Jerry Reed’s “Lord, Mr. Ford”: The Great Impact Of Cars In Our Society

The “Good Ol’ Boy” might be funny and jokey. Most of his performances are mixed with comedic acts. Also, at the stage where he performs, Jerry Reed always incorporates jokes and witty remarks. Perhaps, he likes his audience to have fun while listening to his performance. However, his songs can leave marks in our hearts. Also, it stimulates our minds. That’s how distinct Jerry Reed is, humorous but striking.

In fact, some singles of Jerry Reed talks about life and experiences such as “Ko-Ko Joe.” The story is about a survivalist man. The song is truly relatable. On the other hand, Jerry Reed merely described what has happened and what is happening to our environment and society. A good illustration of this is through his song “Lord, Mr. Ford.”

The Meaning…

If you carefully look into the words and lyrics of “Lord, Mr. Ford,” it would discuss the changes and the impact of “cars” in our society. Cars as Jerry Reed mentioned in the song, destroys our environment as well as the human beings. It kills nature because of the materials used to create the automobile. Like the wires, tires, and grease. Also, it pollutes the atmosphere due to the smoke.

Furthermore, cars create traffic jams. With this, people are getting into a fight. People are getting hot-headed, too. Most of all, the cost of cars is high. The maintenance could devour all your savings. All the time, you’d need to have fuel, fluids, and oil. Of course, the add-ons or the accessories.

Above all, the demand of cars changes how people live. Indeed, people nowadays are dependent on machines specifically cars. All of these is because of the “demon automobile.”

The Song…

Dick Feller is the songwriter behind “Lord, Mr. Ford”. It was released in May 1973 as the only single from Jerry Reed’s album “Lord, Mr. Ford.” It became a top charting song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It spent a week at No.1 and a total of 13 weeks on the chart.

Lord, Mr. Ford…

Well, if you’re one of the millions who own one of them gas-drinking, piston-clinking, air-polluting, smoke-belching, four-wheeled buggies from Detroit City, then pay attention. I’m about to sing your song son.

Well, I’m not a man appointed a judge

To bear ill-will and hold a grudge

But I think it’s time I said me a few choice words

All about that demon automobile

A metal box with the polyglass wheel

The end result to a dream of Henry Ford

Well I’ve got a car that’s mine alone

That me and the finance company own

A ready-made pile of manufactured grief

And if I ain’t out of gas in the pouring rain

I’m a-changin‘ a flat in a hurricane

I once spent three days lost on a cloverleaf

Well it ain’t just the smoke and the traffic jam

That makes me the bitter fool I am

But this four-wheel buggy is

A-dollaring me to death

For gas and oils and fluids and grease

Wires and tires and anti-freeze

And them accessories

Well honey, that’s something else

You can get a stereo tape and a color TV

Get a back-seat bar and reclining seats

And just pay once a month, like you do your rent

Well I figured it up and over a period of time

This four thousand dollar car of mine

Costs fourteen thousand dollars

And ninety-nine cents, well now

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

Well Lord Mr. Ford what have you done

And It Goes…

Now the average American father and mother

Own one whole car and half another

And I bet that half a car is a

The trick to buy, don’t you

But the thing that amazes me, I guess

Is the way we measure a man’s success

By the kind of automobile, he can afford to buy

Well now, red light, green light, traffic cop

Right turn, no turn, must turn, stop

Get out the credit card honey; we’re out of gas

Well now, all the cars placed end to end

Would reach to the moon and back again

And there’d probably be some

Fool pull out to pass

Well now, how I yearn for the good old days

Without that carbon monoxide haze

A-hanging over the roar of the interstate

Well if the Lord that made the moon and stars

Would have meant for me and you to have cars

He’d have seen that we were all born

With a parking space

Yes, Jerry Reed is humorous, but he is influential. The song he recorded indeed stirs our minds.

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