Bob Luman (Robert Glynn Luman, 15 April 1937 - December 27, 1978) was an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Bob Luman (Robert Glynn Luman, 15 April 1937 - December 27, 1978) was an American country and rockabilly singer born in Blackjack, Texas, a church community south of Tyler in Smith County, Texas.

Bob first gained regional sucess following Elvis' departure as a regular from "The Louisanna Hayride" in 1956. His "Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache" did quite well receiving good radio play in the South. The girls at The Hayride screamed like they had for Elvis!
Early and Classic Bob Luman tracks were backed by the Mac Curtis band. 'Stranger than fiction', 'You're the cause of it all'

The smooth baritone was best-known in non-country circles for his crossover hit, "Let's Think About Living," a novelty song that hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #9 on the Billboard country chart in 1960. The Everly Brothers backed Luman on the record with their distinct acoustic guitar playing!

Luman was, however, well-known in the country music world. His 1972 hit, "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers," became his biggest country hit, hitting #4 on the country chart.(Steve Wariner, who had earlier been a member of Luman's band, later covered the song in the 1984, and he, too, took it to #4 on the country charts.)

Luman's other country hits included "Ain't Got Time To Be Unhappy" (1968), "When You Say Love" (1972), "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)" (1973), "Still Loving You" (1974), "Proud Of You Baby" (1975), and "The Pay Phone" (1977).

Luman died of pneumonia in 1978, at the age of 41.

Red Cadillac And A Black Mustache
Bob Luman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who you been lovin' since I've been gone?
A long, tall man with a red coat on
Good for nothin', baby, you doin' me wrong
Who you been lovin' since I been gone?
Who you been lovin' since I been gone?

Who's been playin' around with you?
A real cool cat with eyes of blue

Triflin', baby, are you bein' true?
Who's been foolin' around with you?
Who's been foolin' around with you?

Somebody saw you at the break of day
Dinin' and dancin' on the cabaret
He was long and tall, he had plenty of cash
He had a red Cadillac and a black mustache

He held your hand and he sang you a song
Who you been lovin' since I been gone?
Who you been lovin' since I been gone?

Who's been playin' around with you?
A real cool cat with eyes of blue
Triflin', baby, are you bein' true?
Who's been foolin' around with you?
Who's been foolin' around with you?

Ah, somebody saw you at the break of day
Dinin' and dancin' on the cabaret
He was long and tall, he had plenty of cash
He had a red Cadillac and a black mustache

He held your hand and he sang you a song
Who you been lovin' since I been gone?
Who you been lovin' since I been gone?

Who you been lovin' since I been gone?
Who you been lovin' since I been gone?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bob Luman's "Red Cadillac And A Black Mustache" revolve around the singer's suspicion and jealousy towards his lover's infidelity during his absence. The song is essentially a series of questions that the singer asks his lover, trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of who she has been seeing since he's been gone. He accuses her of being with different men, one with a red coat and another with blue eyes, and questions her loyalty and faithfulness. The singer even goes as far as describing an occasion where someone saw her with a wealthy, long, and tall man who was driving a red Cadillac and had a black mustache. In the end, the singer demands to know the name of the man his lover has been seeing, and who she's been loving since he's been gone.

The song, therefore, explores themes of love, loss, suspicion, and jealousy. The lyrics suggest that the singer is deeply invested and committed to his relationship, and he is reacting so strongly because he feels wronged by his lover's actions. At the same time, the singer's portrayal of his lover as unfaithful and as someone who cannot be trusted raises questions around toxic masculinity and possessiveness.

Line by Line Meaning

Who you been lovin' since I've been gone?
Asking who the person has been in a relationship with in the singer's absence.

A long, tall man with a red coat on
Describing the appearance of the person the singer suspects their lover is with.

Good for nothin', baby, you doin' me wrong
Accusing their lover of being unfaithful and causing pain.

Who's been playin' around with you?
Asking who their lover has been fooling around with.

A real cool cat with eyes of blue
Describing the appearance of the person the artist suspects their lover is with.

Triflin', baby, are you bein' true?
Accusing their lover of being unfaithful.

Somebody saw you at the break of day
Referencing a witness who saw their lover with someone else.

Dinin' and dancin' on the cabaret
Describing the activity their lover was doing with the other person.

He was long and tall, he had plenty of cash
Giving more details about the appearance and financial status of the person the artist suspects their lover is with.

He had a red Cadillac and a black mustache
Describing two distinct physical features of the person the artist suspects their lover is with.

He held your hand and he sang you a song
Imagining the romantic interaction between their lover and the other person.

Who's been foolin' around with you?
Repeating the accusation of infidelity.

Ah, somebody saw you at the break of day
Repeating the mention of a witness who saw their lover with someone else.

Dinin' and dancin' on the cabaret
Repeating the description of the activity their lover was doing with the other person.

He was long and tall, he had plenty of cash
Repeating the description of the appearance and financial status of the person the singer suspects their lover is with.

He had a red Cadillac and a black mustache
Repeating the description of two distinct physical features of the person the artist suspects their lover is with.

He held your hand and he sang you a song
Repeating the imagined romantic interaction between their lover and the other person.

Who you been lovin' since I been gone?
Repeating the central question of the song.

Contributed by Jason W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS