Gimme The Car

Album: Violent Femmes (1982)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about someone trying to talk his dad into letting him have the car for the night for the sole purpose of date-raping someone he knows, probably by intoxicating her and taking advantage while she is helpless. Lead singer/songwriter Gordon Gano has said that this song is in no way autobiographic, but rather a snapshot of teen angst that (almost) everyone has encountered at least once. He also says that it's one of his parents' least favorite Femmes songs, though they are always supportive of his musical ventures. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    James - Iowa City, IA
  • Gordon Gano was expelled from his school because of this song. He was asked to play an appropriate song for an assembly and he played this instead. The Femmes made a reference to this event in a song called "Kiss Off." When Gano sings, "this will go down on your permanent record," he is referring to his expulsion.
  • Along with "Ugly," this is a bonus track featured on the reissue of The Femmes debut 1983 album. It can also be found on the compilation album Add It Up: 1983-1993. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Kristy - La Porte City, IA

Comments: 6

  • Julia from Pacific GroveI’ve been a VF fan since the 80s. In fact, my sister and I are going to see them in San Francisco TONIGHT! I hate this song. It IS a rape song. Getting a girl high and doing whatever is rape.
  • Anonymous from UsaYou're genuinely retarded if you think this song is about rape. Its clearly about how he wants to meet up with a girl, cop some feels, bust a nut, etc.
  • Mike from Glen Ridge, NjI have heard that most of the best Violent Femmes songs were written by Gano while he was in prison..er..high school. Amazing to display such song writing genius as a teenager.
  • Brent from Indy-ish, InThis is why Gordon Gano is my hero
  • Dylan from Port Orange, FlBest song ever written.
  • Jeff from Atlanta, GaThis is what I've heard: he was gonna be inducted into the national honor society, and he asked them if he and brian could play a song at the induction ceremony. He started off playing a ballad, but lead into playing Gimme the car, which caused a riot. The very next day he was expelled from the National Honor Society.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.