Built for Speed
Stray Cats Lyrics


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Here I come in my fifty seven
She's a real low rider paint perfection
With a custom engine painted black with flames
Ain't nobody gonna call that hot rod tame
Ooh ooh ooh ooh

V eight engine with the fuel injection
Two eight three, that's my ounce of perfection
Get that rod out when it's very late
Haven't got a round to getting license plates
Ooh ooh ooh ooh

Well I'm cruising low and I'm cruising mean
Well I'm cruising slow in my dream machine
You're my hot rod mama
And you're really built for speed

When I reach that final destination
I will drive your car and leave you compensation
With a little reeling and a lot of rockin'
You're my hot rod mama in your fishnet stockings
Ooh ooh ooh ooh

Well I'm cruising low and I'm cruising mean
Well I'm cruising slow in my dream machine
You're my hot rod mama
And you're really built for speed

You're built for speed, you're built for speed
You're built for speed, you're built for speed
You're built for speed, you're built for speed
You're built for speed, you're built for speed




You're built for speed, you're built for speed
You're built for speed, you're built for speed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stray Cats' song "Built for Speed" describe the singer's treasured car, a 1957 model that is painted to perfection and equipped with a custom black engine with flames. This car is not meant to be tamely driven, as it is built for speed with a powerful V-8 engine and fuel injection. The singer's pride in this car is evident in his lyrics, which describe his enjoyment of cruising at high speeds in his "dream machine." The song ends with a nod to the singer's desire to leave his hot rod mama with some compensation, acknowledging the high cost of owning and maintaining such a car.


The lyrics of "Built for Speed" reflect a long-standing American fascination with hot rods and the culture that surrounds them. For many people, building and customizing cars is a hobby that represents freedom, individuality, and a love of speed and power. The song is an ode to this culture, celebrating the joy of driving a fast, unique car and the bond that can be formed between a driver and their cherished vehicle.


Line by Line Meaning

Here I come in my fifty seven
I'm proudly driving my '57 Chevy, a classic car known for its style and power.


She's a real low rider paint perfection
My car is designed to stay low to the ground and it's painted perfectly, with not a single flaw.


With a custom engine painted black with flames
My car's engine is unique, with custom parts and painted black with flames to represent its power and speed.


Ain't nobody gonna call that hot rod tame
No one would dare say that my car is ordinary or boring, it's a hot rod that stands out from the rest.


V eight engine with the fuel injection
My car has a powerful V8 engine with fuel injection, which means it has better fuel efficiency and performance.


Two eight three, that's my ounce of perfection
The engine has a displacement of 283 cubic inches, which provides a perfect balance of power and handling in my vehicle.


Get that rod out when it's very late
I like to drive my car late at night, when the streets are empty and I can really let it loose.


Haven't got a round to getting license plates
I don't care about mundane things like getting license plates, I just want to drive my car and feel the power that comes with it.


Well I'm cruising low and I'm cruising mean
I'm driving slow and confidently with a sense of purpose, knowing that I'm in control of a mean machine.


Well I'm cruising slow in my dream machine
I'm driving slowly, but luxuriously, in my dream car that I worked hard to obtain.


You're my hot rod mama
My car is like a partner to me, and I refer to it as my 'hot rod mama' because of its power and speed.


And you're really built for speed
My car was designed to go fast, and it lives up to that expectation every time I get behind the wheel.


When I reach that final destination
When I arrive at my final stop or goal in life, I know that I'll have lived a fast-paced, exciting journey thanks to my car.


I will drive your car and leave you compensation
I'm so confident in my car's ability to impress people that I'm willing to make a bet that whoever drives it will give me money in exchange for the experience.


With a little reeling and a lot of rockin'
Driving my car is like being on a wild ride that's both exciting and intense.


You're my hot rod mama in your fishnet stockings
Just like a seductive woman in fishnet stockings, my car is both sexy and dangerous, with an allure that's hard to resist.


You're built for speed, you're built for speed
My car was designed to be fast and powerful, and it lives up to that expectation every time I drive it.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Setzer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Edy Gadelha

Comecei a escutar essa banda ano passado e não consigo mais parar de escutar 😆

Joseph Davenport

This was my dad's favorite band. Rip dad love you

Esoteric Sage

First album I bought with my own money. Still have it.

Shelly Murray

Timeless

greg best

This one Rocks my Brain. In my ~ G~ Ma Chine.

R2D2 [Reproduction]

Keep up the videos bro we all like them

SpaceCat72

My first album. Tg and y. 7 bucks. Loved it and still do

Esoteric Sage

@SpaceCat72 Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion
Grease is the way we are feeling

SpaceCat72

@Esoteric Sage I always loved that Frankie Valli opener grease is the word

Esoteric Sage

We should start a club. It was my first album too. My second was Grease.

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