The Band: White Cadillac (Ode To Ronnie Hawkins)
![[album cover]](jubilation.jpg)
Written by Randy Ciarlante, Jim Weider and Levon Helm, performed by The Band
Album: Jubilation, 1998
Listen: ![[YouTube]](youtubelogo.svg){kind=small}
This [song] is about how the guys [in The Band] used to sell places out in 1965 as The Hawks, during their rockabilly days. Yonge Street in Toronto was the big hangout, and I think there was a circuit starting in Arkansas, where Ronnie Hawkins and Lee were from, up through Chicago, Detroit and into Canada, where they picked up the other members of the Band. Ronnie [Hawkins] came down to hear the record, and he loved it.
—Aaron "Professor Louie" Hurwitz, Jubilation producer
Lyrics
This leg is long as a Georgia pine Rollin' Mississippi levee on my mind today But it's so far away Sedan DeVille what a ride brand new Four barrel wide open But you better pull over boys He's comin' on through Headin' up north we're leavin' stills behind The kids are wide-eyed I know everybody wants to ride Big white Cadillac I hope somebody's got my back, boy Wheels burnin' on the rim Cause we're closin' in We're gonna rock this town again Red knuckles smashin' on them rockin' 88's Strings breakin', sticks flyin' every which a way Man ain't that something The big doghouse thumpin' Camel walk, back flip, mohair what a touch Who needs the King thank you Thank you very much Ain't Yonge Street lucky I know they are in Memphis and Kentucky But Little Rock, Newport, Oklahoma, New York The kids are wide-eyed I know everybody wants to ride Big white Cadillac I hope somebody's got my back, boy Wheels burnin' on the rim Cause we're closin' in We're gonna rock this town again Big white Cadillac I hope somebody's got my back, boy Wheels burnin' on the rim Cause we're closin' in We're gonna rock this town again Oh my my It looks like the fix is in The trap is set, the secret's kept The fire's burnin' The wheels are turnin' We got to go before the smoke starts clearin' Big white Cadillac I hope somebody's got my back, boy Wheels burnin' on the rim Cause we're closin' in We're gonna rock this town again Big white Cadillac I hope somebody's got my back, boy Wheels burnin' on the rim Cause we're closin' in Big white Cadillac Big white Cadillac Big white Cadillac