Counting Blue Cars – Dishwalla | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#15) & Modern Rock (#1); 1996

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

The five members of Dishwalla had all played around the local Santa Barbara scene, launch pad for the likes of Toad The Wet Sprocket and Ugly Kid Joe, before joining talents in the early 1990’s.

Catching wind of a Carpenters tribute album in the making, they shot off their version of (They Long To Be) Close To You to the producer. Informed that The Cranberries had already claimed that one, the boys recorded It’s Going To Take Some Time instead.

Two years later Dishwalla’s debut album appeared. For many months it looked as if the band was doomed to oblivion as the first two singles from Pet Your Friends sank without a trace.

Then, over a year after release, Counting Blue Cars caught on. The singer recalls childhood games, such as counting only blue cars, and youthful curiosity, notably “Tell me all your thoughts on God ’cause I would really like to meet her.” Blue Cars‘ philosophical musings won a Billboard Music Award for Rock Track Single of the Year.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Phil NicoloDishwalla

Lyrics Written by:

  • Scot Alexander
  • Rodney Browning Cravens
  • Greg Kolanek
  • J. R. Richards
  • George Pendergast

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).