The Little Old Lady
Jan & Dean Lyrics


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It's the little old lady from Pasadena

The little old lady from Pasadena
(Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
Has a pretty little flowerbed of white gardenias
(Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
But parked in a rickety old garage
There's a brand new shiny red super stock Dodge

And everybody's sayin' that there's nobody meaner than
The little old lady from Pasadena
She drives real fast and she drives real hard
She's the terror of Colorado boulevard
It's the little old lady from Pasadena

If you see her on the strip, don't try to choose her
(Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
You might drive a go-er, but you'll never lose her
(Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
Well, she's gonna get a ticket now, sooner or later
'Cause she can't keep her foot off the accelerator

And everybody's sayin' that there's nobody meaner than
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena
She drives real fast and she drives real hard
She's the terror of Colorado Boulevard
It's the little old lady from Pasadena

You can catch her all the time, just gettin' her kicks now
(Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
With her four speed stick and a four-two-six now
(Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
The guys come to race her from miles around
But she'll give 'em a length, then she'll shut 'em down

And everybody's sayin' that there's nobody meaner than
The little old lady from Pasadena
She drives real fast and she drives real hard
She's the terror of Colorado boulevard
It's the little old lady from Pasadena

Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)




Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)

Overall Meaning

"The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" is a song that depicts a senior citizen who enjoys living on the fast lane with her new powerful super stock Dodge despite her age. The song gained popularity in the 1960s and was performed by the duo Jan & Dean. The lyrics refer to her flower beds of white gardenias and her four-speed stick with a four-two-six. Her love for speed is unmatched, and she's the terror of Colorado Boulevard. Everybody knows that she's the Little Old Lady from Pasadena, and she's meaner than anyone else out there. If you ever spot her on the road, don't even think about trying to challenge her, she's too fast for anyone to keep up with her. The lyrics explain how she's going to get a ticket as she can't keep her foot off the accelerator.


The song stands out as one of the most iconic car songs ever released; it has been featured in numerous movies set in the 60s and on TV shows. It resonated deeply with the young audience from the era, and many would dance to it and sing along. Jan & Dean were inspired to write the song after they saw a car commercial featuring a Dodge vehicle with footage of elderly ladies driving it.


Line by Line Meaning

It's the little old lady from Pasadena
Introducing the main character of the song as an elderly woman from Pasadena.


The little old lady from Pasadena (Go granny, go granny, go granny, go) Has a pretty little flowerbed of white gardenias
Describing the little old lady's garden with white gardenias.


But parked in a rickety old garage There's a brand new shiny red super stock Dodge
Despite the rickety old garage, the little old lady owns a brand new shiny red super stock Dodge.


And everybody's sayin' that there's nobody meaner than The little old lady from Pasadena She drives real fast and she drives real hard She's the terror of Colorado boulevard It's the little old lady from Pasadena
Detailing how the little old lady is known for being a aggressive driver, feared even in Colorado Boulevard.


If you see her on the strip, don't try to choose her (Go granny, go granny, go granny, go) You might drive a go-er, but you'll never lose her (Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
Advising not to challenge her on the road as she's unbeatable.


Well, she's gonna get a ticket now, sooner or later 'Cause she can't keep her foot off the accelerator
The little old lady is an adrenaline seeker who can't resist driving fast and will eventually get a ticket.


You can catch her all the time, just gettin' her kicks now (Go granny, go granny, go granny, go) With her four speed stick and a four-two-six now (Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
Stating how the woman is always looking for ways to get her thrills while driving her powerful car with a four-speed stick and a four-two-six.


The guys come to race her from miles around But she'll give 'em a length, then she'll shut 'em down
Men come from far and wide to challenge her in a race, but she always ends up winning the race just after giving them a head start.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Singing to encourage the old lady to keep going and racing with enthusiasm.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Continued encouragement to the little old lady to go ahead and race confidently.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Encouraging the elderly woman to drive fast and with confidence.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Urging the little old lady to hit the gas and speed up with excitement.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Encouraging the elderly woman to keep going, driving with confidence and joy.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Singing in support of the little old lady to keep driving, enjoying every moment of it.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Continuing to cheer the old lady on, motivating her to continue driving fast and confident.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Enticing the little old lady to speed up and carry on racing with excitement.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Encouraging the elderly woman to enjoy driving fast and confidently, with the support of the singers.


Go granny, go granny, go granny, go (come on granny, go)
Concluding with a final cheer of encouragement to the little old lady from Pasadena to keep going and racing with joy.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Donald J. Altfeld, Roger Val Christian

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@DEATH111183

Every time I hear this song I can't help but be reminded of my great aunt(my mother's aunt).

In the late 80s I love hanging out with her as a little fella, she made learning anything fun, reading, writing, dancing, typing.
But specifically, she had a massive crush on Burt Reynolds...... So much so she had a supped up Pontiac firebird with all the tricks put in it...... Improved engine, super charger, performance carburetor loud as hell exhaust (he late husband was a gear head so she knew her way around a few sockets and wrenches).
And well, I'm reminded of a time we're sitting at a red light waiting. Some highschool/college kids pulled up next to us, reving their rice burner engine, and aunty lets her 8cylinders purr with a mild touch of the throttle...... The light turned green and the kids take off like they had a purpose from our right......
Then the highway patrol takes off from our left in hot pursuit of the joyriding kids.

My great aunt leans towards me saying "don't need to be a speed demon to win the race.... Just got to be the wisest wiseass in the neighborhood".

She was a sharp mean old broad, but the sweetest old lady you could ever meet, if you met her right.



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All comments from YouTube:

@elizaconsuegra3069

She's the terror of Colorado Boulevard!!!! At last I found this jewel. Thanks for sharing

@howardjaeckel9500

Little old man from New York City here! Because he no longer walks so good due to advancing age, he just got himself a shiny red mobility scooter so he can still get out on the town! He's been blasting this song while learning g how to maneuver it. What an inspiration!

@somebody670

You GO Howard!!!

@terrymcguckin1656

I’m 71 young. Still rocking 1:57 2:06

@TalesoftheBoojum

Little Red Moped?😉

@adotintheshark4848

FWIW your mobile scooter probably handles better than Granny's super-stock Dodge!

@Itsgotahemi

Gobless, keep up the positive energy sir

@coldlakealta4043

2023: great memories from so long ago - loved it then and love it now. Go Granny, go!

@a1coyote

This song always makes me smile. Reminds me of my Grandma in the mid-1960's. She got her driver's license at 55, during the same year I was born. Her first car was a 1963 Chevy Nova SS she bought off of her daughter's (my Aunt) Air Force friend from McGuire AFB, who was getting stationed overseas. Neighborhood kids would sing this song when Grandma would pull up in front of our house.

@ThrowItOnTheGrill

My dad introduced me to 50's music even though I was a baby of the late 60's. He's been gone now for 17 years as of today. He was my hero and I miss him every day.

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