Driving in My Car

"Driving in My Car" is a one-off single by Madness. It was released on July 24, 1982, and spent eight weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four. It reached number twenty on the Australian Singles Chart. From the video and most of the lyrics, the track is about a Morris Minor that was used by the group in the early years before band became famous as seen in the film Take It or Leave It. The lyrics, however, do lend themselves to a little artistic license, e.g. the Morris was not built by the Tyne, it was built at Cowley, Oxfordshire. The B-side to the single was "Animal Farm", a mostly instrumental reworking of the song "Tomorrow's Dream". The 12" release of the single included the song "Riding on My Bike", which is basically a rewording of the main track, sung by Lee Thompson. "Driving in My Car" was the thirteenth in a run of twenty consecutive UK top twenty hits for Madness, and is the only one of those twenty never to have been officially released on a Madness album in the USA. The song was adapted for one of the band's adverts for Honda Japan, along with "In The City". The advert is included in the video version of Divine Madness. Video The video shows Madness as car mechanics larking about in their workshop, and in their normal suits driving around in their "Maddiemobile". The members of fellow ska/pop group Fun Boy Three make a brief appearance, trying (and failing) to hitch a ride to their home town of Coventry, which the A45 road mentioned in the song passes through.

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 GPO 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 fifty-eight This copper stopped me the other day You're mistaken what could I say? The tyres were a little worn They were OK 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