Lord, Mr. Ford (2001 Version)

[Verse 1]
Now, I'm not a man to point or judge
To bury a will or to hold a grudge
But I think it's time I said a few choice words
About that demon – the automobile
The metal monster with the polyglass wheels
End result of a dream of Henry Ford's
Sure, I've got a car that's mine alone
That me and the finance company own
It's a ready-made pile of manufactured grief
If I'm not out of gas in the pouring rain
I'm changing a flat in a hurricane
And I once spent a weekend lost on a cloverleaf
Well, it's not just the smoke of the traffic jam
That makes me the bitter fool I am
But that four-wheelеd buggy's a dollar in me to death
Pour gas, oil, fluids and greasе
And wires, and tires, and antifreeze
And them accessories, well son, that's something else
You can get stereo tape and a color TV
Backseat bar and reclining seats
On top of those "easy" monthly payments
I figure that over a period of time
This $20,000 car of mine cost $97,000.48

[Chorus]
Well Lord, Mr. Ford, I just wish that you could see
What your simple horseless carriage has become
Well, it seems your contribution to man
To say the least, got a little out of hand
Lord, Mr. Ford, what have you done?

[Verse 2]
Now, the average American father and mother
Own one whole car and half of another
And I'll bet that half a car is a trick to drive
But the thing that amazes me, I guess
Is the way we measure a man's success
By the kind of automobile he can buy
Well it's red light, green light, traffic cop
Right turn, no turn, must turn, stop
Get out the credit card, it's time for gas!
All the cars of the world placed end-to-end
Would reach to the moon and back again
And there'd probably be some fool who'd pull out to pass

[Chorus]
Lord, Mr. Ford, I just wish that you could see
What your simple horseless carriage has become

[Verse 3]
Oh, how I yearn for the good old days
Without that carbon monoxide haze
Hanging over that roar on the interstates
Well, if the One that made the moon and stars
Would've meant for me and you to have cars
He'd have seen that we was born with a parking space

[Chorus]
And Lord, Mr. Ford, I just wish that you could see
What your simple horseless carriage has become
This world was once a garden spot
But now it's just one big parking lot
Lord, Mr. Ford, what have you done?

[Outro]
Come away with me, Lucille
In my smoking, choking, naughty mobile...