[efiste2]

we first heard the line" plastic dashboard jesus" in the video, ACCESS ALL AREAS when jon was reffering to the "milli vanilli" story, and now in LH but what does it mean, i always took it as some sort of "reward" at the end of your life or "highway" as they state in the song

[Becky]

I think it's like a tacky symbol of a guardian angel. Ah, well, it's better than a wobbly hula girl, I suppose.

[Javier]

Originally Posted by Becky

I think it's like a tacky symbol of a guardian angel. Ah, well, it's better than a wobbly hula girl, I suppose.

No it isn't??

[aph01]

the whole song is about jon finding his own way in life, so maybe the plastic dashboard jesus is a symbol of his letting go of religion because he doesnt need it anymore? Thats just me speculating though!!

[nivearadio]

I think dashboard jesus is protector/ guardian from accidents on the road. You can put him or hang in your car and your ride will be safe.

[Kathleen]

The first time I had ever heard this phrase was from this song and I was a little kid. Coming from New York City and New Jersey, I thought it was the funniest thing I had ever heard. Later I heard that they used the song as hook to spoof overnight radio religious advertising of the era.


Well, I don't care if it rains or freezes,
Long as I have my plastic Jesus
Riding on the dashboard of my car
Through all trials and tribulations,
We will travel every nation,
With my plastic Jesus I'll go far.

By George Cromarty and Ed Rush (The Goldcoast Singers)

There are a million verses from this song but that one is the one that sticks with me - I guess since it was the first one LOL

I think the movie Cool Hand Luke (Paul Newman) from the 60's made it famous.

Kathleen

[Becky]

Originally Posted by aph01

the whole song is about jon finding his own way in life, so maybe the plastic dashboard jesus is a symbol of his letting go of religion because he doesnt need it anymore? Thats just me speculating though!!

I don't follow the "letting it go" theory since the plastic Jesus is along for the ride. It's not like they threw it out the window.

[danfan]

Originally Posted by aph01

the whole song is about jon finding his own way in life

A huge departure for Jon.

[Butters]

I can't speak to the significance of the line as it relates to past songs or anything. I was under the impression that these plastic dashboard Jesusesesesssssssssssssssss''''''''''''''''''' were a relatively new thing inspired by the bobble-heads but for people in the Bible Belt. If there is a more signifcant story behind it then it would make the line bearable, I suppose.

The way I interpreted it was simply to take it in the context of the song. I think it relates to what is in the bridge.

"Oh patron saint of lonely souls
Tell this boy which way to go
Guide the car
You got the keys
Farewell to mediocrity...........Got just enough religion.......gas"

The whole song, driving down the lost highway, is one big metaphor for freedom and the song seems to include a call to "above" for help and guidance to reach a place at the end of the highway, or along the highway (which is kind of ironic because that would irradicate freedom but hey ho, it's not a very clever song), which is happy, pleasent etc. So as he's driving, his plastic dashboard Jesus is always there with him. Or to put it in non-metaphorical means, as he's living his life (now where have we encountered this message before?), he's got God/Jesus/A Guiding Hand there beside him as he lives to help him in his life (...Got just enough religion....).


It's a really terrible line because not only is it contradictory to the message of the song, the other lyrics are really rather well written and heartfelt and they build up to this crescendo point where you're expecting something profound and then you're greated by such an unimaginitively bad metaphor, that unfortunately hurts the overall quality of the song a great deal.

It has to be considered a bad song, the music and vocals are completely uninspired too, but I do lie it . Go figure.

[Mongoose]

I need one...