After seeing Jim’s prompt (suggested by Clive of Take It Easy,) my first thought was Cake songs, who seem to like to sing about cars. Over seven albums, they’ve done Race Car Ya-Yas, Stickshifts and Safetybelts, Long Line of Cars, Wheels, Carbon Monoxide, Easy to Crash. Cake is an environmentally aware group. They know how negatively cars, their fuel, and their emissions impact our environment. It’s feels like they have decided to fuel an anti-combustion engine message with music over the years. I admire them for it. Another bit of trivia about Cake is that when they do concerts, they give away a tree to a member of the audience. Can you imagine how well it would grow?
I didn’t mention the Cake Car song I’m sharing today because its title might do one of two things, interest you or repel you. Having sung along to all songs on Cake’s seven studio albums, at first I was a little resistant to singing the chorus to this one: “Satan is My Motor.” Would I call The Prince of Darkness to me as I sang? After the fiftieth time, I concluded no and from there forward it was just like any other song.
As you listen and read the lyrics, you will notice that John McCrea is talking about himself in first person, as if he were the car, powered by an unholy engine. Or is he? The way I interpret them is he is singing as if he were an individual who believes they are powered by an unholy engine. When a person believes they’ve made a pact with Satan, trading their soul for seemingly unlimited powers, besides the delusional diagnosis, they feel nothing but contempt for those on the receiving end of their evil acts. McCrea makes the delusion feel smooth and easy. He didn’t really need that soul of his, did he?
An alternative theory is that a guy has the hots for a woman and has the best intentions in treating her respectfully, but in his Jimmy Carter heart, what he really wants to do is … her brains out.
The lyrics are sly. It isn’t the first time Cake lyrics appear to be about one thing but are about something totally different. Like with the cars. In the car songs is he really talking about human beings with a car metaphor?
“Satan is My Motor” is the first track on, “Prolonging the Magic,” Cake’s third studio album, released in October 1998. From wikipedia, “The album was recorded after the departure of guitarist Greg Brown and features a rotating lineup of musicians to replace him. One of them, Xan McCurdy, became his full-time replacement.”
Now this is interesting:
The album was given a parental advisory sticker not because of profanity but for Satanic-themed lyrics. Some copies do not feature a sticker, with the only difference being that the song “Satan Is My Motor” has been retitled “Motor.”
The seventh track on the album, “Sheep Go To Heaven,” also has a heaven-hell aspect to it, with the lyrics, “Sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell” as a refrain. Like,”Motor,” you can explore the lyrics at face value or choose to dig a little deeper.
Personnel:
John McCrea – vocals, guitar, piano, organ, Moog, producing, arranging and design
Vince DiFiore – trumpet, background vocals and arranging}
Gabe Nelson – bass, mandolin, guitar, piano and arranging
Todd Roper – drums, percussion, background vocals and arranging
Additional musicians
Xan McCurdy – electric guitar on track 9
Rusty Miller – electric guitar on track 3
Tyler Pope – arranging and electric guitar on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10
Chuck Prophet – arranging and electric guitar on tracks 4, 7 and 12
Jim Campilongo – arranging and electric guitar on tracks 4, 6 and 11
Ben Morss – arranging and piano on track 5
David Palmer – keyboards on track 9
Greg Vincent – pedal steel guitar on tracks 2, 6 and 9
Mark Needham – additional percussion, engineering, and mixing
Richard Lyman – musical saw on track 4
Satan is My Motor
I've got wheels of polished steel
I've got tires that grab the road
I've got seats that selflessly hold my friends
And a trunk that can carry the heaviest of loads
I've got a mind that can steer me to your house
And a heart that can bring you red flowers
My intentions are good, and earnest, and true
But under my hood is internal combustion power
And Satan is my motor (Satan is my motor)
Hear my motor purr
Satan is my motor, motor (Satan is my motor)
Hear my motor purr
And Satan is the only one
Who seems to understand
I've got brakes, I'm wide awake
I can stop this car at any time
At the very last second, I can change directions
Turn completely around if I feel so inclined
I've got a mind that can steer me to your house
And a heart that can bring you red flowers
My intentions are good, and earnest, and true
But under my hood is internal combustion power
And Satan is my motor (Satan is my motor)
Hear my motor purr
Satan is my motor, motor (Satan is my motor)
Hear my motor purr
And Satan is the only one
Who seems to understand
Satan is my motor
(Satan is my motor) Oh no
(Satan is my motor) Aw yeah
(Satan is my motor)
(Satan is my motor)
(Satan is my motor) Hear my motor purr
(Satan is my motor)
Satan is the only one
Who seems to understand
Written by: John Mccrea
Album: Prolonging the Magic
Released: 1998
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week’s prompt is to share a song that mentions either Cars or Trucks suggested by Clive of Take It Easy.
Tao Talk 
Cool song, Lisa. I really enjoyed it. I think you’re right; the song is about an individual who believes he is powered by an unholy engine but I don’t see repentance in his future any time soon. 😎
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:) Thanks!
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A new one for me, both the band and the song. I really liked it 👍
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Clive, I am delighted to introduce you to Cake. They are a Sacramento, CA band that’s at the top of my charts.
