As in many of his songs, another about the mythic landscape surrounding the automobile - mostly a U.S. phenomenon. Don't know the meaning of all of the images and auto slang and expressions. I worked on a Waits Dictionary to explain the American slang and expressions found littered (in a literary way, of course) along the should of Tom's songs, so I'll add a few here.
Put a high ball in the crank case.......some explosive fuel mixture to increase engine thrust, I guess. A high ball is also slang for a mixed drink, usually whisky and ginger ale, e.g. Seagrams & ginger ale....High ball.
Hammer to the floor.....accelerator pedal to the floor, full acceleration.
As in many of his songs, another about the mythic landscape surrounding the automobile - mostly a U.S. phenomenon. Don't know the meaning of all of the images and auto slang and expressions. I worked on a Waits Dictionary to explain the American slang and expressions found littered (in a literary way, of course) along the should of Tom's songs, so I'll add a few here.
Put a high ball in the crank case.......some explosive fuel mixture to increase engine thrust, I guess. A high ball is also slang for a mixed drink, usually whisky and ginger ale, e.g. Seagrams & ginger ale....High ball.
Hammer to the floor.....accelerator pedal to the floor, full acceleration.