"Beep Beep" - The Playmates, 1958 (Top 40)

While riding in my Cadillac,
What to my surprise.
A little Nash Rambler was following me -
About one third my size.
The guy must�'ve wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn. Beep! Beep!
I�ll show him that a Cadillac
Is not a car to scorn.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
His horn went beep beep beep!

I pushed my foot down to the floor
To give the guy the shake.
But the little Nash Rambler stayed right behind;
He still had on his brake.
He must have thought his car had more guts
As he kept on tooting his horn.
I�ll show him that a Cadillac
Is not a car to scorn.
Beep! Beep!
His horn went beep beep!

My car went into passing gear
And we took off with gust.
Soon we were doing ninety -
Must�ve left him in the dust.
When I peeked in the mirror of my car,
I couldn�t believe my eyes:
The little Nash Rambler was right behind -
I think that guy could fly.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
His horn went beep beep beep.

Now we�re doing a hundred and ten -
This certainly was a race.
For a Rambler to pass a Caddy
Would be a big disgrace.
The guy must'�ve wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn.
I�ll show him that a Cadillac
Is not a car to scorn.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
His horn went beep beep!

Now we�re doing a hundred and twenty -
As fast as I could go.
The Rambler pulled along side of me
As if we were going slow.
The fellow rolled down his window
And yelled for me to hear,
�Hey, Buddy, how can I get this car
Out of second gear?!

In 1952, three students from the University of Connecticut took their comedy show on the road. Within four years, they shed the name "The Nitwits" and transformed themselves into a musical group called "The Playmates". On July 9, 1958, they scored their first big hit with "Beep Beep". Their surprise novelty hit rocketed to #4 on the Billboard Top 40 and became a regular spin on the Dr. Dimento Show. It sold over 1 million copies and went gold. Just as their hit was an innovative novelty, so was the subject matter. "Beep Beep", the song's official title, is subtitled "The Little Nash Rambler".

In the 1950's, the Nash-Kelvinator company realized it needed to be more competitive in the automotive industry, and it's president insisted that the next car to roll off the assembly line had to be innovative - different from the other manufacturers' offerings. The result was The Rambler. Originally named the Diplomat (but changed after Nash learned that Dodge had already reserved that name), Ramblers were designed to be smaller than contemporary vehicles while still able to seat five people comfortably, and while this song may have eventually faded into history, the Rambler's did not: Nash Ramblers revolutionized the modern auto industry - they were the first modern American compact cars.

Nash Ramblers rolled onto the market in the model year 1950 and gave Ford, Chevy, and Plymouth a run for their money. For the Nash-Kelvinator company, the strategy was efficiency. In 1950, the Rambler was a new car, but it cost significantly less than others in its class. Of course, there was no "compact car" class at the time, so it was considered as one in the category of the competitor's "economy" models. The efficiency strategy was a huge success for Nash. Because of their smaller size, Nash could save on assembly materials, and they could pass that savings along to their customers. An added benefit to the smaller body size was that the car used less fuel than it's hulking competition, and so it was more economical to drive.

The introduction of the style couldn't have come at a better time: Americans had been exposed to European mini cars during news coverage of WWII, but Americans already knew that "economy" doesn't always mean "quality". The Nash company wanted to make sure that their new vehicle wasn't perceived to be a "cheap little car", so when it was released, Nash only offered the car as an upscale sedan that they called the "Landau" edition. To help with image (and subsequently sales) the Rambler came very well equipped. Ramblers had a 100 inch wheelbase and the 178 cubic inch (2.8 L) flathead Straight-6 cylinder 82 hp engine was already respected in the automotive industry. The options weren't bad, either. Coming standard on the Rambler were: whitewall tires, full wheel covers, an electric clock, and even a push-button AM radio, which was way more than the standard options being offered by the competition. Nash's Rambler changed not only the concept behind 2-door coup design, but also that of the sedan, convertible, and family wagon, which came later in the Rambler years.

And of course as far as the song is concerned, Rambler vs. Cadillac is a great David & Goliath story. Although not specified in the song, at the time of the Rambler's introduction the Coup deVille was the most powerful and most popular of the GM Cadillac line. Of course, the Caddy was much more expensive, and it had a 330 cubic inch v8 engine...which was nothing to scorn...but scorn the little v-6 Rambler did...and it kept right on going, it's compact design ideas traveling well into the 21st century.

"Marrakesh Express" - Crosby, Stills, & Nash, 1969 (folk rock)

Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes,
Traveling the train through clear Moroccan skies
Ducks, and pigs, and chickens call,
animal carpet wall to wall
American ladies five-foot tall in blue.
Sweeping cobwebs from the edges of my mind,
Had to get away to see what we could find.
Hope the days that lie ahead
bring us back to where they've led
listen not to what's been said to you.

