The Cars

Ric Ocasek

The Cars were an American rock band who emerged from the new wave scene in the late 1970s. The band originated in Boston in 1976, with singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter Ric Ocasek; bassist and singer Benjamin Orr; lead guitarist Elliot Easton; keyboardist Greg Hawkes; and drummer David Robinson.

Song lyrics

All lyrics by Ric Ocasek, except as noted.

The Cars (1978)

• If the illusion is real,
  Let them give you a ride.
  If they got thunder appeal,
  Let them be on your side.

  Let them leave you up in the air,
  Let them brush your rock and roll hair.
  Let the good times roll.

  • "Good Times Roll"

• (Here she comes again)
  When she's dancing 'neath the starry sky, ohh
  She'll make you flip.
  (Here she comes again)
  When she's dancing 'neath the starry sky,
  I kinda like the way she dips.

  (And she's my best friend's girl)
  (Well, she's my best friend's girl)
  Girl,
  But she used to be mine.

  • "My Best Friend's Girl"

• I don't mind you comin' here
  And wastin' all my time.
  'Cause when you're standin' oh so near,
  I kinda lose my mind.

  It's not the perfume that you wear,
  It's not the ribbons in your hair.
  And I don't mind you comin' here
  And wastin' all my time.

  • "Just What I Needed", written by Benjamin Orr

• I guess you're just what I needed
  (Just what I needed)
  I needed someone to feed.
  I guess you're just what I needed
  (Just what I needed)
  I needed someone to bleed.
  • "Just What I Needed"

• I don't care if you hurt me some more;
  I don't care if you even the score.
  You can knock me and I don't care.
  You can mock me, I don't care.
  You can rock me just about anywhere,
  It's alright.

  'Cause you're all I've got tonight.
  You're all I've got tonight.
  You're all I've got tonight.
  I need you tonight
  I need you tonight.

  • "You're All I've Got Tonight"

• I can't feel this way much longer
  Expecting to survive
  With all these hidden innuendos
  Just waiting to arrive.
  • "Bye Bye Love", written by Benjamin Orr

Candy-O (1979)

• She's driving away,
  With the dim lights on.
  And she's making a play,
  She can't go wrong.
  She never waits too long,
  She's winding them down
  On her clock machine.
  And she won't give up,
  'Cause she's seventeen.

  She's a frozen fire,
  She's my one desire.
  And I don't want to hold her down,
  Don't want to break her crown
  When she says

  Let's go.
  (I like the nightlife baby)
  She says
  (I like the nightlife baby)
  She says
  (Let's go)

  • "Let's Go", written by Benjamin Orr

• One too many times,
  I fell over you.
  Once in a shadow,
  I finally grew.
  And once in a night,
  I dreamed you were there.
  I canceled my flight
  From going nowhere.

  It's all I can do
  To keep waiting for you.

  • "It's All I Can Do", written by Benjamin Orr

• It takes a fast car lady to lead a double life.
  It takes a slow star lady if you want to do it twice
  You take your backseat rumble,
  Take your frontseat wife.
  Takes a fast car lady to lead a double life.
  • "Double Life"

Panorama (1980)

• All I need is what you've got,
  All I'll tell is what you're not.
  All you know is what you hear,
  I get this way when you come near.
  • "Touch and Go"

Shake It Up (1981)

• Since you're gone,
  The nights are gettin' strange.
  Since you're gone,
  Well, nothing's makin' any sense.
  Since you're gone,
  I stumbled in the shade.
  Since you're gone,
  Everything's in perfect tense, well.

  I can't help it
  When you fall apart
  I (and I) can't help it
  Guess you better start.

  • "Since You're Gone"

Heartbeat City (1984)

• You might have forgot
  The journey ends.
  You tied your knots,
  You made your friends.
  You left the scene
  Without a trace,
  One hand on the ground,
  One hand in space.
  • "Hello Again"

• Summer, it turns me upside down.
  Summer, summer, summer,
  It's like a merry-go-round.

  I see you under the midnight,
  All shackles and bows.
  The high shoes
  With the cleats a-clicking,
  A temperamental glow.

  How could you let me go?

  • "Magic"

• Who's gonna tell you when
  It's too late?
  Who's gonna tell you things
  Aren't so great?

  You can't go on
  Thinking nothing's wrong, ohh no.
  Who's gonna drive you home
  Tonight?

  • "Drive"

• You might think I'm crazy
  To hang around with you.
  Maybe you think I'm lucky
  To have something to do.
  But I think that you're wild,
  Inside me is some child.

  You might think I'm foolish,
  Or maybe it's untrue.
  You might think I'm crazy,
  But all I want is you.

  • "You Might Think"

• You might think it's hysterical,
  But I know when you're weak.
  You think you're in the movies,
  And everything's so deep.
  But I think that you're wild
  When you flash that fragile smile.
  • "You Might Think"

Door to Door (1987)

• Why don't you dream anymore?
  What's in the way?
  How come you point to the door
  And ask me to stay?
  Why don't you flash that smile
  Like you used to do?...
  Why don't you dream anymore?
  What's in the way?
  • You Are the Girl written By Ric Ocasek