Gilbert composes music in a wide variety of styles including pop, rock, metal, blues, jazz, funk and classical, but is perhaps best known for his versatility and speed. His guitar work is characterised by his floating right hand contrary to the more common anchored right hand that guitarists like Pink Floyd's David Gilmour favour. He is also considered to be one of the best proponents of alternate picking.
Paul once had his own column in British guitar magazine, Total Guitar. He is sometimes a guest lecturer at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) that he once attended, along with Gary Hoey and many other guitar players. He works a great deal with GIT's division in Japan, where he lived for a time before relocating to Los Angeles, CA.
Wash My Car
Paul Gilbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I'm gonna feel all right
If I wash my car
You know I'm gonna feel all right
If I wash my car
I'm gonna feel like a star tonight
If I keep it clean
If I keep it clean
And Drive it out to Hollywood
If I keep it clean
You know it's gonna feel so good
Got a girl here that wants me to stay
Got another who wants me to play
Tonight I just can't decide
Gonna free my soul and just go for a ride
If I wash my car
You know it's gonna be all right
If I wash my car
I'm gonna feel like a star tonight
Got a girl here that wants me to stay
Got another who wants me to play
Tonight I just can't decide
Gonna free my soul and just go for a ride
If I don't come back
Don't worry cause I'm not far
Just letting the time roll by
While washing the car
Let it roll
If I wash my car
You know I'm gonna feel all right
If I wash my car
You know I'm gonna feel all right
If I wash my car
I'm gonna feel like a star tonight
If I keep it clean
And drive it out to Hollywood
If I keep it clean
And drive it out to Hollywood
If I keep it clean
You know it's gonna feel so good
Just letting the time roll by
Washing under the hood
When I wash my car
You know it makes me feel so good
I feel so good
In Paul Gilbert's song Wash My Car, the lyrics revolve around the simple pleasure and satisfaction of keeping your car clean. The singer sings about how washing his car will make him feel all right, like a star tonight. He imagines driving his clean car out to Hollywood and feeling so good about it. The song speaks to the American cultural obsession with automobiles and the way they can represent a sense of personal identity and freedom.
However, the lyrics also touch on the singer's internal conflict over two women who want him to stay and play. He can't decide what to do, so he decides to "free his soul and just go for a ride." This suggests that washing his car is also a way for him to clear his mind and find a sense of peace and freedom from his personal troubles.
Overall, the song is a catchy and upbeat ode to the joy of car washing, but it also hints at deeper themes of personal identity and the search for freedom and inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
If I wash my car
The act of washing my car has a positive impact on my emotional state
You know I'm gonna feel all right
The positive impact of washing my car is strong enough to make me feel better
I'm gonna feel like a star tonight
The positive feelings from washing my car will make me feel confident and special
If I keep it clean
Maintaining the cleanliness of my car is important to me
And drive it out to Hollywood
Taking my well-maintained car to a glamorous location like Hollywood would be a fulfilling experience
You know it's gonna feel so good
The satisfaction of maintaining my car's cleanliness will bring happiness
Got a girl here that wants me to stay
I am facing a decision between my current relationship and my desire for personal freedom
Got another who wants me to play
I am being presented with temptation to pursue alternative romantic interests
Gonna free my soul and just go for a ride
I am going to pursue my own desires and experience life without being tied down by others' expectations
If I don't come back
There is a possibility that I will be gone for some time, but it should not raise alarm
Don't worry cause I'm not far
I am still within reach and can be contacted if necessary
Just letting the time roll by
I am enjoying the simple pleasure of washing my car without worrying about time constraints
Washing under the hood
I am not just cleaning the exterior of my car, but also the mechanics under the hood
You know it makes me feel so good
The act of washing my car brings me a sense of satisfaction and happiness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pagan31569
For the people asking about the guitar change at 2:10, it's not a lip sync, they just mixed multiple takes of the song. Obviously, Paul used his white Ibanez for one take, and they used part of that in the final edit of the song for the DVD release.
John Zander
One of my all time favorite albums!
pablo andrade
Si investigaras más sobre Paul Gilbert te darías cuenta que sus canciones reflejan lo que él es, un tipo simpático, que le gusta bromear, por eso sus canciones son así "entretenidas"
crankertom
Paul is amazing. And he's quick with changing guitars...watch it at 1:59. Anyway great playing, great song, great guys. I wish I could be half as cool for half a minute.
Ianuarius
The most technically advanced drummer in the world! :D \,,/
bminnemannlang
Hell yes
Stanggwarbeard
This gives me a massive beach boys mixed in with everything about the 80's vibe. Also, shredding.
Terry smith
This is just simply amazing haha :)
Hunter
I'm surprised that this didn't cause the world to implode. Three of the best musicians in one room. The level of talent is far over 9,000.
Machine Head
si ya se no digo q sea malo es uno de los mejores guitarristas de la historio, recontra tecnico y tiene buen feeling, lo vi improvisando en el G3 ufff cago gente hasta a satriani y al apta de dream theather pero... no se sus canciones las siento muy mecanicas como q son complejas y lo q sea quizás pero siento q le falta magia...