The title, "Ol' '55", refers to the singer's vehicle, almost certainly the legendary 1955 Cadillac Waits owned, although it could refer to other 1955 model year American cars.
The song has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by the Eagles for their 1974 album On The Border. In a 1975 interview, Waits was critical of the Eagles' cover version of his song, admitting that he was "not that particularly crazy about (their) rendition of it ... I thought their version was a little antiseptic."
About one year later, while interviewed for NME, he went as far as stating that "I don’t like the Eagles. They’re about as exciting as watching paint dry. Their albums are good for keeping the dust off your turntable and that’s about all.”
Ol' 55
Tom Waits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went lickety-splickly
Out to my old '55
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy
God knows, I was feeling alive
Now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh, Lord, lemme tell you that the feeling's getting stronger
And at six in the morning, gave me no warning
I had to be on my way
Well there's trucks all a-passing and and the lights all a-flashing
I'm on my way home from your place
And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh, Lord, lemme tell you the feeling's getting stronger
And my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splickly
Out to my old '55
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy
God knows, I was feeling alive
And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Freeway cars and trucks
Freeway cars and trucks
The lyrics to Tom Waits's "Ol' 55" detail a journey taken in a '55 Chevy. The singer describes the exhilaration he feels as he drives out in the car, feeling like he's "riding with Lady Luck." As the morning rolls around and the drive comes to an end, he regrets having to leave his destination, wishing he could have stayed a little longer. The repetition of the line "my time went so quickly, I went lickety-splickly" emphasizes the fleeting nature of the experience and the difficulty of having to return to reality.
The song is about more than just a drive in a vintage car, though. It's about the search for identity and purpose. The singer's description of feeling alive in the car suggests that he has been feeling disconnected from life in some way. As the journey comes to an end and he has to return to his normal life, he realizes that he isn't yet ready to do so. The repetition of the line "the feeling's getting stronger" represents the singer's growing desire to find a way to hold onto the sense of vitality he experiences in the car.
Overall, "Ol' 55" is a nostalgic, introspective song that invites listeners to consider what it means to really feel alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, my time went so quickly
The time passed rapidly.
I went lickety-splickly
I went fast, quickly.
Out to my old '55
Out in my old car.
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy
As I left slowly with a feeling of spiritual blessedness.
God knows, I was feeling alive
I was experiencing a heightened sense of being.
Now the sun's coming up
Dawn is breaking.
I'm riding with Lady Luck
I'm fortunate in my direction and destiny.
Freeway cars and trucks
The traffic is made up of fast-moving vehicles.
Stars beginning to fade
The night sky is turning into morning light.
And I lead the parade
I'm the one driving in front of everyone else.
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
I'm wishing I could have stayed at my destination for a little while longer.
Oh, Lord, lemme tell you that the feeling's getting stronger
My desire to stay is growing stronger by the minute.
And at six in the morning, gave me no warning
At six in the morning, there was no indication of what was to come.
I had to be on my way
I had to start driving home.
Well there's trucks all a-passing and the lights all a-flashing
Trucks are passing by with flashing lights.
I'm on my way home from your place
I'm heading back home from where I was previously.
Freeway cars and trucks
The traffic is made up of fast-moving vehicles.
Freeway cars and trucks
The traffic is made up of fast-moving vehicles.
Freeway cars and trucks
The traffic is made up of fast-moving vehicles.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tom Waits
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Sc250108
Well, my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splitly
Out to my ol' 55
As I pulled away slowly
Feeling so holy
God knows I was feeling alive
Now, the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway, cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishin' I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell ya that the feeling getting stronger
And it's six in the morning
Gave me no warning
I had to be on my way
Well, there's trucks all a-passin' me
And the lights all are flashing
I'm on my way home from your place
And now the sun's coming up
And I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway, cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishin' I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell ya, the feeling getting stronger
And my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splitly
Out to my ol' 55
As I pulled away slowly
Feeling so holy
God knows I was feeling alive
And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway, cars and trucks
Freeway, cars and trucks
Freeway, cars and trucks
@Daniel-es2qy
Ol’ 55
Tom Waits
Track 1 on Closing Time
Produced by
Jerry Yester
One of Tom Waits' first songs. Initially, he was flattered when The Eagles covered it, but later he spoke derisively about their homage: I frankly was not that… Read More
Mar. 6, 1973
1 Viewer
41.4K Views
17 Contributors
Ol’ 55 Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Well, my time went so quickly, I went lickety-splitly
Out to my ol' fifty-five
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy
God knows I was feeling alive
[Chorus]
Now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell you that the feeling getting stronger
[Verse 2]
And it's six in the morning, gave me no warning
I had to be on my way
Well, there's trucks all a-passing me and the lights all a-flashin'
I'm on my way home from your place
[Chorus]
And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell you the feeling getting stronger
@georgejasper8794
My late son passed almost 12 years ago at the age of 23 with an undiagnosed heart condition. I would have loved to be able to sit next to him as he went, playing this song and holding his hand. This always kills me!
@Vigilante311
Very sorry to hear that, I don't think anyone can understand what that's like without living through it, I'm 27 and have no kids but I work with a man who lost a son at age 18 to cancer and I can't imagine what it's like, kudos on your great taste in music, a tom waits fan is always a special person to me, take care of yourself
@bigmarty11288
I can't even imagine. I love you man.
@jawd1203
This was my father’s favorite song. He died 3 months ago but I I like to think that he just went out to his ol’ 55 and is driving off into the sunset. I’m just wishing he’d stayed a little longer.
@renatahelena9155
Don't you worry, he'll always be next to you: into your heart. Or protected by your memory. He'll stay, my friend. God bless you.
@sdwest4010
Joaquin Wells good for you, you're a son I'd be proud to have
@gusa7460
fuerza
@somejailnursedontask4658
God Bless you, your dad is there. My Dad loved the Badlands in South Dakota and I know he’s next to me when I’m a travel nurse driving thru at sunrise. I didn’t even think about it until,I felt his presence. You will feel the same.
@jaymoney-so8oo
Sorry for your lose brother!!!
@jackcarraway4707
Loneliness, late nights, whiskey and Tom Waits is quite the combo.