The Modern Lovers, “Roadrunner”

This is from all the way back in 1972. The original beat was based on the Velvet’s “Sister Ray,” but this song is much more upbeat. It was released as a single in 1972, but was not released on their long-awaited self-titled album, The Modern Lovers, until 1976. The original single was produced by John Cale of the Velvet Underground!

This was one of the original proto-punk bands. Or actually they were an out and out punk rock band. Excuse me! Later covered by the Sex Pistols on their Rock and Roll Swindle album.

Joan Jett during her version. I knew people who knew her when she was in the Runaways in 1977. I knew this long-haired hippie guy who managed them for a while. He said that all of the girls in that band were bisexual. He was shaking his head as he said it. So I guess Joan identified as bi back then.

And I had friends who knew her in 1981 when she was in her own band. I was told by a 23  year old hot woman scenester I was dating at the time, “She likes girls.” That had been the dirt on her for quite some time and it wasn’t the first time I’d heard that. What I’ve heard is that she’s not bisexual. She’s full-blown lesiban.

She’s never admitted it though, probably because she’s worried it will hurt her career. However, she is very friendly to men! She just doesn’t want to have sex with them. A member of the San Fransisco punk band The Avengers lived with Joan Jett in Sweden for a while. He was on heroin at the time. Not sure about her. He said that they used to go out to clubs and they would both pick up women and bring them home.

People who have met her say she is very down to Earth and friendly! Supposedly she gets a lot of really hot lipstick lesbian types that most men would kill for. This chick gets the best women around! People who went to see her at a recent concert say that near the stage were several rows of hot lesbian/bisexual women wearing “Wett for Jett” t- shirts. LOL!

Joan Jett is one of the original punk rockers from the late 1970’s. She’s in her 50’s nowadays, and she’s still punk as Hell! Hell with all these goody-goods, church ladies, choir boys and sanctimonious idiots. Screw these goody two shoes! I’m into being bad! Even as a senior citizen! Rock til you drop! I will die a punk!

The lyrics are quite simple:

One, two, three, four, five, six
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Going a thousand miles an hour
Gonna drive past the Stop ‘n’ Shop
With the radio on

I’m in love with Massachusetts
And the neon when it’s cold outside
And the highway when it’s late at night
Got the radio on

I’m like the roadrunner
Alright

I’m in love with modern moonlight
128 when it’s dark outside
I’m in love with Massachusetts
I’m in love with the radio on

It helps me from being alone late at night
Helps me from being lonely late at night
I don’t feel so bad now in the car
Don’t feel so alone, got the radio on

Like the roadrunner
That’s right

Said welcome to the spirit of 1956
Patient in the bushes next to ’57
The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick
Suburban trees, suburban speed
And it smells like heaven, I say

Roadrunner once
Roadrunner twice
I’m in love with rock and roll
And I’ll be out all night
Roadrunner
That’s right

Well now
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Going a thousand miles an hour
Gonna drive to the Stop ‘n’ Shop
With the radio on at night

And me in love with modern moonlight
Me in love with modern rock & roll
Modern girls and modern rock & roll
Don’t feel so alone, got the radio on

Like the roadrunner

O.K. now you sing Modern Lovers
(Chorus: Radio on!)
I got the AM
(Chorus: Radio on!)
Got the car, got the AM
(Chorus: Radio on!)
Got the AM sound, got the
(Radio on!)
Got the rockin’ modern neon sound
(Chorus: Radio on!)
I got the car from Massachusetts, got the
(Chorus: Radio on!)
I got the power of Massachusetts when it’s late at night
(Chorus: Radio on!)

I got the modern sounds of modern Massachusetts
(Chorus: Radio on!)
I’ve got the world, got the turnpike, got the
(Chorus: Radio on!)
I’ve got the, got the power of the AM, got the
(Chorus: Radio on!)
Got the, late at night, hit ’em wide, rock & roll late at night
(Chorus: Radio on!)
The factories and the auto signs, got the
(Chorus: Radio on!)
Got the power of modern sounds
(Chorus: Radio on!)

Alright
(Chorus: Radio on!)

Right, bye bye!