Madness - Driving in My Car

Boasting perhaps the most quintessentially English beginning to any song, Madness's 'Driving In My Car' brings to mind the opening credits of classic British '70s TV sitcom Are You Being Served. The stand-alone single came out in 1982, spending eight weeks in the UK chart and peaking at #4. The song documents the joys and tribulations of driving in the Maddiemobile, the 1958 Morris Minor featured here.

I've been driving in my car, it's not quite a Jaguar

I bought it in Primrose Hill from a bloke from Brazil

It was made in fifty-nine in a factory by the Tyne

It says Morris on the door, the G.P.O. owned it before

I drive in it for my job, the governor calls me a slob

But I don't really care, give me some gas and the open air

It's a bit old but it's mine, I mend it in my spare time

Just last week I changed the oil, the rocker valves and the coil

Just last week I changed the oil

Last week it went round the clock, I also had a little knock

I dented somebody's fender, he learnt not to park on a bender, ha ha ha

I've been driving in my car, it don't look much but I've been far

I drive up to Muswell Hill, I've even been to Selsey Bill

I drove along the A45, I had her up to 58

This copper stopped me the other day, you're mistaken what could I say

The tyres were a little worn, they were O.K., I could have sworn

I like driving in my car, I'm satisfied I've got this far

I like driving in my car, it don't look much but I've been far

I like driving in my car, even with a flat tyre

I like driving in my car, it's not quite a Jaguar

I like driving in my car, I'm satisfied I've got this far