Prophet released his solo debut Brother Aldo in 1990 on Fire records,(later reissued in the late 1990's on Walter Yetnikoff's Velvel imprint. His immediate career path took him through mostly European touring markets and his followup "Balinese Dancer" came out in 1993 & later the Steve Berlin produced "Feast of Hearts" came out in Europe only through the Fire imprint. After a decade long bout with substance abuse, Prophet resurfaced refreshed and renewed on the critical breakthroughs 1998's "Homemade Blood", 2000's "The Hurting Business" and 2002's live "Turn The Pigeons Loose" (all available via Cooking Vinyl in UK). By 2000 he'd recorded a side project with his wife Stefanie called Go Go Market and begun incorporating electronic influences into his traditional roots rock formula, resulting in some mainstream radio play and expanded exposure, culminating in the wider distribution of albums "No Other Love" from 2002 and 2004's "Age of Miracles" on New West Records. Chuck signed a new arrangement in the US with North Carolina based Yep Roc for 2007's "Soap and Water", an album that saw the musician invited to play twice on National Public Radio, as well as on televison talk shows like Late Night With David Letterman, and The Carson Daly Show.
Over the years he also began collaborating with other songwriters like Kelly Willis, Steve Yerkey and contributing as a guitarist/musician to studio efforts from folks like Jonathan Richman, Warren Zevon, Kim Carnes, Cake, Tom Heyman and Jewel. Alejandro Escovedo's upcoming 2008 release produced by Tony Visconti entitled Real Animal was co-written and recorded with Prophet. In addition to having his songs recorded by artists like Solomon Burke, Heart & Cyndi Thomson he has also recorded with men who started out as his influences like Jim Dickinson, Dan Penn and the late Warren Zevon.
www.chuckprophet.com.
Ford Econoline
Chuck Prophet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I did what she said
She turned the music up real loud
It was the Talking Heads
Didn't matter where we were going
Made no difference to me at the time
Takes me back when I hear that song
Makes me feel warm inside
Ever since the beginning of the world
The beginning of time
Somebody said that the road was his
Somebody said, “No, it's mine"
Some folks are born 'neath a sign on the road
Close enough to turn and leave it all behind
Fall together like the Rock of Gibraltar
Guitars and drums inside
Ford Econoline! Ford Econoline! Ford Econoline!
Criss-crossed the country in two-tone job
It was a 1985
Mile alter mile we was burning oil
We couldn't keep it alive
Laid out flatter than a Chinese rug
When she went her way, I went mine
All these memories like dirty plates
Stacked up in the sink of time
Ford Econolinel Ford Econolinel
The song "Ford Econoline" by Chuck Prophet tells a story about a road trip with a mysterious girl, an experience for which music was the only constant companion. The song opens with the singer being invited on board by the girl driving the titular Ford Econoline van. It's not clear where they're going, and it doesn't really matter. The only thing that does matter is the music blasting from the radio, which is a Talking Heads song. The singer reminisces about how the song makes him feel warm inside and transports him back to a time when things were simpler. The refrain is an enthusiastic shoutout to the beloved van that carried them on this journey.
The second stanza of the song is more abstract and philosophical, pondering the nature of the road and those who claim it. The singer suggests that some people are destined to hit the road and leave everything behind, while others fight to stake their claim on the asphalt. The guitars and drums that are mentioned seem to represent the freedom and joy that can be found on the road, and again the Ford Econoline is celebrated as the ultimate road trip companion. The song ends with a bittersweet reflection on how everything fades eventually, including memories and experiences, but the van remains as a symbol of those times.
Overall, "Ford Econoline" is a nostalgic tribute to the joys of hitting the road and letting music guide the way. It's a celebration of the freedom and adventure that can be found in travel, and the powerful role that music can play in shaping our memories of those experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
She pulled over, said, “Climb on in!"
A woman beckons the singer to ride with her in her vehicle.
I did what she said
The singer complies with the woman's request.
She turned the music up real loud
The woman increases the volume of the audio system of the vehicle.
It was the Talking Heads
The music playing on the audio system was that of a band called The Talking Heads.
Didn't matter where we were going
The destination was unimportant to the artist in the moment.
Made no difference to me at the time
The singer was open to whatever path the journey took in the moment.
Takes me back when I hear that song
The music triggers a nostalgic memory within the singer.
Makes me feel warm inside
The memory evoked by the music brings a feeling of comfort and joy to the artist.
Ford Econoline!
The vehicle being ridden in is a Ford Econoline.
Ever since the beginning of the world
Since the dawn of time.
The beginning of time
The start of existence.
Somebody said that the road was his
Someone claimed ownership of the road.
Somebody said, “No, it's mine"
Another person contested the claim of road ownership.
Some folks are born 'neath a sign on the road
Some individuals are born into a life where they must constantly travel without a true home base.
Close enough to turn and leave it all behind
The situation these individuals are born into can be escaped by a small enough distance.
Fall together like the Rock of Gibraltar
The companionship of fellow travel companions is as strong and unwavering as a massive geological formation.
Guitars and drums inside
The musical instruments on board the vehicle mentioned in the previous stanza.
Ford Econoline! Ford Econoline! Ford Econoline!
Repetition of the model of vehicle referenced in this section.
Criss-crossed the country in two-tone job
The characters in this story traveled around America in a two-colored Ford Econoline van.
It was a 1985
The year of the Ford Econoline van being used was 1985.
Mile alter mile we was burning oil
The van had persistent engine problems throughout the trip.
We couldn't keep it alive
The engine problems eventually resulted in the death of the vehicle.
Laid out flatter than a Chinese rug
The vehicle became completely inert and unresponsive.
When she went her way, I went mine
The two travel companions eventually went their separate ways after the vehicle broke down beyond repair.
All these memories like dirty plates
Memories of the journey are compared to unwashed dishes.
Stacked up in the sink of time
These memories are piled up untidily in the singer's mind, much like dirty dishes left in a sink.
Ford Econoline! Ford Econoline!
The memory of the vehicle and journey still lingers in the singer's mind.
Contributed by Maya R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@no834
Severely underated. Love the man
@vango1131
Rumor has it that van still haunts the highways to this day.....
@gunnarg58
oh yeah. I like this very much
@newearthfarmers
Stephanie on the Cool Fender VI
@NYCHFAN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤👍👍
@1cantell
Very unlikely surrogate mum? Nanci Griffith! She also recorded a song called Ford Econoline! Must have been some party! 😄
@officialGFL
Awesome Chuck!
@Mike-yd1xd
I like it!
@lawrencejohnson8311
no tonight's the night . Different strokes
@stobben
No reference to Bruce Berry, Chuck?