Motor City
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics

The song Motor City by Neil Young & The International Harvesters is a commentary on the decline of the American auto industry, particularly in the city of Detroit. The singer of the song is frustrated with his car troubles, bemoaning the fact that his old car keeps breaking down and his new car isn't even made in Japan. He also takes issue with a commercial on TV that suggests Detroit can't make good cars anymore, a sentiment that would have been all too familiar to anyone living in the Motor City in the 1980s.

The second verse continues the theme of automotive frustration, with the singer singing about his army jeep that's still trucking along, albeit without any of the bells and whistles that many car owners have come to expect. The paint job is faded and the white walls are missing, but it's still a reliable vehicle. Throughout the song, the refrain of "who's driving my car now?" serves as a sort of existential question, reflecting the broader sense of unease and uncertainty that many Americans were feeling at the time.

Overall, Motor City is a powerful commentary on the state of the American auto industry and the sense of malaise that was pervasive in the country throughout the 1980s. It's a haunting reminder of a time when many people felt economically and socially adrift, struggling to make sense of a rapidly changing world.