About the song
The Everly Brothers, a name synonymous with rock and roll’s golden age. Those impossibly smooth harmonies, the infectious melodies, and a stage presence that crackled with youthful energy – they were a force to be reckoned with.
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But even within their vast catalog, there are hidden gems, songs that shimmer with a different kind of light. Always Drive a Cadillac, a track nestled within their 1986 album Born Yesterday, is one such gem.
Released later in their career, Always Drive a Cadillac finds The Everly Brothers at a crossroads. Gone are the teenage heartthrobs of the 1950s, replaced by seasoned veterans with a deeper understanding of life’s tapestry. This maturity seeps into the song, weaving a poignant tale of nostalgia and enduring love.
The song opens with a gentle acoustic guitar figure, evoking a sense of quiet reflection. It’s as if we’re peering into a dusty attic, sifting through memories. Then, the unmistakable Everly harmonies kick in, their voices – though perhaps a touch richer with age – retain their trademark sweetness.
Always Drive a Cadillac isn’t a bombastic rock anthem. It’s a ballad, a tender recollection sparked by a seemingly mundane object – a high school yearbook. This unassuming artifact becomes a portal to a bygone era, a time of youthful dreams and wide-eyed innocence.
The lyrics, brimming with vivid imagery, paint a picture of a simpler time, when a car – specifically a Cadillac, a symbol of American luxury – represented not just wealth, but freedom and the promise of adventure.
But beneath the surface of nostalgia lies a deeper current – a love story that has weathered the test of time. The song chronicles a lifelong commitment, a bond forged in those teenage years and nurtured through the decades. The Cadillac becomes a metaphor for their journey together, a testament to a love that endures despite life’s inevitable changes.
Always Drive a Cadillac is a song that resonates with anyone who has looked back on their own life, a bittersweet symphony of cherished memories and enduring affections. It’s a reminder that love, like a classic car, can be timeless, a testament to the enduring power of The Everly Brothers’ music.