Roadrunner
by The Modern Lovers

Album: The Modern Lovers (1977)
Charted: 11
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  • One-two-three-four-five-six!
    Roadrunner, roadrunner
    Going faster miles an hour
    Gonna drive past the Stop 'n' Shop
    With the radio on
    I'm in love with Massachusetts
    And the neon when it's cold outside
    And the highway when it's late at night
    Got the radio on
    I'm like the roadrunner

    Alright
    I'm in love with modern moonlight
    128 when it's dark outside
    I'm in love with Massachusetts
    I'm in love with the radio on
    It helps me from being alone late at night
    Helps me from being lonely late at night
    I don't feel so bad now in the car
    Don't feel so alone, got the radio on
    Like the roadrunner
    That's right

    Said welcome to the spirit of 1956
    Patient in the bushes next to '57
    The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick
    Suburban trees, suburban speed
    And it smells like heaven, I say
    Roadrunner once
    Roadrunner twice
    I'm in love with rock & roll and I'll be out all night
    Roadrunner
    That's right

    Well now
    Roadrunner, roadrunner
    Going faster miles an hour
    Gonna drive to the Stop 'n' Shop
    With the radio on at night
    And me in love with modern moonlight
    Me in love with modern rock & roll
    Modern girls and modern rock & roll
    Don't feel so alone, got the radio on
    Like the roadrunner
    O.K. now you sing Modern Lovers

    (Radio On!)
    I got the AM
    (Radio On!)
    Got the car, got the AM
    (Radio On!)
    Got the AM sound, got the
    (Radio On!)
    Got the rockin' modern neon sound
    (Radio On!)
    I got the car from Massachusetts, got the
    (Radio On!)
    I got the power of Massachusetts when it's late at night
    (Radio On!)
    I got the modern sounds of modern Massachusetts
    I've got the world, got the turnpike, got the
    I've got the, got the power of the AM
    Got the, late at night, hit 'em wide, rock & roll late at night
    The factories and the auto signs got the power of modern sounds
    Alright

    Right, bye bye! Writer/s: Jonathan Richman
    Publisher: Wixen Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Lee From Martha's Vineyard from Oak BluffsI grew up in Waltham, Mass. Got my license in 1972. Drove my father's car until I bought a flawless used 1971 Plymouth Road Runner, B5 Blue, black bucket seat interior, 383 automatic. Used to cruise all over Greater Boston and beyond in it. The song spoke to me. Directly.
  • John from Cleveland, OhioIn "Roadrunner (Once)" from the album "Roadrunner: The Beserkley Collection" Richman at about 1:03 sings, "I felt in love with Planopan and Rosenfield." These are my interpretations of what he is saying. I wonder if he is naming disc jockeys or places or what.
  • Steve from Boston, MaThe song is about driving along Route 128 listening to the radio late at night. It's is almost a love song to Massachusetts; it has references to Massachusetts ("I'm in love with Massachusetts"), Route 128 (a major road through the state), the Stop 'n' Shop (a local grocery chain), and the Mass Turnpike (what we call Interstate 90).
  • Peter From Nz from Wellington New Zealand Heard once that there was something unusual about the beat/timing in this song? But I could be completely wrong! Also love the chaotic Sex Pistols version of this.
  • Jim from North Billerica, Ma128 refers to route 128, which is a major highway that loops around the Boston area. The Stop 'n' Shop is a local Grocery Store chain.
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