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I’ll have to explore further 👍
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Hi Lisa I’ve not heard this before or in fact the group ! I like their sound, the lyrics are interesting and open to interpretation – for me I thought he was saying he was full of good intentions ‘heart that can bring you flowers’, but deep down he couldn’t help his deep desires, his base instincts – so could he control himself? Well that’s my interpretation 😃thanks for introducing them to me 🙌
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Ange, I’m glad I picked Cake for this week’s song then. One of the things I like about them is that their songs are open to interpretation. Such clever lyrics and interesting music.
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🙌
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“powered by an unholy engine…” I love that phrasing! I am going to find a way to work that into my vernacular- it just says it all. Great choice- and even better write up!
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V, I love that :) It’s a term you’ll probably be using a lot in these times. Thank you so much <3
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I have herd of Cake, but I was unable to recall the names of any of their songs. This is a very pleasant-sounding tune, Lisa thanks for sharing it.
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Jim, glad you found it pleasant. Thanks and you are welcome.
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Nice pick, Lisa, I’m all new to “Satan Is My Motor” and Cake – sounds tasty to me! :-)
When I think car songs, some coming to mind first are Deep Purple’s “Highway Star,” Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” and Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene.” And, of course, The Beatles “Drive My Car.” Once you start digging, there are so many…
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Christian, you might think about participating in this week’s, or any week’s Song Lyric Sunday. It’s always fun and I hear new music.
I’m going on a bike ride a short while, so will look/listen your Sunday Six later. Hope you enjoy your Sunday, my friend.
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Thanks, Lisa, enjoy your bike ride! :-)
I’m shortly heading out myself, to listen to some live music. My music friend Mike Caputo’s excellent cover band are playing a set of each Steely Dan and Sting. Should be fun! :-)
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We went 15+ miles. Beautiful day for a ride!!!!! Hope you are enjoying Steely Dan and Sting music. Sounds awesome!!!!
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Wow, that sounds like a great bike ride. My concert was a lot of fun. This band is really terrific. I’m also good friends with them, which makes it even nicer. :-)
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A pleasant Sunday for all :)
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Indeed! :-)
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A new song for me Li. I think you’re right he is telling her that he is a good guy with good intentions, but there’s the devil in all of us. Full disclosure! She better watch how I suppose. 😳🙄. I did laugh at the Satan labels!!
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Glad to introduce you to the song, Christine. You know they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions :) Yes, isn’t that funny. Like baiting a (puritanical) bear.
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Thanks for giving us another piece of Cake Lisa :)
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:) My pleasure, Glyn.
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It is fun Cake likes to “take to the road” with all of those car-themed songs. I’ve heard a few of their songs and have always liked what I have heard, including this one. A nice slice of music here, Lisa!
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Bruce, they have so many things going for them. Glad you enjoyed the tune.
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Oh…I never heard of them. I really enjoyed this song: good sound, voice, harmonies, and lyrics. Great that inspires different interpretations.
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Marina, so happy you enjoyed the Cake song :)
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Hi Lisa this is brilliant and totally new to me 💜💜
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Thanks much, Willow. Did you post a song today?
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A pleasure Lisa … I haven’t had time today to post but I will try tomorrow 💜🙂😔
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OK cool, Willow :)
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Great choice. (K)
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Kerfe, thank you. They have so many car songs to choose from.
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Did anyone do the Beach Boys? “Fun Fun Fun” would be the first song that comes to my mind.
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Yes, someone did :) I can’t remember who it was, but it was in the mix.
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😊
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Whenever I think of “satan car” I think of 1977 movie The Car. Cool song though…I never heard this one.
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I can see why it would. Glad you like the song. Not sure if you saw where I told Christian I was going on a bike ride, but it took an hour drive each way and we did a 2 hour ride (15+ miles.) Behind on posts and soooo tired! It was a beautiful day for a ride, but cold. Wish I would have worn gloves.
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That is great! Always good when you get out…and ride a bike. I’m glad it was a great day here…he got a drizzle all day long.
Yea I can see that would be hard on your hands that long.
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Yes it was. Wind was 12mph and temp was in 50s. Decent in the sunshine but in shade oo cold. We saw a bald eagle in a tree by a river, a hawk on a power pole, and two “pumpkin girls” at a photo shoot in the park. Will post pics soon :)
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Great song, Lisa. I loved the peace and the feeling of tranquil while listening. I like such lowkey songs because I am not a huge fan of loud honkers. Thanks much for sharing. 👏🏽
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Sanjeet, thanks for giving it a chance. Glad you liked it.
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Interesting band and song lyrics. I like what I heard. Best information was they give away trees to someone in the audience. :)
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Thanks for giving them a chance, Barbara. Yes, I agree. Every day a tree is planted there is hope for us.
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Great song and lyrics. I’ve heard Cake before but don’t remember what/when. Their sound reminds me a little of a Winnipeg, Canada band (where I’m from), The Weakerthans: https://youtu.be/0D2KpinWU88?si=9wD4MJaC_lyIB96G
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Glad you enjoyed the song, Steve, and thanks for the link. I listened to it. Each ear hears what it hears.
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