Lord, Mr. Ford

Lyrics

[Intro] Well, if you're one of the millions who own one of them gas-drinking, piston-clanking, air-polluting, smoke-belching, four-wheeled buggies from Detroit City, then pay attention I'm about to sing your song, son [Verse 1] Well, I'm not a man appointed judge To bear ill will and hold a grudge But I think it's time I said me a few choice words All about that demon automobile A metal box with the Polyglas wheel The end result of the dream of Henry Ford [Verse 2] Well, I've got a car that's mine alone That me and the finance company own A ready-made pile of manufactured grief And if I ain't out of gas in the pouring rain I'm a-changin' a flat in a hurricane I once spent three days lost on a cloverleaf [Verse 3] Well, it ain't just the smoke and the traffic jam That makes me the bitter fool I am But this four-wheel buggy is a-dollarin' me to death For gas and oils and fluids and grease And wires and tires and antifreeze And them accessories, well, honey, that's something else [Verse 4] Well, you can get a stereo tape and a color TV Get a back-seat bar and reclining seats And just pay once a month, like you do your rent Well, I figured it up and over a period of time This four-thousand dollar car of mine Costs fourteen thousand dollars And ninety-nine cents [Chorus] Well, now, Lord, Mr. Ford, I just wish that you could see What your simple horseless carriage has become Well, it seems your contribution to man To say the least, got a little out of hand Well, Lord, Mr. Ford what have you done? [Verse 5] Now the average American father and mother Own one whole car and half another And I bet that half a car is a trick to drive, don't you? But the thing that amazes me, I guess Is the way we measure a man's success By the kind of automobile he can afford to buy [Verse 6] Well, now, red light, green light, traffic cop Right turn, no turn, must turn, stop Get out the credit card, honey, we're out of gas Well, now, all the cars placed end to end Would reach to the moon and back again And there'd probably be some poor fool who'd pull out to pass [Verse 7] Well, now, how I yearn for the good old days Without that carbon dioxide haze A-hanging over the roar of the interstate Well, if the Lord that made the moon and the stars Would have meant for me and you to have cars He'd have seen that we was all born with a parking space [Chorus] Lord, Mr. Ford, I just wish that you could see What your simple horseless carriage has become Well, it seems your contribution to man To say the least, got a little out of hand Well, Lord, Mr. Ford, what have you done? [Outro] Come away with me, Lucille In my smoking, choking automobile