Coupe de Ville

Album: The Note's For You (1988)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cadillac introduced the first Coupe de Ville in 1949, boasting a two-door coupe style, leather interior, and a pillar-less hard-top. Offered at $3,497 - considered expensive for the time - it was one of Cadillac's most popular models, and by 1961 the company was selling over 20,000 of the vehicles annually.
  • This song talks about lost love, something Neil Young has much experience with. The song contrasts Young's love for his Coupe de Ville with his longing for a lost lover, drawing attention to how material possessions, no matter how nice, never really end up fulfilling you. "If I can't have you," he wails on the chorus, "I don't want nothin' else."
  • This song was included on the album Young produced with his new band, The Blue Notes. This caught the attention of musician Harold Melvin, who owned the rights to the "Blue Notes" name. While Young was on tour with his new band, Melvin sued him over the name rights and won. Young was forced to re-name his band "Ten Men Workin'" for the remainder of the tour.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.