Bruce Springsteen – Pink Cadillac

It’s no secret…Springsteen loves cars and what they represent. In this one, I think of the Pink Cadillac that Elvis gave his mom in the 1950s. I always liked this song and it was one of the first songs I did the lead vocals on in front of people. To sing it you have to stay monotone and not get too excited but it’s a fun one to do. I think I was around 17 and playing in a bar in 1984. 

My favorite line to sing in it was But my love is bigger than a Honda
yeah, it’s bigger than a Subaru hey man there’s only one thing
and one car that will do. I mean how many times do you get to sing a song with the word “Subaru” in it? Plus we tacked on “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” at the end of Pink Cadillac and they blended perfectly into each other. 

It’s a rockabilly type song that stood out on the radio in 1984…even from Born in the USA. It has been covered 39 times by artists including Natalie Cole and Jerry Lee Lewis. What makes this song so good is Bruce’s storytelling with lines like They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple, But man I ain’t going for that
I know it was her pink Cadillac. 

The production on this one was low-keyed and flat sounding…and I don’t mean that badly. Compare this to the tracks on Born in the USA…those tracks have a sonic quality from the mix by Bob Clearmountain…this one keeps a 50s-style rockabilly sound. 

Bruce Springsteen first recorded an acoustic version of this song for his Nebraska album but it didn’t make the cut. I think it would have fit Nebraska perfectly. He recorded this version during the sessions for his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A., though it didn’t make the cut on that album either. Instead, it was released as the B-side to the hit single Dancing in the Dark in 1984. It would not be featured on an album until Tracks, released in 1998. 

The song peaked at #27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts in 1984. 

Natalie Cole recorded it in 1987 and it peaked at #5 on the Billboard 100. 

Here is a version that Jerry Lee Lewis did with Bruce. 

Pink Cadillac

Well now you may think I’m foolish
For the foolish things I do
You may wonder how come I love you
When you get on my nerves like you do
Well baby you know you bug me
There ain’t no secret ’bout that
Well come on over here and hug me
Baby I’ll spill the facts
Well honey it ain’t your money
‘Cause baby I got plenty of that
I love you for your pink Cadillac
Crushed velvet seats
Riding in the back
Cruising down the street
Waving to the girls
Feeling out of sight
Spending all my money
On a Saturday night
Honey I just wonder what you do there in back
Of your pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac

Well now way back in the Bible
Temptations always come along
There’s always somebody tempting
Somebody into doing something they know is wrong
Well they tempt you, man, with silver
And they tempt you, sir, with gold
And they tempt you with the pleasures
That the flesh does surely hold
They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple
But man I ain’t going for that
I know it was her pink Cadillac
Crushed velvet seats
Riding in the back
Oozing down the street
Waving to the girls
Feeling out of sight
Spending all my money
On a Saturday night
Honey I just wonder what it feels like in the back
Of your pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac

Now some folks say it’s too big
And uses too much gas
Some folks say it’s too old
And that it goes too fast
But my love is bigger than a Honda
Yeah, it’s bigger than a Subaru
Hey man there’s only one thing
And one car that will do
Anyway we don’t have to drive it
Honey we can park it out in the back
And have a party in your pink Cadillac
Crushed velvet seats
Riding in the back
Cruising down the street
Waving to the girls
Feeling out of sight
Spending all my money
On a Saturday night
Honey I just wonder what you do there in back
Of your pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

45 thoughts on “Bruce Springsteen – Pink Cadillac”

  1. No one will accuse me of being a Springsteen fan, but this song is certainly in the handful of his songs I do like.

    I think the Born in the USA album being shoved down our throats when it was released kinda turned me against him, perhaps I should explore his catalog…he is somewhat legendary after all.

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    1. Personally, I like his seventies albums a lot like his debut album and Born To Run…
      I remember three albums in the mid 80s that we all heard constantly…Thriller, Purple Rain, and Born in the USA….

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    1. I didn’t know they covered it.
      If you like raw songs…check out Greetings from Ashbury Park…his debut. Thats my favorite album by him…it’s the opposite of polished.

