The original band, billed simply as "The Modern Lovers", existed from 1970–74 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Jonathan Richman and bassist Ernie Brooks with drummer David Robinson (later of The Cars) and keyboardist Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). The sound of the band owed a great deal to the influence of The Velvet Underground, and is now considered one of the leading bands of the "proto-punk" scene. It pointed the way towards much of the Punk, New Wave and Indie rock music of later decades. Their only album, the eponymous The Modern Lovers, contained stylistically unprecedented[citation needed] songs about dating awkwardness, growing up in Massachusetts, and love of life and the USA.
After recording several tracks in 1972 and '73, including "I'm Straight" (referring here to abstaining from drug use), and "Government Center", Richman wanted to scrap the tracks that were recorded and start over with a mellower, more lyrical sound. The rest of the band, while not opposed to such a shift later, insisted at the time that they record as they already sounded. They continued and eventually, the first album was released in 1976. Long before its release, however, creative differences split the band apart.
Later, Richman used the name Modern Lovers for a variety of backing bands, always billed as "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers." These bands were quieter and featured more low-key, often near-childlike, songs, as Richman drew on folk-rock and other genres. Out of Richman's original bandmates, only Robinson was part of any of the other Modern Lovers incarnations.
Roadrunner
The Modern Lovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Going faster miles an hour
Gonna drive past the Stop 'n' Shop
With the radio on
I'm in love with Massachusetts
And the neon when it's cold outside
Got the radio on
I'm like the roadrunner
Alright
I'm in love with modern moonlight
128 when it's dark outside
I'm in love with Massachusetts
I'm in love with the radio on
It helps me from being alone late at night
Helps me from being lonely late at night
I don't feel so bad now in the car
Don't feel so alone, got the radio on
Like the roadrunner
That's right
Said welcome to the spirit of 1956
Patient in the bushes next to '57
The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick
Suburban trees, suburban speed
And it smells like heaven, I say
Roadrunner once
Roadrunner twice
I'm in love with rock and roll and I'll be out all night
Roadrunner
That's right
Well now
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Going faster miles an hour
Gonna drive to the Stop 'n' Shop
With the radio on at night
And me in love with modern moonlight
Me in love with modern rock & roll
Modern girls and modern rock & roll
Don't feel so alone, got the radio on
Like the roadrunner
O.K. now you sing Modern Lovers
(Radio on!)
I got the AM
(Radio on!)
Got the car, got the AM
(Radio on!)
Got the AM sound, got the
(Radio on!)
Got the rockin' modern neon sound
(Radio on!)
I got the car from Massachusetts, got the
(Radio on!)
I got the power of Massachusetts when it's late at night
(Radio on!)
I got the modern sounds of modern Massachusetts
I've got the world, got the turnpike, got the
I've got the, got the power of the AM
Got the, late at night, hit 'em wide, rock & roll late at night
The factories and the auto signs got the power of modern sounds
Alright
Right, bye bye!
The Modern Lovers' song Roadrunner is all about falling in love with the state of Massachusetts and the freedom of the open road. The song begins with lead singer Jonathan Richman counting off, then immersing himself in the experience of being on the road. He sings about driving past places like the Stop 'n' Shop with the radio on, and how the neon lights look against Massachusetts' cold outside. He also talks about how the radio helps him combat loneliness, and describes how driving at night feels like being in a personal cocoon.
The song's chorus, "Like the roadrunner," compares the band's touring van to the famous Looney Tunes character who always manages to stay ahead of the pack. The lyrics also make a lot of comparisons between the 1950s and the 70s, from the "modern moonlight" to "modern rock and roll" to the "suburban trees, suburban speed." The song is full of metaphors, and it really captures the spirit of young people feeling free and invincible as they drive through the night listening to rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four, five, six
Counting down before revving up and hitting the road
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Starting the ode to the freedom of the open road
Going faster miles an hour
Increasing speed to feel the thrill of movement
Gonna drive past the Stop 'n' Shop
Speeding by mundane sights that are insignificant compared to the excitement of the journey
With the radio on
Using music to enhance the experience of driving
I'm in love with Massachusetts
Expressing a strong fondness for the state, which serves as a backdrop for the joyride
And the neon when it's cold outside
Finding beauty and comfort in the glowing colors of neon lights on a wintry night
And the highway when it's late at night
Enjoying the peace and freedom of driving on a deserted highway at night
Got the radio on
Reiterating the importance of music during the ride
I'm like the roadrunner
Feeling like a bird of prey that roams the highways instead of deserts
Alright
Expression of satisfaction and enthusiasm for the journey so far
I'm in love with modern moonlight
Appreciating the surreal glow of streetlights and signs at night
128 when it's dark outside
Cruising on the I-128 beltway while embracing the darkness
I'm in love with Massachusetts
Reinforcing the affection for the state
I'm in love with the radio on
Acknowledging the importance of music while cruising
It helps me from being alone late at night
Finding solace and companionship in the sounds of music while driving alone in the dark
Helps me from being lonely late at night