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express.
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express,
they're taking me to Marrakesh.
All aboard the train.
All aboard the train.

I've been saving all my money just to take you there.
I smell the garden in your hair.
Take the train from Casablanca going south,
blowing smoke rings from the corners of my m m m m mouth.
Colored cottons hang in the air,
charming cobras in the square.
Striped djellebas we can wear at home.
Well, let me hear ya now.

We haven't talked about any trains lately, so I figured we're about due. This little number by Crosby, Stills, & Nash (but no Young) was inspired by a train trip that Graham Nash took in 1966 while he was visiting the country of Morocco. The train was the Marrakesh Express and it ran to the city of Marrakesh from Casablanca. This little number is merely a cultural reflection of the sights Nash saw during his travels. He obvjiously enjoyed his journey immensely, as he wrote a song about it, and in that song he says he can't wait to take us there!

Here are some things that Graham Nash may have experienced while he was there:

While today we recognize Marrakesh as a city within the country of Morocco, the entire country of Morocco was historically known as The Kingdom of Marrakesh, and this particular city, just north of the Atlas Mountains, was historically known as Morocco City. So, Morocco used to be Marrakesh, and Marrakesh used to be Morocco. Get it? Marrakesh is fondly known as "the red city" because of the red color of its buildings and walls. While many Arabs reside in this country, Morocco maintains its heritage as a Berber people. The name "Marrakesh" means "Land of God" and is a derivative of the Berber root, "mur". Since the word "mur" means "dirty orange", the people thought it in poor taste that the "land of God" should be described as being "dirty orange", so they simply chose the nearest color, red.

In the song, Nash mentions colored cottons hanging in the air. What he sees are Moroccan "kilims". These are tapestry-woven rugs or carpets; however, they're not meant to be walked on (those kind come from the capital city of Rabat). A kilim is a decorative piece of tapestry, tightly woven and pulled tightly downward so that the vertical strands are almost hidden. While kilims often hang in entrance ways and from windows, they are also often used as prayer rugs. Moroccan kilims feature bold colors and equally bold geometric shapes, and this makes them increasingly collectible, and are readily seen while lost in the labrynth of the suuqs. A suuq is a living sales network where different laborers gather together in quarters to perform their century old professions (and onlookers are appreciated).


The next bit of lyrics has someone charming cobras on the city square. Snake charming is a form of street performance. Snake charming is the practice of allegedly hypnotizing a deadly snake simply by playing an instrument. While it is heavily practiced in India and other Asian countries (with the intent to deceive the public), it is still found on the streets of Northern African countries...like Morocco; however, many performers continue to practice this tradition as merely a street show of slight-of-hand. The performers are never in any danger. They sit far enough away that the serpent could not bite them, should it lunge. Besides, since the snake is not threatened, it doesn't need to bite, anyway and is sluggish to do so. Also, many who continue this ancient practice have the venom glands removed from their snakes. Since one of the must-see tourist sites in Marrakesh is Djemaa el-Fna (a bustling open-air market square), many snake charmers will turn out here, putting on their shows and preserving this ancient practice that may soon disappear.


We know what Graham Nash is wearing while he's at home...or do we? He says he wears a striped djellabas. What's a djellabas? It's a long robe with long sleeves and a hood. These robes are often woven with many joyful colors. The hood (the 'cob') is very important because the country of Morocco sits between the western Sahara desert on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. Being so close to 0 degrees latitude means that the sun is very bright and very hot in Marrakesh. The hoot is thickly woven to protect the face and head from the rays of the blazing sun. Traditionally, the hood would also be widely woven to sheild the face from the blowing sand of the Sahara. Typically, the men usually choose to wear the darker colors with the plainer weaving. Women traditionally wear lighter colors; however there are many vibrant colors which they also wear.


Finally, in the beginning of the song, Nash mentions ducks, chickens, and pigs (yes, while riding on the train). There are no first class seats on the Marrakesh Express. Seating is 2nd class and 3rd class and is first come, first served. So, arriving at the station a tad early means that you get to choose your seat. Should you be so fortunate, you may choose a seat that should be considered first class. Nash was just so lucky as to get a first-class-equivalent seat. Ironically, though, he found it dreadfully dull and went to go sit in the back with the common people...and their ducks, pigs, and chickens that they had brought with them.


"Marrakesh Express" - Crosby, Stills, & Nash, 1969


~information gathered using an express, broadband internet connection and from sites like these:

www.hejleh.com/countries/morocco.html www.magicmorocco.com/marrakech_morocco.html http://www.ilovemarrakech.com/
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199304/the.magic.circles.of.djemaa.el-fna.htm