HOPPED-UP MUSTANG by Arlen Sanders
written by Bill Romberger & Arlen Sanders
Faro 616, 1964
Billboard review date: Unknown
Chart position: Did not chart

    If Charlie Ryan had been around to hear this, he may have been able
    to collect some royalties on it.  Arlen Sanders was a DJ at radio
    station KRLA-Los Angeles around the time this record was released.
    Basically, its "Hot Rod Race/Lincoln" with some word changes about
    a Mustang.  The whole thing is recited over the Astronauts' LP track
    "Movin'", without any credit to them.  To add insult to injury, the
    label says "Music by the Pacifics."  Throughout the song are sounds
    of tires screeching and various other sound effects.


Let me tell ya about my new steed,
built for comfort, just my speed.
Ford Mustang, modified to set the pace,
Man, I could hardly wait to get out'n'race.

It's got a 289 motor, with a special Cobra kit,
there ain't nothin' on the road that can even touch it.
It's got eight carburetors and it uses them all,
with a four-speed stick that just won't stall.

With that transistor iginition and power-pipe exhaust,
this is the machine that'll really get lost.
Everthing built to make it perform,
it may not be hot but it sure is warm.

We took delivery at the factory late one night,
it was purrin' like a kitten and movin' just right.
We pulled up on the freeway like it was goin' down hill,
and started passin' the sleds like they was standin' still.

Then all of a sudden, before I could bat an eye,
a Cadillac sedan passed me by.
Somebody said, like, "that's the wheels for me,"
but by then the tail lights was all I could see.

Well, these cats ribbed me for bein' behind,
so I started to make that Mustang unwind.
Pushed the foot-feed clear to the floor,
said "that's all there is, there ain't no more."

Smoke was rollin' outta the back,
when I started to gain on that Cadillac.
I was sure I could catch him 'n' I hoped I could pass,
but by then I knew I'd be short on gas.

We went around a curve and passed a truck,
I pulled out my rabitt's foot, just for luck.
The fenders just missed the guardrail post,
the guy in the back was white as a ghost.

I glanced over at the chick on the other side,
her face was blue 'n' I thought she'd died.
But I wasn't worried, 'cause what the heck,
by now me 'n' that Caddy was neck-and-neck.

I guess they'd thought I'd lost my sense,
the telephone poles looked like a picket fence.
They said "slow down, I see spots,
the lines on the road just look like dots."

Went around a corner with the tires on the side,
you could feel the tension, man, what a ride.
I said "hold on, I got a license to fly,"
and that Cadillac faded back and let me by.

Then I looked in the mirror 'n' saw somethin' comin',
and I thought it was a plane by the way it was hummin.
I'd been caught by a helicopter 'n' the CHP,
that was it, man, the end of me.

Well, they busted me and threw me in the can,
so there was nothin' I could do but call the old man.
He said "wail in jail, 'cause I won't bail."
Dang me, he told me not to hop up that Mustang!