Jon Hanson songs
Fiddle: Kurt Baumer Guitar: Dale Crockett Vocal: Jon Hanson
I was seventeen and broke in ‘74
Killin’ time at the local Ford store
Saw a 69 Super Bee I’d buy if I could
Orange with a flat-black-hood on pins
Salesman Bob said “wanna take it for a spin?”
I thought he was kidding but I said yes I would
Well he grabbed a D-tag and flipped me the key
And hopped in the passenger seat next to me
I’d driven some cars but nothin’ like this before
I was cruising slow and looking everywhere
Bob said, “What-cha lookin’ for there?
Cops! I said as I mashed her to the floor!
The Bee stood-up and made that super stock sound
Three green lights ahead no way I’m shuttin’ down
I could just see over the edge of her big hood scoop
She was pushing me back making it hard to steer
It wasn’t quite heaven but it was awfully near
‘Til I hit second gear and smelled salesman-poop
[Modulate UP]
I hit gear-three-‘bout-light-two
Like a low flying plane we were a coming on through
Bob was moanin’ and groanin’ and biting his tongue
He was stomping on the floor it was a sight to see
First screaming then came the profanity
It was shameful really in front of me-so-young
Bob’s turning red pointing at a yellow light
Just a little faster I can make it alright
At 92 another ticket ain’t much more
According to an old equation I’d been taught
It can’t cost nothin’ unless you get caught
So I whipped that Hemi-she-devil | into gear four
Back at the lot I handed Bob the key
I guess by then he’d had enough of me
He walked away and didn’t even ask me to buy!?
At 17 I did a lot of things that were dumb
But I don’t think any of them were as fun
As the Summer I made | old Salesman Bob cry
Bridge:
Well I thought that was the end of this song
But the do-gooders said no Jon, you’ve got it all wrong
It needs a moral lesson for our youth
Street racing is a dangerous thing my friend
So I put down the guitar and picked up the pen
Maybe I can make my point in another verse or two
[modulate back UP]
Well a truck jumped the light in the prior verse
I shoulda went right going left made it worse
The Bee went airborne and down the sidewalk on its side
I clipped the mayor’s car and a light pole or two
Hit a carryout | invented-the-beer-drive-thru
Bob died – it was vehicular homicide
Six cops hauled me off to jail
The Judge said there ain’t gonna be no bail
I got 7 years for reckless stupidity
I did all seven trying to stay on Bubba’s good side
I had time, to think about my 12 second ride
Got religion and learned to play guitar before I was free
Well, I really didn’t wreck that car, or go to jail as a kid
But now as parent I say do as I say not as I did
And I know somewhere there’s a salesman, saying his prayers
One man’s Hemi dreams are another man’s Hemi Nightmares
Down to the bridge, this is a true story.
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