Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Joni Mitchell · The Complete Geffen Recordings [2007]
Rollin' past the rink
Past the record shack
Pink fins in the falling rain
Rollin'
To the blue lights past the water mains
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Weekends we'd get
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Rock 'n roll in the dashboard
Romance in the back of
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Ray's dad teaches math
Zero
I'm a dunce
I'm a decimal in his class
Last night's kisses won't erase
Zero
I just can't keep the numbers in their place
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Last night we had
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Rock 'n roll in the dashboard
Romance in the back of
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
When it comes to mathematics
I got static in the attic
"No sir, nothin's clear!"
I'll be blackboard blind on Monday
Dreamin' of blue runways
On the edge of here
A little atmosphere
Blue lights out on airport road
Motown, in a field in a farmer's grove
Big planes comin' overhead
Lowdown
You can see the bolts
You can see the tire treads
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Weekends we'd get
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Oh, little darlin'
Rock 'n roll in the dashboard
Romance in the back of
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Š 1988, 1991 Crazy Crow Music BMI
Ray's Dad's Cadillac
Joni Mitchell's "Ray's Dad's Cadillac" stands as a poignant narrative within her expansive discography, exploring themes of family history and the weight of inherited legacy. Recorded during her prolific period, the track exemplifies Mitchell's signature ability to weave complex emotional landscapes into accessible pop structures. The song reflects her deep engagement with personal storytelling, often drawing from her own experiences to craft universal resonances about love, loss, and the stories we carry forward. As part of her broader catalog of introspective ballads, the recording showcases her mastery of vocal phrasing and lyrical precision, capturing a moment of quiet reflection that has become a staple in her enduring body of work.