Rusty Old American Dream

Songwriting Infobox

Song Model
Songwriting
Lyrics - Melody - Harmony - Rhythm - Form
Song Form
Title - Chorus - Verse - Prechorus - Bridge
v • d • e

Well I don't look all that ragged For all the time its been But I'm weakened underneath me Where my frame has rusted thin And this year's state inspection I just barely passed Won't you drive me cross the country boy This year could be my last

I'm that tailfin road locomotive From the days of cheap gasoline And I'm for sale by the side of the road, goin nowhere A rusty old American dream

I rolled off the line in Detroit back in 1958 Spent three days in the showroom, that's all I had to wait I've been good to all who owned me so have no fear Come on boy put your money down and get me outta here

I'm that tailfin road locomotive From the days of cheap gasoline And I'm for sale by the side of the road, goin nowhere A rusty old American dream

Now this car needs a young man to own him One who will polish the chrome I will give you the rest of my lifetime Just don't let me die here alone

You just jump me some juice to my batt'ry Give that old starter a spin Hear me whirr, sputter, backfire through the carburetor And roar into life once again

I am a tail finned road locomotive You can polish my chrome so clean We can fly off into the sunset together A rusty old American dream (Still runnin') A rusty old American dream

6 = C   3 = G
5 = G   2 = C
4 = C   1 = E

[capo II]

C                                     F+2               C
Well I don't look all that ragged for all the time it's been.
Gsus4
But I'm weakened underneath me where my frame is rusted thin.

    C                                   F+2    C
And this year's state inspection I just barely passed.

                                                Gsus4            C
Won't you drive me 'cross the country, boy this year could be my last.



           F+2                  C
     I'm a tail-finned road locomotive

              Gsus4             C
     From the days of cheap gasoline.

             F+2                     C          Am7
     I'm for sale by the side of the road going nowhere,

       F+2        Gsus4   C
     A rusty old American dream.


                                         F+2            C
I rolled off the line in Detroit back in nineteen fifty-eight.

                                                      Gsus4
Spent three days in the showroom, that's all I had to wait.

          C                            F+2     C
I've been good to all who owned me, so have no fear.

                                   Gsus4        C
C'mon boy, put your money down and get me outta here.


           F+2                  C
     I'm a tail-finned road locomotive

              Gsus4             C
     From the days of cheap gasoline.

             F+2                     C          Am7
     I'm for sale by the side of the road going nowhere,

       F+2        Gsus4   C
     A rusty old American dream.


(C)
Now this car needs a young man to own him.

                         F+2
One who will polish the chrome.

                               C        Am7
I will give you the rest of my lifetime

  F+2                    Gsus4
B'don't let me die here alone.


[capo III]

        C
Ya just jump me some juice to my ba'ttry.

                        F+2
Give that old starter a spin.

                        C                    Am7
Hear me whirr, sputter, backfire through the carburetor

    F+2       Gsus4      C
And roar into life once again.


            F+2                  C
     I am a tail-finned road locomotive

             Gsus4               C
     You can polish my chrome so clean.

            F+2              C        Am7
     We can fly off into the sunset together,

     F+2        Gsus4   C             Am7
     Rusty old American dream - still runnin'

     F+2        Gsus4   C*
     Rusty old American dream.



* Outro:


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-------------------0h2h4--------
------------0h2h4---------0-2s4-
-------0h2h4--------------------
-0h2h4--------------------------


Chords:

         6 5 4 3 2 1
         -----------
C        0 0 0 0 0 0

F+2      5 2 0 0 0 x

Gsus4    x 0 2 0 0 x

Am7      x 2 4 0 0 0