Originally a rockabilly artist from Altus, Oklahoma, Martin is best known for writing the songs "Bad Case Of Lovin' You (Doctor, Doctor)" made famous by English singer Robert Palmer and "Cadillac Walk" made famous by American singer Willy DeVille.
Martin gained recognition in the 1970s as a pop artist and composer. He was given the nickname "Moon" because many of his songs had "moon" in the lyrics. He also scored two minor hits of own with the song "Rolene" in 1979 and the song "Bad News" in 1980 in France
Cadillac Walk
Moon Martin Lyrics
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Rita starts to creep around
Gets a flame in her blood fire on her breath
Fourteen names notched on her chest
She gotta rose tattooed on her thigh
Dead men raise and sigh
And it drives my young blood wild
When Rita turns down her bed
Grown men plead and beg
Baby honey baby you're the one
Carve your name right on my gun
Ain't she something nice
Bones rattle my dice
I slobber down my side
My baby's got the Cadillac walk
Lonely tonight honey hear my call
She said boy I won't make you crawl
Rita pound by pound
Knows how to work it down
Weep and cry to and fro
Leave your heart she'll steal your gold
No matter what the cost
Ooh...them duel exhaust
Make my motor sigh
My baby's got the Cadillac walk
The song "Cadillac Walk" by Moon Martin tells the story of a seductive and dangerous woman named Rita. The opening lines indicate that Rita is a creature of the night - when the moon comes up, the sun goes down and Rita starts to creep around. She has a fiery passion and a long history of lovers, which is illustrated by fourteen notches on her chest. Despite the danger she presents, the singer is drawn to her and her "Cadillac Walk", a suggestive term for her alluring gait.
Rita's power is further emphasized in the second verse, where the singer describes how grown men plead and beg for her attention. She has the ability to make men carve her name on their guns, and Bones (presumably the singer's alias) shudders with excitement. This verse implies that Rita is something of a black widow, using her sexuality to ensnare men and take their money.
The final verse of "Cadillac Walk" presents a more tender view of Rita. Although the singer knows she's trouble, he can't help but reach out to her through the loneliness of the night. Rita is still portrayed as a thief who will "steal your gold", but there's a sense that the singer is willingly giving himself over to her because of her irresistible charms.
Overall, "Cadillac Walk" is a song about the allure of a dangerous woman. Rita is both fascinating and frightening, and the singer is caught in her spell despite the risks to his heart and wallet.
Line by Line Meaning
When the moon comes up the sun goes down
As soon as it turns dark outside and the moon rises, the sun disappears below the horizon
Rita starts to creep around
Rita begins to sneak and prowl around
Gets a flame in her blood fire on her breath
She feels a fiery passion within and exudes it through her breath
Fourteen names notched on her chest
She has carved the names of fourteen men she's been with onto her chest as a memory
She gotta rose tattooed on her thigh
There is a tattoo of a rose on her leg
Dead men raise and sigh
The men whose names she's carved on her chest raise from the dead in her memories and sigh
And it drives my young blood wild
Her wild and passionate nature excites his youthful energy and desire
My baby's got the Cadillac walk
His lover has a confident and seductive walk, similar to the swagger of a Cadillac car
When Rita turns down her bed
When Rita prepares for bed and lays down
Grown men plead and beg
Older men beg and implore her
Baby honey baby you're the one
They call her affectionate names and tell her she is the one for them
Carve your name right on my gun
They want her to etch their name on their firearm as a symbol of ownership
Ain't she something nice
He is impressed by her desirable traits and qualities
Bones rattle my dice
She excites him to the point where it feels like his bones are rattling and his feelings are in flux
I slobber down my side
He drools at the thought of being with her
Lonely tonight honey hear my call
He is alone and wishes she was there to hear his call
She said boy I won't make you crawl
She assures him that she won't make him beg or grovel for her attention or love
Rita pound by pound
Rita is measured and calculated in her actions
Knows how to work it down
She knows how to expertly seduce and please her partner
Weep and cry to and fro
He experiences intense emotions back and forth
Leave your heart she'll steal your gold
She will take everything valuable from him, including his heart and wealth
No matter what the cost
Whatever the price is, he will pay it for her
Ooh...them duel exhaust
The dual exhaust on the Cadillac car revs him up
Make my motor sigh
The feeling is so intense that it makes him feel like his engine is sighing
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.