Drive-In Movies And Dashboard Lights
Nanci Griffith · Storms [2009]
She played a Silvertone from Montgomery Ward
Baez songs in Monroe hair
She sure could turn the boys' heads to stare
Swim wear saunter, tan and haunt them
That's all she learned in school
Books were for the other girls
And the other girls were fools
In Texas back in sixty-nine
It was drive-in movies and dashboard lights
Father waltzed her down the aisle
'Cause college didn't suit her style
The sad truth was that she could barely read
But, if you'd told dear Father
He wouldn't believe you
The telephone rang it drove Mother insane
From the hearts left on the shelf
Sister's gone and she won't be home
'Cause she didn't take care of herself
In Texas back in sixty-nine
It was drive-in movies and dashboard lights
Where is she now?
The backseat Queen of fraternity
Where is she now?
She is heavy of thigh and light on integrity
Someone should've told her
When beauty's all you offer
Too soon the world discovers that your
Beauty's gone
(It's gone )
Mother can't you hear your daughter crying
Father wake up her youth is dying
Her kids are grown Husband's gone away
It's a shame 'cause she had such a lovely face
Can't you see she needed more
Than, "Oh, what a pretty child"?
You never taught her truth from lie
All you told her was to smile
In Texas back in sixty-nine
It was drive-in movies and dashboard lights
Where is she now?
The backseat Queen of fraternity
Where is she now?
She is heavy of thigh and light on integrity
Someone should've told her
When beauty's all you offer
Too soon the world discovers that your
Beauty's gone
(It's gone )
In Texas back in sixty-nine
It was drive-in movies and dashboard lights
Drive-In Movies And Dashboard Lights
Nanci Griffith's "Drive-In Movies And Dashboard Lights" appears on her 2009 album Storms, a recording that reflects her enduring commitment to American roots music. Throughout her extensive career, Griffith has blended folk, country, and pop influences to create a distinctive sound that resonates with listeners across generations. This track continues her tradition of crafting evocative narratives, capturing the atmosphere of a specific moment in time without relying on cliché. As part of a discography that includes celebrated works like Flyer and The Loving Kind, the song demonstrates her ability to find depth in everyday imagery. Griffith remains a vital voice in contemporary singer-songwriter circles, known for her sharp lyricism and melodic sensibility. This recording stands as a testament to her skill in weaving personal observation into broader musical themes, offering a listening experience that is both intimate and universally relatable.