Hot Rod Rocket
Composer(s): Charlie Ryan; W.S. Stevenson
Performer(s): Charlie Ryan



You heard of the Russians 'n' their man in space
they say we're behind in this rocket race
Well up in Washington they started thinkin'
they needed the cat with the Hot Rod Lincoln

'Cause he was half of the Hot Rod Race
the Hot Rod Lincoln, 'n' the Burlington Chase
"Pass the Russians" was their battle cry
or they'll rule the world as well as the sky

Now the kid that was drivin' that hopped up hack
turned twenty-one just a while back
He got a letter from his Uncle Sam
he hopped in his rod & said "Here I Am"

Down at Canavaral not long after that
who should I see but the hot rod cat
Boarded the missile with a smile on his face
I knew right then there was gonna be a race

When the hatch was shut on his channeled rod
I heard him sing out to a gathered crowd
"don't stand to close when I throttle her back
man this rod is mean, like there ain't no slack"

When the count-down came, later that day
blasted off, he was up-and-away
Screamed off the pad with his hot machine
wastin' no time pouring on the steam

Then all of a sudden, way up ahead
he spied a Russian in his rocket red
He pushed the button 'n' gave her a blast
'n' went into orbit, and I do mean fast

Passed old Jupiter, headed for Mars
clippin' them off up there in the stars
Commin' up fast, away out in space
like, man, they was havin' a rocket race

The Kid never frowned on an honest race
as long as it was done in a proper place
He gave her a blast, to make her unwind
he was gainin' fast, commin' up from behind

He was hummin' along at a frantic clip
'cause there was no speed limit on this trip
The cat in the Lincoln was takin' a ride
'n' him 'n' that Russian was side-by-side

There wasn't a crowd out there in space
him 'n' that Sputnik was havin' a race
He figgered that he could get enough force
to steer the Russian off'n his course

Heading for the sun, where it's good 'n' hot
so he blasted off just one more pot
Eased over beside him, and crowded him out
sure enough the Russian had'a turn 'em about

Countries are bettin', and the stakes are high
on just who is gonna rule the sky
Now this is not the end of this here race
'cause that hot rod cat's still out in space

We haven't heard lately, but we will soon
that hot rod cat's headed for the moon
Time stands still when you're out in space
but man we're havin' a rocket race