Cadillac
The Kinks Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't want no Cadillac
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
The one I got I'm gonna take back
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Come down to my house early in the morning
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Look at the car wouldn't give me no warning
Oh, Cadillac

Well, I looked in the trunk but there wasn't no jack
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
I think I'll take this Cadillac back
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Oh, Willy and Mary come walking down the street
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Looked at the car, makin' fun at me

Oh, Cadillac

I don't want no Cadillac
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
The one I got I'm gonna take back
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Come down to my house early in the morning
(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Look at the car wouldn't give me no warning





Oh, Cadillac
Oh, Cadillac

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's song Cadillac is an upbeat and humorous track about a man who is dissatisfied with his Cadillac car and wants to take it back. The song is built around a simple and catchy riff and features Ray Davies's signature raspy vocals. The lyrics are full of wordplay, especially around the spelling of Cadillac, which is repeated several times throughout the song.


The singer of the song doesn't want his Cadillac anymore and plans to take it back to where he bought it from. He invites his friends Willy and Mary to come and see the car, but they make fun of him instead. He checks the trunk for a jack to fix the car, but there isn't any, which only confirms his decision to return it.


Cadillac is a classic example of The Kinks's style of social commentary disguised in pop/rock songs. The lyrics can be interpreted as a comment on the excesses of American consumerism and the disillusionment of working-class people who are often sold a dream that's unattainable or pointless.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't want no Cadillac
I have no interest in owning or driving a Cadillac car.


(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Spelling out the name of the car Cadillac.


The one I got I'm gonna take back
I already own a Cadillac and I'm planning to return it.


Come down to my house early in the morning
Visit me at my place very early in the morning.


Look at the car wouldn't give me no warning
When inspected, the car didn't show any signs of malfunction.


Oh, Cadillac
Acknowledging the presence of the Cadillac.


Well, I looked in the trunk but there wasn't no jack
Examining the trunk, but couldn't find the required tool.


I think I'll take this Cadillac back
After careful consideration, I'm sure about returning the Cadillac.


Oh, Willy and Mary come walking down the street
Two people named Willy and Mary approach me on the street.


Looked at the car, makin' fun at me
After examining my car, they're mocking me about it.


Oh, Cadillac
Still acknowledging the presence of the Cadillac.


I don't want no Cadillac
Reaffirming my disinterest in owning or driving a Cadillac.


(C-a-d-I-l-l-a-c)
Again spelling out the name of the car Cadillac.


The one I got I'm gonna take back
Reiterating my plan to return my current Cadillac.


Come down to my house early in the morning
Inviting someone to visit me at my house early in the morning.


Look at the car wouldn't give me no warning
Again mentioning that the car didn't show any signs of malfunction.


Oh, Cadillac
Closing off the song with one final acknowledgement of the Cadillac's presence.




Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ellas Mcdaniel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@webertisaias8622

esses caras sao uma grande referentes no mundo inteiro..... quem e daqui de brasil da u salve ai

@martinbartlett3397

Point of order here. This song was written by E.McDaniels which was the real name of the great Bo Diddley!

@BrothaVoodoo

Thanks! Gotta keep 'em honest.

@Juuxr

Thank you!

@martinbartlett3397

@Ju Xavier You're welcome. Most of the British Invasion groups started off covering Blues and Soul records from Black Artists until they honed their own song writing skills. All the early albums from the Beatles, Stones, KInks, Dave Clark 5, Yardbirds and more had a mix of covers and their own songs.

@marcostoathernus3582

it's an R&B great song !

@peterhunt5072

Excellent!!!

@peterhunt5072

Wicked good!

@RockaFellaa

So clever to melodically spell the lyric out in song very similar to Gloria by Them, effortlessly cool. Something artists should bring back, uniqueness!

@axelvelastro2823

Muy bueno!

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