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"Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" is a song by Primus. Released in their 1991 album Sailing the Seas of Cheese, it is included in the main setlist of Rock Band 3.
About the song[]
The song's theme is about disappointment. It starts talking about Jerry who, as the title says, is a racecar driver living it up, until he crashes his car into a telephone pole after driving under the influence of alcohol. This story is interspersed with that of Richmond Fire Dept. Captain Pierce, who is forced to retire earlier than he expected (despite him being 65 years old), much to his dismay. It is a much deeper a song than one may perceive on first listen. The funky bass work and energetic guitar style distracts a little from the central meaning.
In the music video, the skateboarder who makes Bob Cock drop his nachos is actually the band's guitarist Larry LaLonde, who was an avid skateboarder.
Les Claypool played this on his 6-string fretless Rainbow Bass, however the bass did not yet have its signature "horn" installed.
Trivia[]
- Hank Williams Jr. is mentioned in the lyrics, "With a Bocephus sticker on a 442, he'd light 'em up just for fun." Bocephus was Hank WIlliams Jr.'s nickname.
- Other games that feature this song include ATV Offroad and the first Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.