure don't pay no man
Well I had a race with a meteorite
My space buggy it won that fight
It won that fight (you know it won that fight)
It won that fight (you know it won that fight)
My space buggy beat that meteorite
Rush hour traffic I always miss
Me and my buggy up the top of this
We're on top of this (you know we're on top of this)
We're on top of this (you know we're on top of this)
Take my word, you're on top of this
I got a guy caped Kennedy
When he ride my buggy, he cries for real
He cries for real (you know he cries for real)
He cries for real (you know he cries for real)
And when he drives my buggy man he cries for real
It don't go that far
It don't go that far
It don't go that far
It don't go that far
My space buggy sure don't go that far
In Asleep at the Wheel’s song “Space Buggy,” the lyrics reflect a humorous tone as the singer discusses the limitations of his space buggy. The opening line, “Scientists say, ‘There’s a man on Mars,’” creates a contrast between the futuristic technology and the reality of the singer’s buggy. The repetition of the phrase “it don’t go that far” emphasizes the lack of capability of the buggy, making the listener chuckle at the thought of a space traveller with limited means.
The chorus changes in tone, with the lyrics “Small step for mankind, step for mankind.” This is a reference to Neil Armstrong’s famous words when he stepped on the moon in 1969, as he described it as a “giant leap for mankind.” The singer replaces “giant leap” with “small step,” highlighting the smallness of his own space buggy and the humor that comes with it. The following lines, “Don’t pay no man, you don’t pay no man,” further emphasize the shortcomings of the buggy, as it is not worth the cost of hiring someone to drive it.
Later in the song, the singer describes racing with a meteorite, and the space buggy winning the fight. This is yet another humorous take on the buggy, as it is not possible for a machine of that size to compete with a meteorite. The lyrics “Rush hour traffic I always miss, me and my buggy up the top of this” juxtaposes the idea of heavy traffic with the freedom of the space buggy. The song concludes by repeating the phrase “It don’t go that far,” bringing it full circle and emphasizing the humor of the limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Scientists say, "There's man on Mars"
Despite what scientists say about humans being on Mars, my space buggy isn't advanced enough to go that far.
My space buggy don't go that far
My space buggy is limited in how far it can travel.
Don't go that far (because it don't go that far)
The reason my space buggy doesn't go far is because it's not designed to do so.
It don't go that far (because it don't go that far)
The reason my space buggy doesn't go far is because it's not designed to do so.
My space buggy sure don't go that far
My space buggy is definitely not capable of traveling long distances.
Small step for mankind, step for mankind
While humans may be taking small steps for mankind by exploring space, my space buggy is not one of those steps.
When you driving by the buggy, don't pay no man, you don't pay no man
There's no need to pay any attention to my space buggy when you see it driving by.
(Because you don't pay no man)
Nobody pays attention to the space buggy because it's not impressive.
I don't pay no man (because she don't pay no man)
I don't pay attention to other people's reactions to my space buggy because it's not special.
When you driving by the buggy sure don't pay no man
When you see my space buggy, there's no need to give it any extra attention or admiration.
Well I had a race with a meteorite
In an attempt to show off the space buggy's speed, I raced it against a meteorite.
My space buggy it won that fight
Surprisingly, my space buggy was able to beat the meteorite in the race.
It won that fight (you know it won that fight)
The space buggy's victory over the meteorite was impressive and unexpected.
It won that fight (you know it won that fight)
The space buggy's victory over the meteorite was impressive and unexpected.
My space buggy beat that meteorite
My space buggy was able to outrun and best the meteorite in a race.
Rush hour traffic I always miss
Because my space buggy is not commonly used, I'm never stuck in rush hour traffic.
Me and my buggy up the top of this
My space buggy can easily navigate to the top of any terrain.
We're on top of this (you know we're on top of this)
My space buggy is capable of reaching high places and providing a great view from the top.
We're on top of this (you know we're on top of this)
My space buggy is capable of reaching high places and providing a great view from the top.
Take my word, you're on top of this
If you ride my space buggy, you'll experience being on the top of whatever you drive it on.
I got a guy caped Kennedy
I have a guy who goes by the name of Kennedy.
When he ride my buggy, he cries for real
When Kennedy rides in my space buggy, he is genuinely emotional and impressed by it.
He cries for real (you know he cries for real)
Kennedy's emotional reaction to my space buggy is genuine and not just for show.
He cries for real (you know he cries for real)
Kennedy's emotional reaction to my space buggy is genuine and not just for show.
And when he drives my buggy man he cries for real
Even when Kennedy drives the space buggy himself, he is still emotional and impressed by it.
It don't go that far
Once again, my space buggy has a very limited range and is not capable of traveling long distances.
It don't go that far
Once again, my space buggy has a very limited range and is not capable of traveling long distances.
It don't go that far
Once again, my space buggy has a very limited range and is not capable of traveling long distances.
It don't go that far
Once again, my space buggy has a very limited range and is not capable of traveling long distances.
My space buggy sure don't go that far
To reiterate, my space buggy is not capable of traveling long distances.
Writer(s): L. Preston, J. Haber, R. Gosfield
Contributed by Hunter D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
Sorry about that Eddie - we will resolve this very soon. In the meantime you should still be able to paste a search into the search box. I'll update you here.
Eddie
With the new setup my firefox browser will not allow typing in the search area.