Car Song
Woody Guthrie Lyrics


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Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b' brrrm,
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b' brrrm,
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b' brrrm.
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm.

Take me riding in the car, car;
Take me riding in the car, car;
Take you riding in the car, car;
I'll take you riding in my car.

Click clack, open up the door, girls;
Click clack, open up the door, boys;
Front door, back door, clickety clack,
Take you riding in my car.

Climb, climb, rattle on the front seat;
Spree I spraddle on the backseat;
Turn my key, step on my starter,
Take you riding in my car.

Engine it goes broom, broom;
Engine it goes broom, broom;
Front seat, backseat, boys and girls,
Take you riding in my car.

Trees and the houses walk along;
Trees and the houses walk along;
Truck and a car and a garbage can,
Take you riding in my car.

Ships and the little boars chug along;
Ships and the little boats chug along;
Broom buhbuh broom broom broom buh broom,
Take you riding in my car.

I'm a gonna send you home again;
I'm a gonna send you home again;
Broom, broom, buhbuh broom, rolling home,
Take you riding in my car.

I'm a gonna let You blow the horn;
I'm a gonna let you blow the horn;




A oorah, a oorah, a oogah, oogah,
I'll take you riding in my car.

Overall Meaning

The song "Car Song" by Woody Guthrie is a playful and energetic tune that describes the joys of taking a ride in a car. The repetition of the opening lines of the song, "Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b' brrrm," mimics the sound of a car engine and sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Through lively verses, Guthrie invites his listeners to ride with him, opening up the doors and climbing into the front and back seats. He sings about the sights and sounds they will encounter on their journey, from trees and houses to trucks, cars, and garbage cans.


At the heart of this song is a sense of freedom and adventure. Guthrie's description of the car as a vehicle for exploration captures the spirit of the open road and the excitement of heading off into the unknown. The song also highlights the social aspect of car rides, with friends and family piling in and sharing in the fun. The ending of the song, with Guthrie promising to take his passengers home and letting them blow the horn, adds a touch of nostalgia and warmth to the overall message of the piece.


Line by Line Meaning

Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b' brrrm,
Imitates the sound of a car engine starting up.


Take me riding in the car, car;
Asks to be taken for a ride in a car.


Take you riding in the car, car;
Offers to take someone for a ride in a car.


Click clack, open up the door, girls;
Imitates the sound of car doors opening and invites females to get in the car.


Click clack, open up the door, boys;
Imitates the sound of car doors opening and invites males to get in the car.


Climb, climb, rattle on the front seat;
Describes the act of climbing into the car and settling into the front seat.


Spree I spraddle on the backseat;
Describes the act of lounging in the backseat.


Turn my key, step on my starter,
Describes the act of starting the car.


Engine it goes broom, broom;
Imitates the sound of the car engine running.


Trees and the houses walk along;
Describes the view from the car, as trees and houses move past.


Truck and a car and a garbage can,
Describes various objects seen from the car.


Ships and the little boats chug along;
Describes the view from the car when driving near water or a harbor.


I'm a gonna send you home again;
Suggests that the ride will eventually come to an end and the rider will be taken home.


Broom, broom, buhbuh broom, rolling home,
Imitates the sound of the car engine running on the way home.


I'm a gonna let You blow the horn;
Offers the opportunity to honk the car horn.


A oorah, a oorah, a oogah, oogah,
Imitates the sound of a car horn honking.




Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

sally dillard

I used to sing this to my daughter when she was very young.... she still remembers.... she is now 22 yrs old... keep it going.....

Mandi Dolle

Play it and Donovan's version for my kids

Skelloween

As we speak!

Mister Anderson

How do you guys feel about it being in a commercial these days? Lol it's the reason I'm here.

Michael Hundscheid

How does he make that noise!? I can’t stop listening to this cause it’s so funny 😂

Nicholas Leader

sounds like he's buzzing his lips and humming at the same time.

despicableBuckaroo78

1:26 he has seizure 👌👌👌👌👍👍👍👍😫😫😫😫🤨🤨🤨🤨😱😱😱😱😎😎😎😎🔥🔥🔥🔥🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠🥶🥶🐔🐔🐔🐔🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😔😔😔😔😥😥😥😥😥😥😭😭😭😭😭😭🤩🤩🤩🤩🫠🫠🤠🤠🤠🤠🤡🤡🤡🤡

DriftK13

Lets make this song number 1 on the charts again. :D

R Soraya

Such inspirational lyrics.

Abrohill

Extraordinario, su musica y su compromiso social, VIVA WOODY

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