Brian Setzer (born April 10, 1959 in New York) is an American guitarist, si… Read Full Bio ↴Brian Setzer (born April 10, 1959 in New York) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter whose popular big band orchestra is most appreciated commercially for their swinging take on Christmas holiday classics.

Early in his career Setzer was a member of the NYC band Bloodless Pharaohs, and later fronted the popular rockabilly revival band, Stray Cats. The Stray Cats particularly caught America's attention with the 1982 album Built for Speed, which included the two Top Ten hits, "Rock This Town" (#9) and "Stray Cat Strut" (#3), as well as with the follow-up 1983 album Rant 'N Rave, which included the two successful singles "(She's) Sexy + 17" (#5), and "I Won't Stand In Your Way" (#35).

In the mid 1990s, Setzer led a comeback of sorts for swing music and big band music, when he formed Brian Setzer Orchestra. The band has released at least 5 albums to date and one live DVD. This group had one hit, "Jump, Jive, and Wail" around the same time swing revival acts like the Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot" had been received favorably in mainstream America.

Brian Setzer also recorded some solo albums during Stray Cats' break in the 1980s along with some in the 1990s. In 2001 he released an album titled Ignition with his band '68 Comeback Special. A new solo album titled Rockabilly Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute To Sun Records was released on July 26, 2005, in the United States.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Setzer

'49 Mercury Blues
The Brian Setzer Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm broken down
On the side of the road
Damn brakes locked up in the rain
Smoke's pourin' out
From under the hood
I'm stuck on the highway again
I'm too young to quit
Too old to change

Baby what am I gonna do?
I got the chopped top,slammed down
'49 Mercury blues

Can't find a phone
Can't hitch a ride
Who would stop for me anyway?
You would think that after all of
These cars I've owned
I would break down
And join triple A
I'm too young to quit
I'm too old to change
Baby what am I gonna do?
I got the chopped top,slammed down
'49 Mercury blues

I got the '49 Mercury blues
By now you'd think I've paid all
My dues
Just think of all the trouble
That car is puttin' me through

I guess like a tooth
That needsto get filled
It's gonna hurt
And you're gonna get drilled
And once you get it fixed
It happens all over again
I'm too young to quit
I'm too old to change
Baby what am I gonna do?

I got the chopped top,
'49 Mercury blues

Overall Meaning

The Brian Setzer Orchestra's "49 Mercury Blues" tells the story of a man struggling to keep his classic 1949 Mercury car on the road. The first stanza describes his current situation, where he's broken down on the side of the road due to the brakes locking up and the engine overheating. He's stranded and frustrated, feeling stuck in his current predicament.

The second verse sees him continuing to struggle as he tries to find help, stranded without a phone or a way to hitch a ride. He reflects on how, after all of the cars he's owned, he hasn't joined triple A yet, which could have potentially saved him from this situation. Despite his troubles, he's not ready to give up or change, feeling caught between a sense of determination and resignation.

The repeated line “I’m too young to quit, too old to change” gives us an insight into his state of mind, where he feels like he's not ready to give up on his passion but is struggling to keep up with it. He concludes that he's plagued with the "49 Mercury Blues," in which an old car can become a source of endless trouble and expense, but too compelling to abandon.

Overall, the song is a tribute to the love of classic cars, as well as the love-hate relationship that car enthusiasts often have with the vehicles they adore.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm broken down
My car has broken down and is no longer functioning properly

On the side of the road
I am stranded on the side of the road with my broken down car

Damn brakes locked up in the rain
The brakes on my car have stopped working and are stuck, a situation that was aggravated by the rain

Smoke's pourin' out
Smoke is pouring out from under the hood of my car, an indicator of the damage it has sustained

From under the hood
The source of the smoke is coming from under the hood of my car

I'm stuck on the highway again
I am once again stuck on the highway due to car troubles, a recurring issue

I'm too young to quit
I am not ready to give up on this car or abandon my responsibilities as a driver

Too old to change
However, I am not young enough to easily adapt to new circumstances or acquire a new car

Baby what am I gonna do?
I am unsure of what my next steps should be or how to resolve the issue

I got the chopped top, slammed down '49 Mercury blues
This song is about a specific car, a modified Mercury that has been chopped and lowered, which serves as a symbol of the artist's personal struggles and difficulties

Can't find a phone
Despite being in need of assistance, I cannot easily find a phone to call for help

Can't hitch a ride
Similarly, it is not easy for me to obtain a ride to escape my current situation

Who would stop for me anyway?
Even if I found a willing passerby, it is unlikely they would be willing to assist me due to the inconvenience of transporting a stranded person and their damaged vehicle

You would think that after all of these cars I've owned
Due to the singer's experience owning numerous cars, one might assume that they would no longer encounter issues like this

I would break down and join triple A
Given the frequency of these incidents, it would make sense for me to join the American Automobile Association, which offers roadside assistance to members

By now you'd think I've paid all my dues
Having faced so many challenges already, one might assume that I have already paid my dues or faced all of the difficult obstacles life has to offer

Just think of all the trouble that car is puttin' me through
Despite its significance to me, this car has caused me a great deal of trouble and frustration

I guess like a tooth that needs to get filled
My car troubles are like a painful dental issue that needs to be addressed, regardless of the discomfort or inconvenience it causes

It's gonna hurt and you're gonna get drilled
The process of resolving my car troubles will likely involve similar pain and inconvenience, like a dental procedure

And once you get it fixed, it happens all over again
Despite addressing the issue previously, the problem has reappeared and I must once again resolve it

Contributed by Gianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS