Tag: 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