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      1. If you’ve never heard their version, do yourself a favor and take a listen. Their debut album was a double and that was the best thing on it. I saw FGTH in 85/86 and they were surprisingly good,, they knocked Born to Run outta the park that night!

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  3. The vinyl picture disc is getting harder to find in good condition. ‘Tea staining’ is a quite common discolouring when it comes to picture discs – dark and brown – caused by oxygen entering the inside of the disc/picture, It can happen at any time. I’ve a few that’s stained myself.

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    1. I had one that I bought in the 80s…Sgt Pepper picture disc but I either have lost it or have it packed away where I can’t find it.

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      1. It’s normally the shaped picture disc singles that end up with the worst ‘tea-stains’. I have a Joan Jett one (complete with cardboard stand) that’s recently had it’s day.

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    1. Yes he did! It’s really different than anything on the Born in the USA album so I can see why it didn’t fit…I do think it would have fit Nebraska more…musically anyway but probably not lyrically.
      Like I said in my last comment on your Carnes post…I compare this to the original version of that. Not many dynamics but in this case I think it worked better.

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  5. Sorry the lol was for Randy’s ‘killer’ comment. I also agree Bruce is probably played too much for some or three or four are played too much, but he can write a song, and they both loved the cars. He and Chuck Berry could write a song about a Zamboni and make it sound exciting.

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    1. Oh I figured that.
      Pink Zamboni or Zamboni Ranch! We must ask for a rewrite…that I would like to hear. I agree also…Bruce and Chuck were the mechanics of rock.

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    1. Oh the second edition of the cars is coming pretty soon as well… never a shortage on them. I agree…it could have been a Lewis song.

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  9. quality song… measure of how good he was back then, a throwaway b-side got played on radio and charted. To me it fit ‘Born in the USA’ well – it reminded me of songs like ‘Darlington County’. Cool looking disc you have illustrated.

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    1. As far as the song itself…then yea but I was talking about the sound more…those Born in the USA songs are so clear and in your face…this one is kind of level.

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  10. Rockin good song and cool to think you used to sing this one in your band. There’s an innocence but at the same time naughtiness to it that I like. The sax in it jazzes it up real good.

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    1. I just don’t think this one would have fit that album…a different sound. I like some like Surrender and Darlington County.

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      1. There are a bunch of solid pop rock songs from that era without the big 1980s sound. Like Lions Den and My Love Will Not Let You Down. It wouldn’t have been as successful, but it would have been more enjoyable for me.

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  12. Such a fun song. I think I knew Natalie Cole’s rendition first. “Pink Cadillac” is a perfect fit for Springsteen. With all that said, I guess with its retro vibe (and that’s not a criticism!), I can see why they didn’t put it on “Born in the U.S.A.” Also a bit odd to pair with “Dancing in the Dark,” one of Springsteen’s most commercially sounding songs! I think it would have fit better on “The River”. I had never heard the version with Jerry Lee Lewis. That one sounds pretty cool as well!

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      2. OH yea…I totally agree…for me it sounds muddy compared to that album…thats not putting it down but it just does…Born in the USA is one of the best mixed albums I’ve ever heard.

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      3. As the album that got me into Springsteen, “Born in the U.S.A.” will always remain special, even though songs like the title track, “Dancing in the Dark”, “I’m On Fire” and “Cover Me” were overexposed. I guess nowadays, “Bobby Jean” would be my favorite.

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      4. I really liked Surrender and Darlington County….and I have to admit…the title track still gets to me.

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  15. Pingback: Bruce Springsteen – Pink Cadillac – MobsterTiger

    1. Not of those days…but it worked…as Pink Caillac was ending I would start the small riff of Get It On and it worked well.

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  20. When I see a contemporary Cadillac on the road today I get feeling a little discouraged on how Euro it looks. It just does not have the panache of the models The Boss and Elvis would remember. Not that I don’t understand the need to have more responsible global warming aware models and EV. But, perhaps Cadillac could look toward the new Bronco and Camaro models to design a retro version that embraces modern technology with that American Iconic Cadillac vibe.

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    1. I totally agree. Too many cars look alike these days. I read where Neil Young converted one of his older Lincolns to electric….

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