Oh. Here comes a FLAT TOP!

[dreamshark]

I'm working on a compilation called "I'm In Love With My Car," and discovered that I had a few classic car songs from the late 50's in my collection. So I was listening to Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me," a song I was not really familiar with, when this line jumped out at me (sort of like hearing your name unexpectedly across a crowded room):

"Here come a flat top, he's a-moooovin' up wit' me..."

OMG, it's that incomprehensible opening line from that one Beatles song! Well, that explains that. Except, not really. What the heck is a "flat top?" Anybody know?


It's a hair style. And the song is about drag racing on the New Jersey Turnpike ... let's hear the story in Mr. Berry's own words:

'It was night and Toddy and I in our Buick had been overtaken by some dudes with crew cuts who pulled up alongside and passed us, waving. Their car was not as late a model as mine, but must have definitely been in better shape or souped up. Naturally, I sped up.''

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

What, if anything, does this have to do with the Beatles line "here come old flat top, he come grooving up slowly"?

B

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Apparently John Lennon kinda... borrowed the line for his song. And forgot to mention it to Chuck Berry. Who eventually noticed and called John, who apologized and wrote him a check.

Now I know what the line meant in its original context, anyway. Which doesn't help much if you're trying to figure out what "Come Together" is about, I must admit. My guess is that Lennon had the line from the Berry song stuck in his head for some reason and was noodling around with it and it turned into a song. I suspect drugs had something to do with it too. Some kind of central nervous system depressant, judging from the tempo. (The tunes to both songs are very similar, except that "Come Together" is played at literally HALF the tempo of "Can't Catch Me.")

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

I remember reading in Timothy Leary's autobiography that "Come Together" was written in support of his run for Governor of California.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I knew! See also: "high and tight."

K.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Of course you knew! You're so hep.

I give up - what does "high and tight" mean?

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're not even trying, if you gave up that fast. It's easily googled. But also, this is Todd Menton's hair style, if that calls it to mind for you.

K.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Oh, I was just being nice and giving you a chance to show off. Sure I could google it myself, but what's the fun in that?

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

There are mailing lists where the prevailing culture is "IMFTATL" or "It's More Fun To Ask The List." But I think there's a difference between that and idly chatting via LJ.

K.

You Can't Catch Me

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

Since you already have the Chuck Berry version, you probably don't need this as well, but I believe there is an excellent cover of it on the Blues Project album *Projections.*

Nate