Reemphasizing the importance of music's company during solitary drives
I don't feel so bad now in the car
Feeling better and more comfortable within the car and the music it provides
Don't feel so alone, got the radio on
Feeling less isolation and more comfort with music blasting from the car speakers
Like the roadrunner
Draws metaphor linking the car and its driver to the predatory and swift bird of the American Southwestern deserts
That's right
Affirming the feeling of self-confidence while driving
Said welcome to the spirit of 1956
Inviting the listener to embrace the optimism and excitement of the early years of rock and roll
Patient in the bushes next to '57
Possibly referencing rock enthusiast booming popularity and efforts to publicize it
The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick
Giving the open road an anthropomorphic female identity that becomes a lover and an ally in the journey
Suburban trees, suburban speed
Envisioning the car speeding past the trees that line the suburban roads and highways
And it smells like heaven, I say
Celebration of the optimism and pleasure that comes with the freedom of travel
Roadrunner once
Recalling the motif of Speedy Gonzales, the cartoon roadrunner character from Looney Tunes
Roadrunner twice
Repeating the motif
I'm in love with rock and roll and I'll be out all night
Early morning declaration of love for rock and roll, with promise to continue cruising all night long
Roadrunner
Recalling the theme of American Southwest deserts and the iconic cartoon character of Speedy Gonzales
That's right
Affirmation of confidence and satisfaction with the journey
Well now
Reintroduction to the celebration and outburst of joy of the cruise
Gonna drive to the Stop 'n' Shop
Returning to the mundane setting of roadside convenience stores after cruising at high speeds
With the radio on at night
Reasserting music's presence and influence during the entire journey
And me in love with modern moonlight
Still infatuated with the surreal glow of modern streetlights and neon signs
Me in love with modern rock & roll
Continued love and passion for rock and roll music that fuels the trip
Modern girls and modern rock & roll
Linking the passion for rock and roll music to modern love scenes
Don't feel so alone, got the radio on
Final reminder of music's company and magic while driving
Like the roadrunner
Final assertion of the metaphor of car and driver to the swift bird of the American Southwest
O.K. now you sing Modern Lovers
Invitation, perhaps directed towards a band member, to perform on stage as the band name suggests
(Radio on!)
Skits that recall radio ads from the 1950s and their jingles
I got the AM
Going back to the nostalgic era of AM radios when they were the ubiquitous source of music and talk shows in cars
Got the car, got the AM
Reiterates the intimate connection between the driver, the car, and the music while cruising
Got the AM sound, got the
Vocalizing the nostalgic characteristic sounds of AM radios such as static and signal drops
Got the rockin' modern neon sound
Appreciating the sound that accompanies the modern glow of neon lights that illuminate the drive
I got the car from Massachusetts, got the
Repeats the affection for Massachusetts and the association of cruising in the state
I got the power of Massachusetts when it's late at night
Experiencing the empowering energy of the state and the camaraderie of cruising at night on quiet highways
I got the modern sounds of modern Massachusetts
Celebrating the state as a source of modern music and sounds that shape the cruising experience
I've got the world, got the turnpike, got the
Feeling in possession of everything in the world that matters to him/her in that moment
I've got the, got the power of the AM
Reiterating the power of the AM radio that elevates the experience of cruising
Got the, late at night, hit 'em wide, rock & roll late at night
Recommendation for other cruising lovers to hit the quiet highways at night while enjoying the excitement of rock and roll
The factories and the auto signs got the power of modern sounds
Finding joy and energy from the modern aesthetics and design of industrial factories and auto signs at night
Alright
Final declaration of satisfaction with the ride and the state of being
Right, bye bye!
Closing statement of contentment and farewell from the cruising experience
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Jonathan Richman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@glory777
I'm in love with the radio on
It helps me from being alone late at night
Helps me from being lonely late at night
I don't feel so bad now in the car
Don't feel so alone, got the radio on
Like the roadrunner
That's right
Said welcome to the spirit of 1956
Patient in the bushes next to '57
The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick
Suburban trees, suburban speed
And it smells like heaven, I say
Roadrunner once
Roadrunner twice
I'm in love with rock & roll and I'll be out all night
Roadrunner
That's right
@mariaisabelcarrillo6315
This versión is superb! The vibes of the Velvet, the 50's rock'n roll and the garage and protopunk are boiling right here!
@jetman7946
............"128 when it's dark outside !!!" You gotta experience it !!!
@Sickboy2727
Vibes of the velvet bc of john cale
@MrPotatoesLatkie
That organ playing! That drumming! The whole interplay between the band members! And the gang vocals speaking "Radio on!", Radio On!" at the end. Great.
@bendonnelly690
No shit.
@THEODSTKING117
Ben Donnelly u suck Ben
@arcoirisaustralianshepherds
That's David Robinson on drums....went on to be in The Cars
@jameslittle6593
@Arcoiris Australian Shepherds and Jerry Harrison went on to be in Talking Heads.
@midwichyouthclub
Still sounds as essential and vital as it ever did. Joyous.
@jameswhitney2450
Such great sierra. Jerry Harrison''s keyboards taking the place of the lead guitar is just one of the innovations this group reveled in. The Boss of course is right - simply one of the best road songs ever.