Cadillac
Linda Gail Lewis; Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
One I got gonna take it back
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Came out the house early this mornin'
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Old Cadillac don't give me no warnin'
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Ooh, ooh, Cadillac
Cadillac
Looked in the trunk and there weren't no jack
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
I'm gonna take this Cadillac back
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Oh, Willy and Lilly came walkin' up the street
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Well, give me a wink makin' fun of me
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Go, ooh, Cadillac
Cadillac
(Ow!)
Go, ooh, Cadillac
Cadillac
Hopped in the car but the car wouldn't start
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Cadillac is breakin' my heart
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Got it started put it into drive
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
Wilder than the baby by my side
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
(Ow!)
Go, ooh, Cadillac
Cadillac
Go, go
Go, ooh, Cadillac
Go, go, go, go
Go, go, go, go
Go, ooh, Cadillac
Go, go, go, go
Go, go, go, go
Go, oh, Cadillac
The song "Cadillac" by Linda Gail Lewis and Van Morrison is a fun and upbeat song with some interesting lyrics. The song is essentially about a woman who owns a Cadillac and is frustrated with its constant problems. She wakes up early in the morning to find that her car won't start and even when she gets it going, it's still causing her trouble. Despite all of this, she still seems to love her Cadillac in a way, singing "Go, ooh, Cadillac" throughout the chorus. The song seems to celebrate the quirky and unpredictable nature of this classic car, even as it causes its owner endless frustration.
One interesting interpretation of the lyrics is that the Cadillac represents a kind of status symbol or marker of social status. The woman's attachment to it may have more to do with how others perceive her than with any practical value the car provides. This is suggested in the way the woman spells out the word "Cadillac" repeatedly throughout the song - as if to emphasize the prestige associated with owning this type of car. At the same time, the song seems to poke fun at this whole dynamic by highlighting the car's numerous problems and the woman's constant battles to keep it running.
Overall, "Cadillac" is a lighthearted and energetic song that captures some of the fun and frustrations of owning a classic car. It's a great example of the kind of storytelling that can be found in many classic rock and roll songs, where seemingly mundane topics like cars and relationships are transformed into something bigger and more meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want no Cadillac
The singer expresses their disinterest in owning a Cadillac car
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
The singer spells out the name of the car brand for emphasis
One I got gonna take it back
The singer plans to return or get rid of the Cadillac they currently own
C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C
The artist repeats the spelling of the car brand, further emphasizing their feelings towards it
Came out the house early this mornin'
The artist recalls an event that occurred in the morning
Old Cadillac don't give me no warnin'
The car unexpectedly broke down or malfunctioned with no prior notice
Ooh, ooh, Cadillac
The singer continues to express their negative feelings towards the car brand with an interjection
Cadillac
The artist repeats the name of the car to further emphasize their disinterest and/or negative feelings
Looked in the trunk and there weren't no jack
The artist checked the trunk of the car for a tire jack, but did not find one
I'm gonna take this Cadillac back
The artist reiterates their plan to return or get rid of the car
Oh, Willy and Lilly came walkin' up the street
Two individuals named Willy and Lilly appeared in the singer's vicinity
Well, give me a wink makin' fun of me
Willy and Lilly made a gesture, possibly laughing at the artist's situation with the car
Go, ooh, Cadillac
The singer interjects again with their negative feelings towards the car brand
Cadillac
The singer repeats the name of the car brand to emphasize their distaste
(Ow!)
An interjection of pain or discomfort from the singer, signaling possible frustrations with the situation
Hopped in the car but the car wouldn't start
The artist attempted to enter the car, but it did not start or operate correctly
Cadillac is breakin' my heart
The artist continues to express their negative feelings and frustrations towards the car brand and the situation they are currently in
Got it started put it into drive
After some effort, the singer was able to start the car and shift it into the drive gear
Wilder than the baby by my side
The car drove erratically, possibly alluding to the baby being scared or startled by the ride
(Ow!)
Another interjection of pain from the artist, alluding to the difficult or uncomfortable experience
Go, ooh, Cadillac
The artist interjects again with their negative feelings towards the car
Cadillac
The repeated name of the car brand further emphasizes the artist's negative feelings and frustration towards it
Go, go
The singer encourages the driver to go or continue moving forward
Go, ooh, Cadillac
The artist repeats their previous interjection with increased urgency
Go, go, go, go
The singer continues to encourage the driver to move forward, possibly to escape the difficult experience with the car
Go, oh, Cadillac
The singer reiterates their negative feelings towards the car brand with a final interjection, ending the song on a frustrated note
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ELLAS MCDANIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind