Stop Draggin' My Car Around And Belvedere Cruising

Mad Genius · Post by **Mad Genius** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 7:23 pm

I've been doing some observing while listening to Belvedere Cruising and Stop Draggin' my car around and I've noticed something:

on Belvedere Cruising, Al sings "...Going Belvedere cruising today. I can take you anywhere on my 1964 Belvedere! Going Belvedere cruising today!"

and on Stop Draggin' My Car Around Al sings "...Now I'm at home, I'm watching Gilligan's Island, guess it's time to trade my old car in. For twenty dollars and my '64 Plymouth, maybe I can get a second-hand Swhin."

I think he's inadvertently mentioning his parents' 1964 Plymouth Belvedere being towed away on Stop Draggin' My Car Around

Tell me what you think.

Post by **Bruce the Duck** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 7:25 pm

Yeah, both songs reference the '64 Plymouth. I guess he got tired of "cruisin'" by 1983.

Website · Post by **Teh Dingo** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 7:26 pm

I've ruminated on that one before myself. I have no doubt in my mind of the connection.

And if I were Al, I'd make that trade in. That's a sweet deal! :biggrin:

Mad Genius · Post by **Mad Genius** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 7:27 pm

You think? I thought it's more of a sequel to Belvedere Cruising. Maybe Al liked his 64' Belvedere, but hasn't had that much luck with it.

Post by **Bruce the Duck** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 7:41 pm

FYI, Al also mentioned his old car in the ultra-rare song, "Dead Car Battery Blues."

Post by **Kevbo1987** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 7:41 pm

Yeah, because in the one part of the song, the manager of the disco club takes Al in the back, and says "But man that car of yours is so uncool, like wow I'm sorry, but we towed it away". Maybe Al was making a reference to people making fun of the car.

Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:17 am

Mad Genius @ Jan 11 2004, 05:23 PM wrote: I think he's inadvertently mentioning his parents' 1964 Plymouth Belvedere being towed away on Stop Draggin' My Car Around

Tell me what you think.

You're right about the connection, but I don't think the mention was inadvertent. Al knew very well what he was doing. BTW, apparently the Plymouth Belvedere went to college with him, since Joel Miller mentioned it in BTM.

Post by **algonacchick** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:40 am

Not to be not-picky, but it's "Goin' Belvedere cruisin' tonight".

But yeah, I do think he connected those two songs on purpose. I saw footage of Dr. Demento driving that '64 Plymouth once. It was a "weird-ass car", like Joel Miller said in Al's BTM! hehe!

Patti

Post by **Miss Janine** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:40 am

Kevbo1987 @ Jan 11 2004, 12:41 PM wrote: Yeah, because in the one part of the song, the manager of the disco club takes Al in the back, and says "But man that car of yours is so uncool, like wow I'm sorry, but we towed it away". Maybe Al was making a reference to people making fun of the car.

But it was towed again at the end of the song 'cuz Al was late with a payment. Still paying on it after all those years? How long had he had it?

Post by **scottidog** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:52 am

It must have been a "weird ass" car. Since Al couldn't decide if it was green or black.